Final busy day in Phnom Penh

What a day; dining out for all three meals.  Sophiep and his wife, Keav, have opened another restaurant so they invited me for breakfast.  He told me it was near a pagoda so I told the rickshaw driver to keep on going until we reached it.  After phoning Sophiep I realised we'd driven past the place so I ended up walking up the road to find it.  The problem here is that nobody knows street numbers or names; they go by favourite landmarks.  The rickshaw people don't understand maps so finding a place is not always easy especially when the drivers don't speak English.  The restaurant is called "Chicken Porridge" so I looked for the big yellow building, which I found but couldn't see any restaurant of that name.  Fortunately, Keav came out of the restaurant so I was able to find it - the restaurant's name is on show but it's in Khmer.  I haven't seen them for six months so it was nice to have pork and rice and to catch up on what they are doing.  They open for breakfast from 6 to 10 and then from 3 to 10 for dinner.  In the afternoon they only serve rice porridge with various other things in it such as chicken and fish.

I was back home for an hour and then I set off for dinner with Vuth, Thornin, Soubert and the Indian visitor, Parthiban.  The main topic of conversation was the missing money.  Julie, who is in Malaysia, had sold a bit of land for around $30,000 and she'd given it to Eang, a Cambodian, to bank and use for a programme called Apsara I Care.  It's a training programme to help people learn more about themselves through introspection and other exercises and to be able to free themselves from the things that hold them back.  Parthiban and three others have been here doing a bit of volunteering with the programme.  The problem is that Eang has run off with the money and nobody knows where she is.  Vuth said, if we notify the police they'll find her in no time, but they don't want to go that route yet.   It's causing problems for so many people.  Polycarpe, from Burundi, has run out of money and isn't getting his allowance, money was spent creating space for the volunteers and the man who financed it hasn't been paid.  The owners of the building haven't been paid their rent and meanwhile Julie's in Malaysia and too far away to be involved.  I warned her about Eang because she's done this in other years - even with me.  Why have only one name on the bank account?  Culturally, younger people find it almost impossible to criticise those who are senior and so nobody is telling Julie what is happening; they tell me and then I become the bearer of bad news for Julie.  I've told her I'm sick of it and I'm not writing any more. So let's see if I can keep my word.

Other than that, we had a decent lunch.  I had a bowl of wanton with noodles and Parthiban tucked into fries and a huge piece of meat.  He really does eat too much and it shows with his size and the fact that he has problems walking.

Back home I did more tidying up and filing away and then we set off to Relax Cafe for our dinner.  Thornin had put the message out that it would be on the 3rd.  We arrived at 6pm and gradually more and more came until there were around 20 of us; the staff kept adding more tables.  It's a buffet place so each table had a hotplate and a pot of broth and then we wandered off to find food to put into it.  It costs $7 which is expensive for me because, after two bowls, I'm full.  Meanwhile the skinny Khmer ladies merrily eat and eat.  I told them when I first knew them they were students and single - now most of them are married with children.  There were four children with us but I counted that the people around the table had 14 children between them.  There'll be a wedding in December and another lady is pregnant so I'm sure the numbers will increase.  It was nice to see Tay as she was visiting from the USA where she lives in Washington State.  Everyone's busy and spread out so it's great to have this chance to see so many at one time.

I arrived home after 9pm but decided to go for a half hour walk around the area to unwind a bit.  My flight tomorrow is at 12.35pm so I have some final putting away to do.  Depending on the situation in Taipei and other airports I may have a chance to write something - otherwise it'll be "Greetings from Alberta".

I’ve just had a lovely, cheap haircut

Just two sleeps to go and then I'm off.  I spent most of the day cleaning and organising.  My water filter needed a scrub, the fridge needed to be checked.  I'm eating far more than I usually eat because I don't like throwing things away.  For lunch I had two chicken legs and two wings, a bowl of bean salad, Digestive biscuits with blue cheese and a glass of milk - anything to be able to leave the fridge empty.  I'm away for a month before the ladies arrive so there's no point in leaving items for them.  

Phearak went off for a vaccination so there was no English class.  Srun was also out as he was taking family to perform a graveside ceremony.  It's done by those who've buried people in a Chinese fashion, i.e., with a large mount of soil over the body.  For some strange reason the Chinese also like to have a few when they die so they like to be on a hill.  Everyone gathers and the place is tidied up.  Then strips of coloured paper are placed all over the mound - I've yet to find out why.  Then mats are spread out and the feast begins.  This is where the pig is disposed of; what isn't eaten at the meal goes home with the guests.  Apparently, some people pay over a thousand dollars for a large pig.  I learned that the one I bought for a friend is costing me $200 which is more than I've paid for a live pig.  This ceremony only happens once a year, at the same time, so the sellers control the market.   Sometimes the family provides the dead with items they may need in the after life - a house, car, clothing, umbrella etc all made of paper or cardboard.  People are a bit shocked when I asked if they provide the dead man with a woman.  

