no money no honey no happy no baby

We left for the trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia Friday afternoon after the exams. PS passed both exams. It was about a six hour drive. I LOVED IT.  It was so great, I got to see rural Cambodia! Zebus, cattle, water bison, people plowing fields, farm work, tiny villages,etc.  We traveled by bus.  As we passed though villages or among cattle chilling on the road, the driver honked.  Honking, graceful swerving around trucks, motorbikes, etc. We had a tour guide on the bus, not really sure why.  He mostly just laughed and drank beer (cheers).  He talked about Khmer culture and how most people pass their time.  As he talked of his culture he would casually say, 'no money no honey no happy no baby' and would laugh. It's catchy, I'll give him that - it's is a cultural thing around here for sure. Long story short, there's not much to do in poor parts of Cambodia, no TVs, ipods, etc - so they start with 8-10 babies at age 12-16.

As you have probably seen in the previous blog, it was eventful and unique. While in the 'tarantula-happy village,' one of the young girls following me around asked me my name. After I telling her, she smiles, paused, and said, "Happy Holly." You are happy. She then led me through the village encouraging me to try various insects, fruit, etc. I talked with her a  young boy for a while.  I was mostly curious about how the find, prepare, and cook the tarantulas. 

They gave me lots of detail.  This was a more rural or remote area and their English was quite good (oh gosh, I think I am picking up on a classmate's Swedish/Scottish-English accent).  They told me that their English teacher was from Australia.  As I walked the market scene, I wanted to find out with this apple-looking purple fruit was.  The girl told me it was "mill fruit."  The texture was soft on the inside. An older women section it into four pieces. Each piece had a pit in it.  Not then best, not the worst thing I have ever tasted. Interesting enough, I wasn't going to buy the fruit, the little girl said,"here I buy, you try, you try" - so cute. She bought me the fruit with her own money. Before I left the village I gave her a dollar, her eyes got really big and she thanked me.

We arrived at the Okay Villa to stay the night, around 8pm.  We were greeted by a large Cambodia Buddha, surrounded by beautiful landscaping, golden lighting, incense, and lily pads. Depending on where you are in Asia, the Buddha's have different physical appearances. For instances, the Cambodian Buddha's typically have large ears to signify a long life. This picture is taken just outside the lobby.  Guests are to remove shoes before entering. There was intricate artwork throughout the lobby, including tall black clay pots with colorful flowered lily pads near all entrance-ways. To get to my room, I walked down narrow corridors in a zig-zag fashion.  That evening we dined at "Happy Herb Pizza." You can order your meals with varying amounts of happy.  The food served varies from pizza to tradition Khmer food.  I already felt pretty happy and didn't feel the need to over-endulge in happy.

  On Saturday morning I woke up at 4:30 am with a few of my classmates and I got up to see the sunrise of over the temple, Angkor Wat (meaning: 'temple city'). This was so beautiful and mesmerizing.  This is the largest religious temple in the world. The structure was build in the early 12th century, I have never experience anything like it. The precisions and intricacy was unbelievable.   

Around 5:10am, just before sunrise 2/2/13 

 Sunrise, Angkor Wat

There is a large moat that encompasses the temple. Originally build as a Hindu temple, it has alternated with varying kings - Buddhism or Hinduism, but now the temple is a combination of Hindu and Buddhism. The temple is made of sandstone from a mountain that is approximately 25 miles from the temple.  The millions of tons of sandstone was brought to the site via elephants and water-scaffolding made of bamboo and rope.  The inside of the temple was encrusted with diamonds.  While the diamonds are no longer present, huge holes remain in the inside temple walls.  The holes are around 3" deep and have the circumference of a golf ball.  The are hundreds of holes.  I can't imagine that many diamond! To this day the structure is a mystery to many architects.

 

The great thing about checking out the temple is that you can navigate as you wish. This was one of a few monkeys just chilling near the temple.

 Side temple on Angkor Wat grounds

 

 Other temples - not sure of names (was written in Khmer)

Ready for some Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider? This was unbelievable!

 

This temple (to the left and right) was built as a model to Angkor Wat and was so neat.  A ancient kings decided that the temple was not big enough, therefore Angkor Wat was assembled.  This temple is visited by less people and is hidden in a jungle.  It is ancient and crumbling in parts, which added to the fun.  It was great climbing around the sandstone.  Little girls led me around this temple - they kept saying, 'mind your head.' They were barefoot and knew every square inch of the crumbling temple, even through the dark tunnels.  Giant trees and tree roots were entwined with in the stone.  The little girls would give me little pieces of history as they drug me all over the temple.  They pointed out stone coffins, water ways that once were covered in flowers, etc.  At times they would swing from vines. So great!

I have so many picture, it is difficult to chose what to put up on the blog.  After a day of temples we went back to the hotel and swam on a rooftop pool.  Later some of went to a local market, grabbed some food, and then headed to the fish tanks.  Have you ever seen the tanks where people put their feet in the water and fish come and nibble? Well, it is rather popular in SE Asia.  The fish eat the dead skin off your feet.  I passed on the fish foot sucking business (which included bar-side service of Angkor beer). I choose a foot massage by a 17 year old Khmer boy with a lisp that had random outbursts of signing and dancing - Gangnam Style.  If that doesn't put a smile on your face, you need more happy.

After the fishy massage fun, 6 of us trailed off to Pub Street Market, where we went to a bar, Angkor What?.  The Bar was dec'd in neon colors and black lights with great art painted on every square inch of the place.  There was no music, due to the King's passing.  And without the music, I would say I still faired well.  I was entertained by Dutch, Aussies, and a couple Brits and my fellow classmates, two of which are foreigners.  I took a tuk tuk home with some friends and called it a night.

In these pictures, Alex (LC Cambodia) is the young little German lad next to me. The two girls are Hannah (LC Thailand) and Olivia - she's hilarious (LC China). And the Under picture is me and Megan (LC China). Quite the bunch, they keep this comical and lively. I had maybe 1/4 mug of Angkor beer, Nick wasn't there to share the mug with me so I had to poor some in their mugs.  I can't keep up with these kids - fine by me.

Sunday, I Skyped with Nick and had to fill him in on my adventures and he filled me in on his weekly projects :) I think he is enjoying the snow! Looking forward to our next conversation.

 

Today, Monday - we had class. Went well, but I was pretty tired.  This blog is getting plenty long, so I will leave you with my assignment that I am presenting in 10 hours.  We were to create recorded dialogues in goofy accents to present teaching "listening" lessons.  I chose Glen (Scottish, Swedish) as a voice in my dialogue. The two voices/accents I chose were Shrek and Barbie from 'Barbie Girl' for voices in a date scene.  I will say that it is an interesting piece that I am not sure my parents or grandparents would understand. 

It is almost 1 am.  I hope you appreciated this crazy rambling of mine. To sleep I go. Love you all lots!