PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - AN UNPLANNED TRIP (PART 2)

This is part 2. You can find part 1 here.

I dedicate the blog post to the people I met in my trip to Cambodia.

The first person I talked to was the tuk tuk driver. He took me from bus station to hostel. We had a good chat along the way. He's in his 50s, Vietnamese, living in Cambodia for a long time, very nice and kind. He stopped by a money exchange store for me. He consulted my travel plan, where to go, where not to go, where to go today, where to go the day after, etc. Generally, a very helpful person. We chatted about his life, why he would move to Cambodia to drive. His hometown was in Mekong delta, right near the border between Vietnam and Cambodia. He’d moved for almost 20 years. I admire him, taking charge of his life. He had the courage to move to a strange land to start afresh. I don’t think I can do that. Side story, I owed him 10,000 riels (about $2) because he didn't have enough change to give me. He said to pay next time. Next time properly meant my next trip. 

Next, the people working in the hostel and the bar, Lovely Jubbly Place which I mentioned in the last blog. Lovely people. Hard working. Eager to please. Always smile. Just one tiny problem was that they always said yes without being sure they can fulfill the request (actually that was not so tiny but I was used to it. Asian). On my last morning, I sat in the bar eating brunch and had a nice conversation with the servers. I found out they were about the same age with me, early 20s. I asked what they would do after the shift. All said they would go to English classes. That, to me, was very touching. They were doing something to better their future. As simple as it was, I was certainly inspired.

Leading me to the book I bought in Phnom Penh. One of my travel habits is that I bought one book in every city I go to. No particular reason. I like books, I like traveling, just might as well combining them together. I picked this book The White Tiger in the bookstore completely randomly. It was written by an Indian author, Aravind Adiga. The book was about an Indian servant, Balram. Born in a dirt poor village. Literate in the most literal meaning. Became a driver. Killed his master by violently cutting his throat. Ran away with a bunch of stolen money. Became a successful entrepreneur, a changed man.

Most of the book was about Balram’s observation of the caste system, the poor life, the inequality between the rich and the poor, between men and women, and his questions why they ended up where they were in that society. I read the book on my way back to Vietnam but surprisingly, it seemed I had the exactly same thoughts when I was wandering around Phnom Penh’s streets. 

Cambodia was a very poor country or in another word, it was not good at concealing its poor state. A lot of homeless people, not just aldults but painfully, a lot of kids. Naked and malnutritious. Dead eyes and bloated stomachs. I usually saw them with their moms and I couldn’t imagine how many threads they could have been under. Honestly, I would do something if I could. However, also honestly, I felt more of a curiosity to why they had ended up there on the streets. I wanted to know their stories. For what? I don’t know. Maybe to confirm I am luckier than many. An unnecessary need to confirm.

The White Tiger also reminded me the hostel’s server boys. They may make it just like Balram. They may come out of poverty with talents and strength and great personalities. I hope the common belief exists, good things come to good people. 

I also met an Australian entrepreneur. We had a good talk over my last brunch about his experience, ideas and new adventures in Asia. Fun. Usual entrepreneurial conversation topics such as trends, what's hot, what's not, business cultures, tips and tricks. Never kept in touch but who knows. An interesting person. We may meet again. 

I had a new tattoo, by the way :) It was not planned but it was not impulsive. I had wanted that tattoo for a long time. I saw the tattoo shop name on my first tuk tuk ride, the first sign that caught me attention. I assumed it was the time. I went online, researched the store, saw all good feedbacks. That same evening, I walked there and had my tat done. The artist was very nice and patient with me. We went through a lot of designs. He printed them. We tested them. He even lent me his earphones (I don't like the tattoo gun's sound so I always listen to music when having tattoos). Very affordable too ($40 for a 20cm long lettering work). If you want to have a tattoo in Cambodia, check them out at RDS Tattoo. They do great traditional Khmer tats like ancient scripts (think Angelina Joilie's back) or Buddha. 

The last person, that I have considered again and again whether to include in this post, was a guy sleeping under my bunk bed my last night at the hostel. A stunningly handsome white guy. Didn't know where he was from. Didn't ask. Didn't talk. Side note, that's what I love about dorm rooms in hostel. You don't have the obligation to socialize with others and you don't feel alone or lonely. There are always people around, quietly doing their things. 

Come back to the guy. From the moment we met the first time early in the morning to when I checked out and sat in the bar eating (he was on another table too), I spotted him looking at me smiling. I didn't bother to ask but later on, damn, I thought it must have been me doing something when I slept the night before! Either I snored or sleep talked or I didn't know, anything! 

There are 1.6 billion people in the world and he's the only one I will never want to see again (I would be too embarrassed I'd slam my head to the wall and die on the spot. Yes, too embarrassed!).

So there you go, a last fun bit from my trip in Cambodia. I'll come back there for more. You know there's a glow-in-the-dark beach in Cambodia?? Yes, magical! Must go!

Next blog on traveling will be about my recent trip to China. Post soon. Until then. Wish you well.