The power went off in the afternoon and it was scorching hot.  I was planning on flopping on the sofa but, with the heat, I knew I'd nod off.  I therefore decided to go for a walk.  The street barber we use for the boys is just two blocks away so I went to see how he was doing and I ended up getting my hair cut.  He's on a good thing because he only has a table, mirror, chair and umbrella, which he carts away in the evening; he leaves the large chunk of cement clients use for their feet.  The locals pay $1 but foreigners pay $2.  I then went two blocks in the other direction and looked at some clothing.  I ended up buying a pair of trousers and a jacket I can use in Canada.  It'll be nice to chuck out the older jackets I've been wearing - one of them cost me a couple of pounds in a charity shop in Lincoln and the other must have been donated because I found it in the car one day and I never did find out who owned it. 

I know one person who has one of those speaker gadgets that you can talk to although many of the young folk in Asia have Siri and other voices on their phone.  I'm told the gadgets are listening even when switched off, which is scary.  Here, they would only hear me muttering to myself but in other homes they could be listening to secrets, arguments and other nasty things.  I hate talking on the phone so I doubt I'll be getting one of these things.  

A lovely, relaxing day with rain

For the first time in my life, I think, I remember to say "White Rabbits" before I opened my mouth to speak to someone.  Here, I'm on my own so that was easy to do.  I did forget to close my eyes and turn around three times so maybe I'll have to wait another month for some good luck.

It's wonderful; I have nothing to report.  It was simply a nice day with time for the various things I needed to do.  When I go shopping I forget I've only got a day or two here and so I buy when I shouldn't.  Today I tackled the chicken wings and legs I had in the freezer.  I had a small amount of soya and fish sauce so I added some garlic and cooked them.  Even Samnang enjoyed them; he normally pulls a face at anything I cook, makes some comment and then promptly eats everything.

I don't want to have to move any of my things for the university ladies who arrive in May but they still need space.  I've therefore been combining things and putting stuff away.  I'm hoping to meet a couple of them when I'm in Edmonton so I can clarify things at that time.  I'm having to be careful to label things;  I have a container of lovely pink pellets - mouse poison, there's also a container of peppermint oil which could cause confusion so I have to label it as 'mouse deterrent'.  

The lads came over for English.  I can't figure Phearak out.  A question said, "Think of a person you like."  He looks at Srun as if he's expecting Srun to provide the answer.  Even when he understands the question he'll still look at Srun.  

The power went off around 2pm and so I thought, "What a lovely excuse to have a snooze."  I can't do much when the computer batteries are low and the powers are off and so I lay down on the sofa with my iPhone and a book I'm reading and five minutes later I nodded off.

I waited until 5pm for my chef to arrive but he didn't and so I started to cook the various veg I have.  Then Samnang came up the stairs; "Did you start before I arrived?"  I know he's only playing games but he drives me to distraction when he gets out the sugar, pepper, chillies and other hot stuff to chuck into whatever I'm cooking.  He was fretting as he has a Khmer Chemistry exam.  It must be totally frustrating to have a subject in both languages and to have two teachers telling the students totally different things.

I was watching a documentary on Youtube when I realised I couldn't hear it so well.  I stopped the programme and realised it was pouring with rain.  I quickly removed my balcony cushions and pushed the furniture out of the rain.  The balcony was already flooded, but I didn't mind, it was lovely to paddle in water.  I brought in my waste baskets, closed the windows and settled down to listen to the programme with the speaker up by my ear.  It rained for about an hour so it'll make a huge difference to the electricity and river situations as it came down in torrents.  

A catch-up day.

Yesterday evening I read that I'd live a lot longer if I didn't use an alarm clock; the reason being that abrupt sounds can give us a heart attack in old age.  Seeing as I didn't have a deadline on Sunday I decided to switch mine off.

It was still a bit dark when a loud noise came from my phone.  I first of all thought I'd not switched the alarm off properly but then I realised it was my phone ringing.  It was Vuth, inviting me to spend the day with him and the family in Takeo Province.  I didn't fully understand what it involved but it was something to do with a religious ceremony and then a time of eating and drinking.  I felt badly saying I preferred to stay home.  "But you'll be alone," he said.  I didn't tell him that I'd been 'alone' most of my life.

I enjoyed the day.  I did lots of little things.  I made space in drawers and cupboards for the students who arrive in May.  I took a photograph of my electricity meter so that Thornin can pay my monthly bill.  I repaired the long sleeved shirt I always wear when I travel; most of my shirts are short sleeved and I often find airports a bit on the nippy side.  I made a bean salad which I hope will last me for the three days I'm in Cambodia.  I didn't do my morning walking because Vuth's call was at 6am and I staggered back to bed and stayed there a bit too long - until 8am.  I can't face exercising at that time as it means having breakfast around 10am.  I did wash my floor though.

It was the day for the power to be on for the morning.  I therefore prepared my lunch for 11.30am so I could cook something.  The power didn't go off; it was a mini miracle as it stayed on all day.  I kept doing things, just in case the power went off, but I needn't have bothered.

