Cambodia

Hello new world-

Ankor Wat

The past couple of days have been a rough trip- I've been going non stop- sleeping on people's couches, on midnight bus rides, on the shoulder of whoever is sitting next to me, on a 1 dollar train ride to a different country with chickens, and 4x the amount of people supposed to be on a train at one time. Personal space stops when your skin touches the air. I was so tired I slept standing up with my mouth open hanging onto the railing of a train rolling through the dirty streets of Siem Reap.

I met some travelers and stayed 3 nights with a lovely girl from Barcelona in a room for $1, and ate watermelon for dinner. Crossing the border to Cambodia was dirty, and crowded. I felt as if I were in utter caios in the middle of the road with cows, bikes, cars, trash, and people pushing carts full of jack fruit.
The next day I got up at 4:30 in the morning and shared a tuk tuk ride to Ankor Wat- one of the 7th wonders in the world- a city of temples from the 14 hundreds. Ahhh.... the morning mist had just settled on the town, and by the light of the tuk tuck I could make out the gate to the city of temples. We purchased a rather pricey ticket, then drove until we came to this huge moat- that puts Notre Dam to shame.
This huge temple appeared in front of us, basking in dark stone, and height. The 4 of us girls walked along quietly towards a bridge straddled over the huge mote into the dark regulatory that led us down a hallway immersed in the thick smell of incense. I lit some and put it at the feet of a giant Buddha. The temple, and others like it in the city was magnificent with stone carvings down to the very detail so much as to put petals on a stone rose. Carvings in the wall told the story of a war, and also showed Hindustani gods.
We went to another temple know as the place were Tomb Raider was filmed- this was glorious with the temple half way dilapidated, and gigantic trees growing over the walls. I have never seen trees so large.
It was the perfect picture of how I want to believe in some thing that is eternal- not made of stone and wood. The nature prevails- and what made the nature prevails. Breathtaking. I didn't take pictures- and haven't been using my camera- because I feel as if there is a disconnect between the energy and me when there is a camera between me and the object of concentration. Incredible-

I then took a night bus to the capital of Cambodia- Phenom Phen. On the way- I met a really nice family with a little baby who I got to play with and hold on the bus. Big black eyes, and little gold earrings- two baby teeth, and a laugh that would put a smile on any one's face. The mother would occasionally pull out a boob for the baby- without shame. I thought this was a beautiful thing that the culture around her understands that breastfeeding is totally natural- and something you don't have to be ashamed about. I sat next to a police officer- who spoke English and was very respectful and bought my dinner along the way. Such a blessing.

The next day I went for a long run around the city. After an hour I came back to the guesthouse and went to the Killing Fields by bicycle. It was a dusty, long, dirty ride out of town, which I met a guy from Europe walking across Cambodia to the south near the beach... yeah. I said walking.  When I got to the Killing Fields,  it was located along a windy road in the country side with potato fields, and an occasional palm. It was 2 dollars to enter- and immediately I saw a huge glass container from the road. As soon as I realized it was carrying 15,000 skulls, the energy of the place started to sink in deep.
There were signs around the ground saying "here is where the trucks brought people to be killed," "baby killing tree," "graves of 120 children headless skeletons." There were holes all around that were all graves of the people who were murdered. It was a wake up call to me- for I had not been living my life daily to the fullest- and realized that life is truly a gift... A gift these children never got the chance to live.
I then went back to the city and stumbled upon a dance group of amazing hip hop dancers right by the river side. These kids were around my age, and I enjoyed talking to them and the vibe of being around other teens. A lot of foreigners traveling are so old! And I find myself adopting their views- adult views- on life even though I don't mean to- just because I spend time with them. It's nice to talk to other kids my age- and super cool that they are Cambodian.

