Cambodia
Cambodia has treated me well so far. I intended to write a blog every night, but haven’t had much luck with blog writing. I have spent all of my time so far in Siem Reap which is a really cool town. I got to see Angkor wat yesterday and had a great new years on pub street, which is like a Cambodian bourbon street.
Everyone has been so friendly and helpful. I haven’t felt threatened or afraid and haven’t had many issues communicating. I think my favorite experience on the trip so far has been riding bicycles around town.
There were single speed bikes for rent for $1 with a free water and road map. A guy from the hostel named Randy came riding and we rode down dirt roads on the outskirts of town. All of the kids waved and said hello along the way.
In one area along the road a guy asked us if we wanted to see his mushrooms. Our curiosity lead us to his home where his family had a huge edible mushroom farm. They also had a gator farm, pigs, ducks and a garden. He introduced us to all of the family and then took us to his brothers house where we were invited in to have a visit.
We sat on the floor and had a pleasant conversation. The home was very modest, but cozy. It was built on stilts, had a corrugated tin roof, and bamboo thatch walls. The husband and wife talked with us as their 4 kids watched cartoons.
We rode on and took another side road through rice fields and spread out rural homes. It was beautiful. In the same ride we visited a modern Buddhist temple, played with little kids in a rice field, drank fresh coconut water, and got lost.
I’m heading to Bangkok on a bus tonight with two new friends from the hostel. I’m having a great time and am really enjoying the culture and everyone I’ve met.
