Sitting on the bus with six Immodium inside me. Already 30min delay so far in leaving, not sure how long the journey will take, depends on the roads. Could be five, six hours. Not sure what brought on the upset, but Nicci's suffering too.
Yesterday morning was again spent in the hostel. I went out to the war museum around lunchtime. Depressing place. Rusting hulks of tanks and artillery, also a helicopter and a Chinese jet that had both crash-landed. Was shown around by a guide called Kom (Com?), who had lost his left arm to a landmine. Very cheerful though, happy to be working. The things he showed me - AK47s, RPGs, M16s, landmines, anti-tank weaponry... so much technology and money, all for killing. Cambodia was still seeing fighting in 1998, when Pol Pot was finally ousted. So recent, Kom had been a child soldier - helping with ammo, and then communications, until at 18 he lost his arm. Plenty of pictures of the landmine victims - both horrific and uplifting.
Pictures too of people disarming landmines - volunteers. SR (maybe all of Cambodia?) seems to be quite a ... charitable (?) town. Lots of opportunities to work with local children, teach them, play with them. Donate time, food goods, blood. Rent bikes, buy postcards - for charity.
I can see myself taking months off to come work here for a while. It's definitely somewhere I'd love to return to, preferably without the flooding!
Visited the night market last night too - bit of a let-down. No deep fried tarantula that we could find. Got a few presents for the family still at home. Think my haggling has improved.
I miss cycling. I want to get out on a proper bike!
Yesterday morning was again spent in the hostel. I went out to the war museum around lunchtime. Depressing place. Rusting hulks of tanks and artillery, also a helicopter and a Chinese jet that had both crash-landed. Was shown around by a guide called Kom (Com?), who had lost his left arm to a landmine. Very cheerful though, happy to be working. The things he showed me - AK47s, RPGs, M16s, landmines, anti-tank weaponry... so much technology and money, all for killing. Cambodia was still seeing fighting in 1998, when Pol Pot was finally ousted. So recent, Kom had been a child soldier - helping with ammo, and then communications, until at 18 he lost his arm. Plenty of pictures of the landmine victims - both horrific and uplifting.
I can see myself taking months off to come work here for a while. It's definitely somewhere I'd love to return to, preferably without the flooding!
Visited the night market last night too - bit of a let-down. No deep fried tarantula that we could find. Got a few presents for the family still at home. Think my haggling has improved.
***
I miss cycling. I want to get out on a proper bike!
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