Before heading back to my guesthouse- I wanted to have dinner, and ordered veggie soup with a coconut smoothie. I ended up meeting this girl who was selling books and was 20 years old, homeless and pregnant. She wanted to know if I wanted to by books- but I didn't want any that she had. She ended up sitting with me and we shared dinner together and talked about the culture of Cambodia, and how to eat well for her baby inside. She had the most incredible eyes- full of stories. I understood her even though she spoke a little English.
Today I woke up for a run around the Royal Palace, and temples by the Mekong river. I felt strong today like I could run really fast which was a good feeling- I only get running on flat surfaces- not the hills back in the village. :) I then showered and went to this place called Friends- which is an NGO supporting the street children in Cambodia- but the cafe was closed, so I had some green beans next door at a local place. I then went into this temple where I talked with a monk called Sarak- sounds like Sara when you say it out loud- about how he is studying at a university, and how he secretly likes to dance before bed every night. Haha.
I walked down the steps into this garden where I talked to this kid who was 15, and his grandfather let me in this secret door, to a beautiful temple with a huge Buddha and a dark tunnel- we sat with our legs behind us, and he lit incense for me to offer. I put the incense below Buddha, and he said a pray and sprinkled me with these special stick dipped in rose water, and oils. I felt a little dizzy when I stood up, and thanked him before leaving. :)
I then went to the National Museum where I saw every Buddha that was in the Ankor Wat temples- with a lot of other museum type stuff- and also met a monk who was my age, and had nice eyes.

I wanted to go to the Russian Market to get some books. This market is similar to the black market- you can buy basically anything there, and for not very much money. Cambodia is similar to the USA in the way that they use dollar bills, and drive on the right side of the road. It's confusing when you go to pay for something though, because its a combination of dollars, and rio- which is in thousands digits...
Any way- On my way to the Russian Market, the night was young and I was in search of a nutrition book. I want to learn. So I was on a mission riding my bike carefully down the crazy street full of other cyclist, motorbikes, cars, and carts- beeping their horns, and roaring their moters. Please note that the lines on the road, stop signs, and traffic lights are only mere suggestions no one follows. So when driving I always say a pray for safety before I jump on and start to peddle.
I was almost there and picked up speed, when suddenly I came along side of a shiny black 4x4 to which the driver opened the drivers door sending me smacking into the window over the handlebars and into the street. I crawled out of the road immediately to avoid from being hit again, and dragged by bike to the edge of the road. The man who hit me came over to make sure I was okay, and several people stopped. Besides a scrape on my right knee, bruise, and rip in my only pants, I'm just fine. But in the moment I was shocked and my heart was beating so fast. I had to take some deep breaths before getting back on the bike. The man went into a store and bought some cotton and alcohol to which he gave me and a couple bandages. He was very nice and felt so bad. There was a white woman who stopped to make sure I was okay, and offered to get me a drink- but besides the scrapes, I was fine. I thanked them and went on my way.

The Russian Market was closed- yet I went to a cafe run by an NGO nearby and had a salad, read and journaled. Today was a breath of fresh air- to which I could take my time- be somewhat of a tourist, and relax. I met some 20 year old students at a university here, and we had a conversation in broken English and chewed on sugar cane. I feel as if God is surrounding me with people to talk to and protect me along the way. I see the beggars that come up to me- and think of the scripture- "What you do to the least of these, you do to me." What if one of these beggars is Jesus- or an angel- like I want to talk with them and show them I care about them, even though I don't want to give them money. :)
It's a wonderful life for me. But you can still see the hardness in the people's eyes. Not as lighthearted and free as the Thai people. Some of them their parents were murdered in the genocide. I got a suggestion to go to S-21 tomorrow- which is a prison where the Khmer Rouge kept hostages, but I don't know if I want to dwell in the past of what happened anymore. I want to meet the people today, and talk to them and hear about what they do all day.
Tomorrow I have a midnight bus ride to Saigon, Vietnam- which is near the beach. I would like to travel to north Vietnam by train and climb the highest mountain there near China- but have to get back to Bangkok for my India visa, so we'll see if I have time.

Going to get to sleep- I have no plans tomorrow- but will explore!
Love Love back home!
Thank you for your messages, Mommy, and Sara.
You are so precious to my heart.

Where I sat and chewed sugar cane today with some Cambodians.