Khmer words of the day: Barang (foreigner)
T’lei pon man? (How much is it?)
Weather update: Bloody boiling this morning as the sun was out making everything ALOT hotter! I’m guessing it was about 30c today. However, this quickly turned into mega heavy rain and it has been spitting ever since (i’m writing this at 22:50!) This does mean that it is alot cooler now though so much better for sleep!
So this afternoon, after spending over 2 hours in the lovely air conditioned internet cafe we decided to venture to the market. So Simon, Kirsty, Sarah and I headed off to the Central Market armed with shopping lists and very limited Khmer! However, pretty much the minute we jumped into the tuk-tuk a major rain storm set in and when it rains here it usually seriously rains! So we were pretty wet when we arrived and had to jump over about 4 ft of puddle to get to the entrance and enter the maze of tunnels of tiny little stalls. The ‘roof’ is made out strips of plastic sheeting which I have no idea quite how it manages to withstand the rain. Put it this way, there are many holes so it is like being in a slightly lighter rain storm! I’m sorry I haven’t got any photo’s of inside the market, it is not a great idea to flaunt wealth as being a foreigner makes you conspicuous enough without looking like a crass tourist too :p
So here we are, making our way through a fairly smelly and very wet rabbit warren on a mission to find the things on our lists...
The first thing on the list for Kirsty and I was definitely HAIR STRAIGHTENERS! We are both seriously suffering from some serious frizz action, probably not helped by the sweat and humidity but still a problem! Anyway, there are absolutely loads of different kinds of straighteners available and we eventually bartered $11 for 2 sets of fairly good (I hope) sets.
I then decided that a pillow and towel were next on the list, so feeling confident I marched (well, sort of did a random leaping dance over yucky puddles) towards a stall I had seen selling bed stuff and towels. After getting some advice from one of the VSO staff, who told me to avoid Cambodian pillows (they smell awful apparently!) I settled on an American pillow which was very plumphy (technical word!) and was also antibacterial and hypoallergenic. I managed to get this god of pillows and a big pink towel for $10 which I was very happy with! The trick with bartering here is to take about $2-4 off and try and try until they put it away in which case you’ve reached the lowest point. Luckily, pretty much the only barangs (see word of the day!) who are in PP this time of the year live here/are volunteers so the market sellers don’t take the mickey too much with prices.
So i’m now armed with a fairly sizeable bag in tunnels designed for people half my size and jumping like a loon over puddles (flip flops ewww)...lord only knows what I must have looked like to the Khmer stall holders!
In the central area of the market it is all amazing jewellery and i’m sure it is very reasonable but on a VSO budget definitely not on my shopping list!
So we proceeded on to try and find bags. Sadly i’m not talking about the lovely silk embroidered ones they sell here but rather the boring, practical kind! When we move to Kampong Cham on Wednesday I do not want to be carrying things such as a potato masher up there and I’m sure I can leave some clothes behind so as to minimise weight. However, this means a new bag! So went up to a lovely lady selling all kinds of bags and after getting out really quite a few I settled on a little north face (yeah right) and Salamon (hmmm) holdall. These will come in useful on my bike and also on my travels to Phnom Penh and hopefully to Thailand and to visit other volunteers in Ho Chi Minh City.
Anyway, so those set me back $20 for the 2 which isn’t too bad really although I probably could’ve knocked it down further if I had better Khmer and could actually understand the numbers. It is a bit embarrassing when you are being all confident and saying ‘hello, how are you’ and ‘how much’ in Khmer to then just stare blankley back at the stall holder when they answer in Khmer and you don’t understand a sodding word!! However, I am muchly reassured by the other volunteers who have been a few months being really quite fluent!
