Cambodia and Thailand Trip Update

Well I have been pretty bad about updating this thing in the last week. So this post will hopefully be a highlight reel.

“Not much can phase me in Cambodia anymore,” I say that each time I go there. But on this trip there were two things that made me pause. One was when the street in front of my hotel flooded in the morning. Then the second was when I was at this one little restaurant that I like despite the fact that allow beggars (but only those selling books—usually guide books or some knock offs of other popular books) into the outside seating area. I actually had a little fun with it since I had my Warren Buffet book so they would offer me a book and I would say no thanks and show them my book. So the line-up went like this: midget in a wheelchair with strange deformity—laughs and goes on her way, guy with two fake legs—nods and goes on his way, then little girl who was no more than 10—wont take “no” for an answer.

This little girl saw me show her my book and then in very good English says, “No good! Mine are so much better!” I kind of laughed and kept reading so she came over to my side and insisted—no—demanded that I buy a book. She had nothing good. So I bs’d for a little bit only to have her continually demand I buy a book. I eventually just told her no. She was not happy. She cocked her fist back like she was going to hit me. To me is was more funny than anything else (seriously a skinny ten year old, then again as a street kid she was probably a skilled ninja style fighter who could kill twice before I hit the ground). But after she did that a few more times the wait staff apparently thought enough was enough an ushered her outside to the street. She gave me the evil eye for a long time. I have never met such a persistent 10 year old, or one that threatened to hit me in public. Maybe I’ll buy a book next time.

Two waitresses at a cafe I frequent in Phnom Penh learned I was going to the airport the next day and offered to go along with me on the ride. I kicked myself afterward since I said yes and I was sure they saw me as a dollar bill with legs. Well I was pleasently surprised when they told me the next day they wanted to go since neither had ever been to an airport before. Oh yeah, at the airport I saw two US Marines in jungle camo--random.

Then I was in Thailand for two nights. But I was pretty overworked. The wifi in my hotel gave out so I had to run next door in the rain and pay $15 for a two hour wifi card at 10pm. That sucked. Much like Cambodia, my customer meetings went really well. I think I can chalk that up to my Jerry Garcia tie. My last night there I went out to party at Slim (a club) in the RCA district. I was pretty amused they had tv’s that had street basketball highlights on loop.