C. #17 Finale

Heres some of the party girls the next day. This is a Cambodia style 7-11. The Phenom Penh international airpot is only seven years old. It has duty free, two gift shops, a bar, and a Dairy Queen restaurant.
Sreyoun wants to visit Thailand in December but is worried the border will be closed to Cambodians. Thaksin is stirring up more trouble between the already contentious neighbors.
I'm back in Chiang Mai now. I went to the American consulate yesterday to get more passport pages added. The security guards are Thai. They are very thorough. Visitors must leave mobile phones, hats, sunglasses and watches at the front desk. I always have a lot of junk in my pockets, and dumped hands full of, tums, mentos, toothpicks etc in the basket. When I checked out, the guard handed back all my stuff piled inside my hat. At the top of the pile was a small bag of marijuana had forgotten to leave in my room. He just smiled. OOPS!
C.M. is probably my last stop before home. If something fun happens, you'll be the first to know. Bye for now.
Luvvv Doablah

C. #17 Saturday night BBQ

The hotel hosted a BBQ for guests and friends. An English bloke and me were the only foreigners. Sreyoun did the cooking on this old Hibachi type grill, in the rain.

C. 16? Oddz an enz

Halloh. The bus ride from Kep back to Phenom Penh was rough. I was worried my crowns were coming loose from the bumpy road. I had asked my hotel manager Sreyou to save me a room. She did but it was the largest and most expensive in the place. It must have the presidential suite. The shower stall had a curved sliding glass door. There was seating for six in the living room. It was $25.

C. #15 Oddz and enz

I don't think there much customs action going on here! Chillin my wine! Kep is famous for tasty local crab. Here some fried in peppers. Eating these was a lot of work. They are small and messy. With the great Dungeness crab we have, I wouldn't bother with these little guys again. The restaurant has two sinks mounted on the walls for washing up.
Scott stayed on Rabbit last night. He'll come to Kep and we will bus back to Phenom Penh. Tomorrow I fly back to BKK, and straight to Chiang Mai.
Cambodia is a little like the old wild west. Nearly every driver and guesthouse manager will offer Marijuana, Opium, and ladies. There are two pizza chains that offer 'happy' pizza, pot baked into your pie.
The tourist industry is certainly fledgling. They are not very good yet, but try really hard to please. I tipped my laundry lady a dollar, and got a huge smile.
If you think that only eleven years ago, factions were shooting at each other, the country has come a long way. Corruption is everywhere. Only about 20% of donated monies make it to people in need. It's a shame.
Bye for now, Doablah

""Oooops" C.#14 Rabbit island

I met a nice young lad named Scott, from Vancouver B.C. Also a couple from Germany. We tried to walk around the island but gave up when the going got too difficult. There are three small villages on the island. These fellows are net fishing. A shot of winter in Cambodia.

C. #12 Rabbit island

Hi. I forgot to describe the Riel photo in the previous entry. It's a local bar owned by a crabby Dutchman. Riel is named after the Cambodian currency. Marcels 'thing' is trying to promote the use of the Riel instead of American dollars. It's an uphill battle for sure.
I hopped a longtail boart for a day trip to Rabbit island. This small island has a strip of about five bungalo operations. Each has a restaurant. Lodging ranges between $5 and $7. I'd like to come back someday and stay á little bit'.

C. #12 Kep

Halloh! Here is photo of my guesthouse, and one from the patio outside my room, looking to the sea. Another tasty meal. Bacon salad, crab soup, a glass of French wine, and toasted baguette. Total bill, $7.50

C. #11 Kep

My ride from Sihanioukville to Kampot was in one of those beater Mitsubishi minivans. Half way there a tire blew. The jack was broken but no matter, there was no spare tire. The driver mobile phoned a pal and an hour later he arrived and gave us his spare. We were off again. The driver soon stopped at a small town to buy Red Bull. The two ladies on board bought baguettes and fruit. He stopped at another town to have dinner. I was getting a little cranky. I still wanted to get to Kep which was another 25 K. beyond Kampot. I expressed my feelings. He said it would be only a few minutes. He stopped again to pick up a young man who happedned to be the owner of the vehicle. He appolgised (sp) for the delay. Arriving in Kampot at dusk he arranged for a tuk tuk to get me the rest of the way.
Kep is a lovely little seaside town. I found a nice room for $10 overlooking the sea. These first two shots are at dusk. I had to wait a awhile to get this action shot. The bottom two are the in the morning looking each way at the seawall.

C #10 Kep

Kep was the first Cambodian seaside tourist town. People began vacationing here in the 1920's. There were many villas owned by French and wealthy Camodians. The Khmer Rouge had a stong distaste for wealth and anyone with it. When they arrived in 1975, they blew up eveything that was nice. This first building is lived in by squatters. The building in the third image is owned by the king. He pays people to live in it so squatters don't. Note the nicely kept lawn and garden.
I'm a tagger!!!


Time to watch the sunset. More later.
Love, Doablah

C #9 on to Kep

Saying goodbye at the bus pickup. Whats the carrying capacity of this Mitsubishi?