Today was pretty lazy and slow. Since we didn't have to leave until 10 AM, we had a chance to sleep-in, which was really good, since I hadn't had much sleep because of uncomfortable beds, a rooster, snoring, bathroom breaks, talking, and excitement for the next day. But I got up at 8 AM, and I decided it had been a good night's rest and the best sleep I've had, and after I slowly got dressed and ready, and after breakfast, I joined some friends on a tuk tuk ride around the city, and it was really fun!
Then we took the bus for about an hour to the outskirts of Siem Reap, and out where rice fields and villages laid. It was beautiful countryside, full of picture-worthy material, but I still felt a little sad for all the space, the villages were tightly-packed, with the houses on stilts, people were half-naked and hungry, dogs and cattle walked everywhere, and poverty infected each place.
We stopped near the Tonle Sap Lake, and took a boat for about a half-an-hour down to the floating villages communities, where homes, gardens, churches, schools, shops, restaurants were all on the water, floating on driftwood like boats. It was really interesting to see how people lived on the water, sitting and relaxing on their boats, driving around, and working outside. We waved to several people, saw crocodiles, catfish, and turtles, and were blessed by Buddhist monks at the floating monestary.
We came back to relax for a while and then headed with our friends Vicki, Anna, and T. Edward, who to me are Aunt Vicki, Aunt Anna, and Tedward to the Old Market in downtown Siem Reap. I bought a T-shirt during our walk around all the different shops and restaurants and through the busy streets.
After a while, we found a massage parlor. But this wasn't just any normal massage parlor. This massage parlor had two tanks, full of tiny fish, and when you stuck your feet in, the fish "kissed" or nibbled at your toes to clear away dead skin and dirt. It felt weird and it tickled a lot at first, but then it sort of became relaxing to sip on some soda while enjoying the city and entertaining watching people's reactions as they walked by and witnessed the fish massages.
Tomorrow we fly to Phnom Penh, and more fun we will have there....in 2014!
No comments:
Post a Comment