So now I have 2 huge carrier bags to haul around we decide to head out and go guitar shopping for Kirsty and Sarah who have both decided that they are going to use their long lonely evenings in the provinces learning this fairly cool skill! When we emerged back into the street it was to be met by a wall of water which meant we quickly turned back towards the market and the handily placed umbrella shop! This saw Kirsty and I acquire 2 shiny new brightly coloured umbrellas (Sarah had a poncho and Simon was very prepared and already had a brolly!). So we set off again out into the monsoon to be greeted by completely flooded streets, it seems the Cambodian’s haven’t got road drainage or do have it and it is completely overwhelmed. Anyway, after a few more leaps over giant smelly puddles and a few enquires we found a guitar shop!
I must say I was a little dubious and thought we wouldn’t find one but find one we did and it was actually pretty amazing! Had a huge range of guitars and the girls managed to find a couple they loved and they were both made in Phnom Penh which is great. So we then all leged it to a tuk tuk which now contains 4 people, 2 guitars, pillow & towel bag, 2 new bags and sets of hair straighteners!
We were all pretty exhausted when we got back to the VSO PO (Programme Office) and just decided to go around the corner for dinner at a Khmer place Simon had visited the night before. It was really authentic with accompanying Khmer Karaoke! The food here just comes whenever it is ready and beer is cheaper than sodas! So was a pretty cheap night costing us $4 each including loadsa food and beers! So that was good. Bit of a shame that I couldn’t really enjoy it though as I have completely lost my appetite (I think this is the best diet ever as I haven’t felt hungry all day!). Anyway, I’m sure it’ll come back when I get used to the heat. I must admit that I went next door to the nice supermarket and bought actual Coco-pops for breakfast for tomorrow! I know it is stupid as they cost $4 but they will make me feel less home sick and means I will probably eat breakfast. Saying that ‘You’ll never walk alone just came on my ipod and now feeling very home sick! In fact listening to my ipod in general is a bad idea as every song on it reminds me of something from home!
Just a quick thing, the MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne is staying in the room opposite mine as she is doing a couple of weeks volunteering as a government adviser. Feel some serious networking coming on...although she’ll probably be eating with the ambassador at the Cambodiana (best hotel in PP, there is supposed to be an amazing hotel in Shianoukville too, if anyone is interested!) every night, not at the local Khmer place for $4!! Oh well!!
Please keep me up to date with what you’re all doing! I want to know the football scores and if anyone can find a way of recording strictly for me I would love you more than I probably do now! Of course, you’re all welcome to come visit if anyone is in SE Asia and we can live it up in PP!!
Ok, this is a complete essay (It is in fact a lot longer than most of my essays and took me 20mins to write...!). So I’m signing off for today, Mega busy training sessions coming up in the morning.
Love you all xx
Monday, 7 September 2009
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Cyclo tour of PP!
On our first Saturday in PP VSO hired us a cyclo (a chair pushed by a guy on a bike) to take us on a tour of Phnom Penh!
It was a little scary getting in these things as the roads here are MENTAL. I mean MENTAL. I saw a massive 4x4 driving the wrong way up the dual carriageway yesterday and this is totally normal. The only law is that there is no law, especially if you're wealthy.
So we got in our cylco and headed off to our first stop which was the temple on which PP was built. It has been totally restored and is set in beautiful parkland. There are many Khmer people there praying to all the different buddah's and shrines and the whole place hums with incense. One of the first things you notice with PP is the smell, one min it's drains, next jasmine, then rubbish, then insence! Very odd!
After that we headed up to the main market called 'New Market', which was amazing! It is a rabbit warren where there is anything and everything you could ever want or imagine!
We travelled on to the Foriegn Corrsepondents Club down by the river front which is really famous as it is where all the journalists were during the war. It has an amazing terrace with great view accross all of the riverside. It also has wifi but is quite expensive at about $8 a meal, so one to save for when someone else is paying :p
We then headed up towards our lunch spot passing a hotel called 'The Pavillion' where you can spend all day by the pool for spending $5 on food and drink, which was a great find!
Lunch was at an amazing little restaurant where you eat whilst reclining (a little difficult if you're not a teeny asian!). Was very tasty!
