10/20 Angkor Wat

On another remok at 7:30a and off to Angkor Wat. My first real look at Siem Reap.  Definitely strange.  A lot of money and  a lot of poverty.  Similarities with India of course.  But here affluence is strangely present. A huge amount of money was infused in this little sleepy temple town in the 70's - and you can tell.  Strikingly luxurious boutique hotels are at every corner ... very very bizarre to see.  The thing that drew the money was Angkor Wat. And it is massive - hundreds of acres massive.  I'm dropped off at the entrance to be surrounded by kids selling hats, post cards and bracelets. This is a relatively new phenomenon as just five years ago you needed a police escort due to land minds. After the initial barrage, I'm greeted by a gentle man who says "You have a friendly face" and who really meant it.  I looked at him and he asked for my ticket.  I walked across the moat watching the sun rise over the temple and began to cry and couldn't believe that I was really here.

10/19 Buses and more buses

After an afternoon on a crowded Vietnamese bus showing gory animal flicks (the guy next to me thought they were hilarious), I arrived in Phnom Phen late at night to take a remok in search of a decent hotel.  After a few negotiations, I found a nice little hotel with a view of the palace and Silver Pagoda.  Tried to get online to Skype with my Echo Ladies with no luck.  Up early in the morning to get my Vietnam visa extension and tickets to Siem Reap. On a bus at 2p to arrive at 8p.  Although rushed, I could already see that Cambodia was different.  The faces, the smiles, the language, the script, ... the advertising ... so different.  In my eight hours to Siem Reap, the only billboards I saw were for political parties - The Cambodia People's Party and the Sam Rainsy Party.  The latter of which was very sporadic.  Arriving in Siem Reap, I was picked up by another remok and taken to my very substandard overpriced hotel on the river.  I arranged an early pick up for my day at Angkor Wat and hoped for the best.  Went for a drink at a lovely hotel in the "heart" of the city and felt pampered.  It was lovely after two days of buses.  Strangely quiet and luxurious, I just sat and watched and enjoyed Cambodia. 

10/18 Realization

After a run thru the park at dawn and  a trip to the early morning market to buy (or negotiate really) fruit, it hit me ... I'm doing what I always wanted to do.  Great moment - sadly followed by the one of the most stressful and annoying days of my short time in Saigon.  By the time I got home, it was really hard to remember the "great realization" of the am, but it managed to linger enough to calm me down - that and my ear plugs;). The street noise just doesn't stop.

10/17 Another First

Walking home way too late,a motorbike dashed by me attempting to grab my bag - with my laptop in it no less.  I fell to the ground with my bag - now mangled like my hand.  Five women ran to my aid making me sit in a little stool at the side of the road dusting me off and checking for injuries.  A women that must have been 90 came out and applied some pungent ointment to a wound on my hand.  I kept trying to get up but they insisted that I stay.  Made me check all my belongings.  At one point the police drove by and they all laughed. After about a half hour a younger women came over and gently said "five minutes". I figured she was going to put me on her motorbike and ride me home as I had given them my address in broken Vietnamese.  She came back, took my bag and then me by the waste and gently guided me home.  It was a long walk as I didn't know what to say and felt really awkward walking so closely knit with a woman I didn't know - I don't walk that close to women I do know.  But by the time I got home, we knew each other a little better and I was oh so gratefully to be home safe. I'm just a little in awe of the immediate and abundant generosity of Saigon women.

10/16 Badminton

Up at 5a for a walk in the park.  While doing lunges an older Vietnamese gentleman motioned me over to play badminton - he had a good laugh and I got a good work out;).  

10/15 New Shopping Experience

New shopping experience today.  Similar to the big market in District 1, Binh Thanh, but bigger and multi-leveled.  Also very difficult to bargain.  But I went with a seasoned friend and we managed to walk out with a few dresses and purses for a decent price.  Loved the architecture and cramped spaces, the Plexiglas 4x4 stalls and tiny walkways.  Will definitely visit again and soon;).

10/14 ABC

Spent over an hour with my new corporate class on the ABC's.  We had a blast.  Who knew you could have so much fun with the alphabet;).

10/13 Unhappy Vietnamese Americans

Strange phenomenon:  I have met three Vietnamese Americans in the last few months.  All of which were very disoriented and very eager to talk.  Mostly they wanted to talk about malls and hamburgers;). 

10/12 Frantic

Frantic scramble to organize a three day visa run to Cambodia.  Trying to make it a holiday as well, but looks as though 28 hours on the bus will dampen the "vacation" experience.  Too much to do, but of course grateful for the opportunity;).

10/11 Saigon

I'm cheating a bit on dates, but will catch up with Cambodia pics and stories soon.  Just wanted to say it's good to be back. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would call Saigon home;).

10/10 Home

Missing the family something fierce today.

10/9 Package from Denver

Got home early today surprised by a post ticket for a package from the States.  Had some time in between classes so I ran to the post office, paid the tax and decided to just open it there as it was from Denver.  Alyssa and Martha had obviously been reading the blog as everything that I said I missed was in there ... and more.  My goodness.  Organic heaven;).  Lotions, soaps, shower tablets, a box of laura bars, my favorite magazine, tons of Vias, and, to top it off, my favorite Bollywood Movie.  What love! Thanks Ladies.  Can't wait to see you in December.

10/8 Culture

Today we talked about culture in my corporate class.  It was very interesting to see how their priorities changes as we talked.  At first they listed institutions, the economy, and religion.  But as we got deeper into the discussion, the priorities became language, food, transportation and behavior.  Four hours later, I think we all came to the general, if not much disputed, consensus that language, religion, behavior, food and institutional policies are the first things to research when going to a new country.

10/7 Culprit

I feel so guilty. Guilty of egging on my little 3 year old laughing baby Buddhas to laugh more.  I live for it;).

10/6 Time

Today, we discussed time.  In Vietnam, it's acceptable to arrive a half hour even hour late ... if you are Vietnamese.  However, if you are a foreigner, you are expected to arrive on time.  I had read about this in the "culture shock" books and finally experienced it real time last week.  Despite the prior knowledge, I was still very very annoyed;)