At 4pm I decided it was time to go outside to do a bit of shopping and to get my walking exercise.  I enjoyed walking along the riverside but I was a bit disappointed with the flags that fly along the promenade.  Normally, they are flags of many nations but this time the city have changed them to just the Cambodian flag, the Buddhist one and another one I can't figure out.  The sky was quite dark and then the wind got up.  It really upset the pigeons and tens of thousands of them flew up into the air.  I felt sorry for the poor folk who were trying to sell corn seeds for people to feed them.  All these pigeons worry me as I often wonder if it's possible for them to carry Bird Flu; if they can, then it would be disastrous here as there are so many people, especially children, playing amongst them.  Pigeons always look the same to me so I often wonder how the males pick out the females.  The wind was terrible and I thought it would start to rain and so I headed back home.  Once I left the riverside, and entered the built up streets, the wind died down and it was as if I was in another world.  

I came home and decided I should cook the various things I've got stored in the deep freeze - a bag of what are described as Bratwurst sausages which really look more like fat weiners.  I've also got some chicken wings and legs.  I made a marinade of fish sauce, garlic and soya sauce and marinaded them for a few hours and then cooked them; I also dealt with the sausage.  Now I can simply cook vegetables and warm up the meat and I have a prepared meal.  

I got cracking with my emails and I now owe absolutely no one a reply.  There'll be more tomorrow but for tonight I can sleep knowing that everyone single person has had a reply from me.  Yofrina, from Indonesia, sent an email with a short report of a school visit.  I couldn't be bothered getting off the sofa, where I was lounging, so I one finger plonked and checked her report.  I've never done that before; it's good to know it's possible.  I thought I'd done everything but then I realised I hadn't done my blog, so here it is and goodnight.  

A dining out day

I did my morning exercise and left Ponleu sleeping for a while while I paced up and down.  He came out of the bedroom, looking groggy.  Suddenly, the BBC programme changed to really bad music.  I knew what had happened - Ponleu had picked up my phone and was playing a game.  I pounced on him; he knows I don't like him playing games here - he does enough of that in his own home.

The power went off before we had chance for breakfast so we had to have glasses of something cold plus a sandwich.  Ponleu always wants toast.  I offered milk but he said it was bland - he's got attached to my sour cherry juice.  I enjoy his company as he's a smart lad and very warm hearted.  There wasn't much he could do as he knew he couldn't play games.  He ended up using the lego bricks for a while which I thought was good as he got them out without my having to pressure him.  Later on I took him home and I was asked to stay for lunch.  I couldn't as I was dining out.

At noon Luc and Sokha arrived.  I told him we could park the car and walk down the road to a place we'd been to before.  Luc thought of another place so we set off in the car.  There's always construction or renovation going on so parking's a nightmare.  Luc and I went inside and left Sokha to sort things out.  I pointed out that this particular restaurant is the twin of the place I'd mentioned - even the menu was the same.  I ordered a chicken dish which turned out to be a couple of boneless pieces with a cheese and mushroom sauce, along with fries and a bit of a salad - it was very good.  I was enjoying chatting when they saw Sotheary walking along the road - they shouted at her.  She rents a room at Peaceful Children's Home where Luc is based.

They got up and chased after her and brought her back.  She sat with us while we ate and she talked and talked in a rather loud and excitable voice.  I noticed a man at the next table.  He kept ordering a drink in a small glass, which he quickly downed.  He'd also got a glass with a slice of lime in it.  It seemed to me that he was having a gin and tonic but the gin went down separately and very quickly.  I think he eventually got fed up of listening to Sotheary so he moved to another table.  

She went on about the road that's planned to go through the land where the children's home is located and how Soubert should stand up and fight.  He knows everyone who is anyone in the country but he's a gentleman and doesn't like getting his hands dirty; he'd told me earlier that people were looking after it for him.  It's a serious situation as the road is six lanes wide and the children will have to cross it to go to school.  The huge stupa to his father will end up on the other side of the road, half the football field will disappear and some of the buildings.  A house is being built for Soubert by some of the boys he raised and, if the road is completed, he'll be in an isolated situation as the children will be moved to another home they have in Battambang.  Now the news is that someone has started an archeological dig on the land owned by Soubert; they've found parts of a 7th century structure.  So now that may help to detour the road.  I wouldn't mind seeing a dig, so I'll keep it in mind for when I return to Cambodia.  

I had promised the three boys I'd take them for a fruit shake by the river.  When I went to pick them up their parents and youngest daughter, Cheata, also came along.  We settle down to order the drinks and then Samnang (14) decided to order a pizza, Oudom and Ponleu a burger, mother Cina another pizza and Cheata a crispy bun with some meat inside - all of the dishes had loads of chips and salad.  I stuck to what I'd planned in the first place which was a 75 cents glass of draft beer - nice and cold.  I was being watched!  Oudom pointed upwards and I saw one of the cooks, on an upper floor, looking down on me.  I waved and he smiled.  Later on I waved at him to say goodbye.  

I'd only planned on having a drink but I was told I had to have some of the two pizzas; Oudom made me try some of his burger.  After eating we set off for the riverside.  Samnang raced ahead and we knew he'd go home on his own.  The rest of us sauntered along and went to the exercise area where we enjoyed using the equipment for a while.  It's always busy in the evenings so we had to wait for people to leave before we could use something.  It was a good way to end the evening.