The cyclo tour then continued on to Tuol Sleng (s-21) which was the school that the Khmer Rouge turned into its infamous torture prison during the civil war here. It was a harrowing expeience and really very graphic. We hired a guide to take us around, which was definately worth the $2 as he told us some amazing stories from his life during the Khmer Rouge reign. I didn't take alot of photos there as it didn't really feel right and it was really quite graphic. I could probably write a huge long blog just about the place but it really does need a visit in person as nothing I could say would really describe it.
So after that harrowing experience we cycloed back to VSO office and chilled for a bit before going out for a curry with some other volunteers who have been here for a year already!
Sorry for rushing this but just noticed that I am massively late for a shopping trip to the market and I have alot to buy!
Hopefully will get on later and can describe my shopping experience!
Love xx
It was a little scary getting in these things as the roads here are MENTAL. I mean MENTAL. I saw a massive 4x4 driving the wrong way up the dual carriageway yesterday and this is totally normal. The only law is that there is no law, especially if you're wealthy.
So we got in our cylco and headed off to our first stop which was the temple on which PP was built. It has been totally restored and is set in beautiful parkland. There are many Khmer people there praying to all the different buddah's and shrines and the whole place hums with incense. One of the first things you notice with PP is the smell, one min it's drains, next jasmine, then rubbish, then insence! Very odd!
After that we headed up to the main market called 'New Market', which was amazing! It is a rabbit warren where there is anything and everything you could ever want or imagine!
We travelled on to the Foriegn Corrsepondents Club down by the river front which is really famous as it is where all the journalists were during the war. It has an amazing terrace with great view accross all of the riverside. It also has wifi but is quite expensive at about $8 a meal, so one to save for when someone else is paying :p
We then headed up towards our lunch spot passing a hotel called 'The Pavillion' where you can spend all day by the pool for spending $5 on food and drink, which was a great find!
Lunch was at an amazing little restaurant where you eat whilst reclining (a little difficult if you're not a teeny asian!). Was very tasty!
The cyclo tour then continued on to Tuol Sleng (s-21) which was the school that the Khmer Rouge turned into its infamous torture prison during the civil war here. It was a harrowing expeience and really very graphic. We hired a guide to take us around, which was definately worth the $2 as he told us some amazing stories from his life during the Khmer Rouge reign. I didn't take alot of photos there as it didn't really feel right and it was really quite graphic. I could probably write a huge long blog just about the place but it really does need a visit in person as nothing I could say would really describe it.
So after that harrowing experience we cycloed back to VSO office and chilled for a bit before going out for a curry with some other volunteers who have been here for a year already!
Sorry for rushing this but just noticed that I am massively late for a shopping trip to the market and I have alot to buy!
Hopefully will get on later and can describe my shopping experience!
Love xx
Nothing that is worth doing is easy!
Hello!
Right, so I have arrived in Phnom Penh...!
So I'll start with the very begining and work my way through what has happened since then!
So on 2nd September 2009 at 6:30am Mum drove me to the Heathrow terminal 3 and the adventure truely began. I was a little nervous about checking in as my bag wieghed about 28kg and the max was 25kg (but it did have my helmet in!). Luckily the lady at the desk must've been in a good mood as we weren't charged a thing for excess baggage thank goodness!
As we proceeded towards security I knew that horrid goodbye was coming and was bloody awful. Possibly one of the hardest things I have ever done and if it wasn't for the support of the other girls...I'm actually quite suprised I didn't just run back but I guess it is mind over matter. I have alot of people relying on me and of course all of you have donated money to the cause so I couldn't just run away!
Anyway. So we got on the plane and we were sat on a 4 seater in the middle with just the three of us but it became fairly apparent that the plane was pretty much empty so everyone got to spead out a bit. I managed to curl up on 2 seats and slept the most I have ever slept on a plane! Managed to get about 4-5 hours which was pretty good. I also did quite a bit of reading :) unfortunately we were on a really old plane which was a bit disappointing as it only had one tv quite a way away so you couldn't really see. Caught the end of Angels and Demons though which is a pretty good film. To be honest, we chatted most of the way! We were all getting to know each other as we are going to be spending alot of time together in the coming months!
