Motorcycle pulling this one too

local markets along the way

Police Escort and the motorcycle cut us off

House along way to Phenom Penh

This is on the back of a motorcycle

Royal Palace

Royal Palace

Silver Pagoda

Child holding onto the bus begging we were forbidden by the police to give them money.

motorcycle pulling this truck

Sianukville, Cambodia

Friday, March 2, 2012

Wow, what can I say we arrived in Cambodia early this am.  We got back from Bangkok and I was not feeling well, I guess the heat the exhaustion got to me so we did not even go down to dinner.  My head it the pillow and that was it but all too soon our 6:30am wake up call arrived.  We got ready and went up to the Lido for breakfast.  I think the whole ship was up there.  My stomach was still not feeling well so I opted for a small roll with butter and tea.  Don’t want to overload the stomach we have a 4 hour ride each way.

Headed out to the bus and we got settled in.  Our tour guide was adorable he told us his name but I couldn’t figure it out but he said his English name is “Lucky”  We traveled through many villages.  Had to stop to let the cows cross the road.  We saw such poverty.  Lucky told us his father died when e was young and his mother raised the 4 children alone.  The town that they lived in only one house had a bathroom or well.  He decided early on he did not want to live in poverty forever so he signed up to be a Monk.  It cost $300 which his mother had to work and slave to get for him to go to Monk school.  After a few years he left and got a job at a hotel in the capital city where we were headed Phenom Penh (pronounced  Nom Pen).  He worked very hard and then spent $1500 to get his license to be a tour guide.  He does this but is currently in the University.  He will get far as he is a go getter and speaks perfect English.  He said he watched American Idol to learn English.

Anyway on our long trip Lucky explained the history of Cambodia, the politics and spoke about the killing fields.  There was a bus going there also.  We did go through some beautiful scenery.  The highway was built by the Americans.  It is 2 lanes and you must contend with motorcycles and trucks.  You would be surprised what they put on the back of a motorcycle.  They make them into taxis, buses for local people, I even saw one carrying timber!

Halfway to Phenom Penh we stopped for what they call “Happy Room” what we call a potty break.  As we excited the bus they were handing out tissues.  Thank God for Becky she gave me a roll of Charmin to Go!  So in I went and if I could have taken a picture you all would be on the floor.  Since they don’t use toilet paper they have sprayers so the floor is all wet.  So again like in Bangkok here I am rollig the  bottom of the pants up the top of the pants down and praying they don’t fall into the water!  That major accomplishment done, we load the bus and head out to Phenom Penh all of a sudden all the buses are being pulled over.  We had three going on our tour and 1 going to the Killing Fields.  Our guide got out came back and explained that the police said we were all speeding.  Let me tell you there is no where to speed between the motorcycles, bicycles, cows, dogs I could walk faster.  All the bus drivers had to pay a fine that finds itself into the police’s pocket  (Corruption at it’s finest).  So we continue on.  “Lucky explains that they had to get special permission to use the center road and that when we got about 10 KM away we would be met by a police escort or we would never get into the city.  Sure enough each bus was given a police escort with siren blasting.  We never stopped for a light it was  great. Our first stop was the Raffles hotel same as in Singapore where we had a great buffet lunch.  They had a lot of local food but my stomach is still hurting so I don’t want to make it worse.  There were a lot of shops but I opted to sit and relax I know I must be getting old.  I am having trouble with my heel spurs so I was in pain.  When we left the hotel our police escort took us to the Royal Palace.

 We arrived at the Royal Palace and again I must quote Mel Brook’s from “The History of the World”  “It’s good to be king”.  This is the home of the silver pagoda and it was impressive.  Like any good Palace they have their own temple so we were allowed to go in there.  Oh did I mention that we were the only ones there they opened early just for us!  In the temple they have a buddha that has the biggest (real) diamonds.  Diamonds for eyes belt, necklace and the one in the middle of the forehead was a 10 carat pear shape diamond.  Not to be outdone it had two one in each palm 10 carat round diamonds on the hands.  I WANT THIS STATUE AND I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!  WE weren’t even allowed to take a picture........But they did sell postcards so I bought them.  Seeing this is to believe it.

After the Palace our police escort took us to the Royal Museum.  I decided to sit on a bench in the lobby by the fan.  Our last stop was shopping and I was not going to waste any of my energy looking at statues.  I was impressed with the city it is large and crowded like all big cities.  Lucky told us they call it Lexus city there are so many Lexus cars there.  He said there is a lot of corruption.  did I mention that our tour guide has an IPHONE!  a couple of years ago he didn’t even have a toilet!  Anyway I have never seen so much traffic we sailed through.  Our last stop and we only had 20 minutes I could have used all day to leisurely walk through instead I could only visit a few of the stalls! The Central Market.  It was huge!  I got a few scarfes and didn’t have time for anything else!  Oh well I have 2 and 1/2 days in Vietnam!!!  Bring it on.

We headed back out of town each with our own motorcycle policemen two on each.  People do not pay any attention to them it is hysterical.  Lucky asked if we wanted to see a movie i thought this would be a good idea until he put in “The Killing Fields” so I tried to sleep not happening so I watched the stupid movie!  We arrived at our “Happy stop”  It was crowded and there was only one stall open, yikes when I went in it was a ceramic hole in the ground.  Okay here we go again.  Again a big thank you to Becky charmin to go came in really handy.......

We got back in the coach and now all four buses are together and we have  a police escort to get us back to the ship a little early.  We arrived back to the ship around 8pm had just enough time to shower change and get to dinner.  Since we had not been there for 2 nights it was great to get back.  Our friends Harold and Carol took the shuttle yesterday and apparently the beggars and peddlers were banging on the bus windows so they did not get off and came right back to the bus.  We did not have that there were a few beggars outside the Royal Palace and our police chased them.  

It was a really long day and I am thrilled that today is a sea day I am not doing anything!  Unfortunately, my memoir class is cancelled for now Joe Kita who teaches it had to leave unexpectantly in Singapore as his mother is very ill and we don’t know if he will return!

We have seen so much in the last three days with much much more to go!  Elaine asked if we are halfway through the cruise not quite a few more days!!!!  

I have to keep pinching myself to make sure I am not dreaming.  

I do want to note that I HATE STEPS !!!!  But feel very blessed to be able to do this World Cruise!!!!!!!!!

We have just docked in Ho Chi Minh City and I will be going ashore soon.  We are here for three days and have a night time tour tonight.  WIll try to post about it later tonight.

Have a great day.