The transfer at Bangkok went really smoothly and it was an amazing flight over to PP. The first thing I noticed was that EVERYTHING is flooded. From the air it looks like those arial images you see when you are looking at a flood disaster on the news, however this is totally normal for this time of year!
We were met at the airport by the lovely admin team from VSO Cambodia who helped to guide us through the visa process (n.b. when you come to Cambodia you need to have a passport picture for your visa. Luckily I knew this!).
Then we went to the office and met some more of the team and Kirsty and I went to the guest house as there weren't enough rooms for all of us at the Programme Office. I really hated it and luckily I have managed to swap with one of the girls so that I am now staying at the office.
I will be in PP until next Weds when we move to Kampong Cham which is about 3 hours NW of PP and meant to be lovely. This is where we will be doing our language training which I am really looking forward to as so far I am still struggling with hello and thank you!
Phnom Penh itself is crazy! I have never been in a city like it. There is quite an apparent wealth divide, with the rich and poor living side by side in quite a stark contrast. On the second night we went out for drinks so quite a swanky place and I had an amazing cocktail for $3 which is really not much at all but for a cyclo driver in half a days wages. Since I found this out I always tip at least another dollar. I don't know how long this will last on my limited funds but we shall see!
Ok, I'm going to end this blog now and go on to a new one describing my Cyclo Tour I did yesterday...!
Thinking of you all :o) xx
Right, so I have arrived in Phnom Penh...!
So I'll start with the very begining and work my way through what has happened since then!
So on 2nd September 2009 at 6:30am Mum drove me to the Heathrow terminal 3 and the adventure truely began. I was a little nervous about checking in as my bag wieghed about 28kg and the max was 25kg (but it did have my helmet in!). Luckily the lady at the desk must've been in a good mood as we weren't charged a thing for excess baggage thank goodness!
As we proceeded towards security I knew that horrid goodbye was coming and was bloody awful. Possibly one of the hardest things I have ever done and if it wasn't for the support of the other girls...I'm actually quite suprised I didn't just run back but I guess it is mind over matter. I have alot of people relying on me and of course all of you have donated money to the cause so I couldn't just run away!
Anyway. So we got on the plane and we were sat on a 4 seater in the middle with just the three of us but it became fairly apparent that the plane was pretty much empty so everyone got to spead out a bit. I managed to curl up on 2 seats and slept the most I have ever slept on a plane! Managed to get about 4-5 hours which was pretty good. I also did quite a bit of reading :) unfortunately we were on a really old plane which was a bit disappointing as it only had one tv quite a way away so you couldn't really see. Caught the end of Angels and Demons though which is a pretty good film. To be honest, we chatted most of the way! We were all getting to know each other as we are going to be spending alot of time together in the coming months!
The transfer at Bangkok went really smoothly and it was an amazing flight over to PP. The first thing I noticed was that EVERYTHING is flooded. From the air it looks like those arial images you see when you are looking at a flood disaster on the news, however this is totally normal for this time of year!
We were met at the airport by the lovely admin team from VSO Cambodia who helped to guide us through the visa process (n.b. when you come to Cambodia you need to have a passport picture for your visa. Luckily I knew this!).
Then we went to the office and met some more of the team and Kirsty and I went to the guest house as there weren't enough rooms for all of us at the Programme Office. I really hated it and luckily I have managed to swap with one of the girls so that I am now staying at the office.
I will be in PP until next Weds when we move to Kampong Cham which is about 3 hours NW of PP and meant to be lovely. This is where we will be doing our language training which I am really looking forward to as so far I am still struggling with hello and thank you!
Phnom Penh itself is crazy! I have never been in a city like it. There is quite an apparent wealth divide, with the rich and poor living side by side in quite a stark contrast. On the second night we went out for drinks so quite a swanky place and I had an amazing cocktail for $3 which is really not much at all but for a cyclo driver in half a days wages. Since I found this out I always tip at least another dollar. I don't know how long this will last on my limited funds but we shall see!
Ok, I'm going to end this blog now and go on to a new one describing my Cyclo Tour I did yesterday...!
Thinking of you all :o) xx
Friday, 28 August 2009
Packing!
"This will never all fit in that bag Charlotte" (The wisdom of Mum, 27/08/09)
So the packing has started...!
Last night I attempted to start packing. Everything is in my bag at least, so that is a good start! I have been warned that my bag can't be over 25kg and I did try and weigh it on my bathroom scales...came out at 24.9. This could be entirely inaccurate though, as trying to balance a massive bag on a tiny square is quite impossible and I may have been leaning on it or something. I hope this is the case as I haven't quite finished packing yet!!
I was also sent my motorcycle helmet in the post this morning and it is pretty awesome (I have included a lovely photo of me looking like the stig!). It is also pretty heavy and hot, so will have to see how that works out in 35 degree heat!
Just a quick note, if anyone knows how to move photo's around so they're inbetween the text rather than all at the top, I would love to know!!
:) x
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
1 week to go!
I really thought I had better start writing on here :)
So with one week to go all I've managed to do is make my room a bigger mess than usual and making it a decision between bed or floor...!
I have had my last set of injections this evening so I am now officially protected against a huge raft of really horrid diseases (tip: NEVER wikipedia rabies!). Also picked up my anti-malarial drugs which suprisingly had a very short information leaflet (tip: ALWAYS read this!). I've also managed to buy out most of Boots and make myself feel better about it by doing only a few bits at a time. £20 feels so much better that £120, which is the likely total of all my purchases. On the upside I now have nearly £20 worth of Boots points, which is a plus for someone who is going to Cambodia for 14 months...my Mum is eagerly eyeing my card already!
I have also managed to pass all my motorbike training with top marks which I am particularly chuffed with as, to be honest, on the first day I saw the bike my immediate thought was 'NO WAY'. However, I am now a fully converted biker chick, who eats at biker cafe's and knows FAR too much about motorbikes to be a normal person...!
Packing is tricky at the moment though because all I can think about is how super fun my leaving party at the weekend is going to be! At the moment I'm finding it pretty easy to not think about the fact that I am leaving all my wonderful friends and family behind but I'm pretty sure that'll change this weekend after a few Pimms. I apologise in advance!!
Anyway, I'll leave this random ramble there for the moment!
:) x
So with one week to go all I've managed to do is make my room a bigger mess than usual and making it a decision between bed or floor...!
I have had my last set of injections this evening so I am now officially protected against a huge raft of really horrid diseases (tip: NEVER wikipedia rabies!). Also picked up my anti-malarial drugs which suprisingly had a very short information leaflet (tip: ALWAYS read this!). I've also managed to buy out most of Boots and make myself feel better about it by doing only a few bits at a time. £20 feels so much better that £120, which is the likely total of all my purchases. On the upside I now have nearly £20 worth of Boots points, which is a plus for someone who is going to Cambodia for 14 months...my Mum is eagerly eyeing my card already!
I have also managed to pass all my motorbike training with top marks which I am particularly chuffed with as, to be honest, on the first day I saw the bike my immediate thought was 'NO WAY'. However, I am now a fully converted biker chick, who eats at biker cafe's and knows FAR too much about motorbikes to be a normal person...!
Packing is tricky at the moment though because all I can think about is how super fun my leaving party at the weekend is going to be! At the moment I'm finding it pretty easy to not think about the fact that I am leaving all my wonderful friends and family behind but I'm pretty sure that'll change this weekend after a few Pimms. I apologise in advance!!
Anyway, I'll leave this random ramble there for the moment!
:) x
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