So I'm up early to get to the Royal Palace. I get my free breakfast from the hostel and jump on the back of a bike. I ask him for the palace, he says he knows, then he takes me to a hotel. I try to explain in my most simple English that I want to go to the palace. I give him directions and as we draw close he raises one hand in the air 'ahhhh the Royal Palace' I tap him on the shoulder, well done buddy. On one of the corners there are police. My driver just stops up in front of them, reaches down and puts on his helmet, nobody says anything. It would appear that it is a case of what you're doing and not what you've done. Crazy Cambodia!
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So, palace time. I'm waltzing across the courtyard, and I stop in the shade to zip on my trousers, needed for entry in to the palace. As I approach the gate I notice that it is closed, I ask the guard, he confirms that it is closed. Limited English from the guard, just the friendly repetition that it is closed. Really?! So I come all the way down here again and I can't get in. I'm starting to get the hint here. I speak to one of the tuk tuk drivers, and he tells me I can get in, later in the afternoon. I'll be honest I'm probably not going to come back again. I set off, disappointed, but take this opportunity to explore the surrounding sights.
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I head to the war museum, but when I discover the $6 entry fee, entry is not on the agenda. I can appreciate the architecture for free outside. That's one thing I'll give Cambodia, very different to elsewhere I have been. A very different style, I like it. Snap snap! I wander round the streets fighting off the tuk tuk drivers 'where you go today sir? What about tomorrow?' they just jump from their tuk tuk and walk with you down the street, the conversations are so funny as the try to entice you in to their tuk tuk. I even had one guy show me the interior, that's what was going to sell it to me. Ha ha ha. Look at me in my pimpin' tuk tuk. As I'm wandering I stumble upon a few temples, lucky for me it is free entry and so I check it out. No idea what it was called, or anything about it for that matter, though it was pretty, just smack bang in the middle of houses, up some street. After this I find myself in a fresh food market. There is barely enough room for me to walk up between the stalls they are packed together so tightly. There are people coming the other way, as well as Motos plodding through, causing people to stand on top of each other. The smells here are pungent, some good, some not so good. In addition, the decibel level is palpable, and with the humidity and smells, I feel like I am eating my way through this market, to a Cambodian soundtrack.
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As I emerge, I know where I am, and so I head to home. While walking I hear some call to me in English, asking what happened to my leg. I turn round to meet a Malaysian girl, Lisa. She asks where I am from, and informs me that her sister is going there and asks me about Ireland. We chat for a bit before I am invited back for lunch to talk about Ireland. I am hesitant, something feels strange, I ponder for a moment. Against my better judgement I jump in a tuk tuk. 15mins later and we are at the house, I go inside and meet the uncle, who speaks very good English. I am offered a drink and shortly after I get lunch. Everyone else has eaten so it is just me. I am feeling uneasy, but everyone is friendly enough. After lunch I am aware that there is no sign of the sister I am supposed to talk to. The uncle, Franz has been telling me how he works in a casino, after a short while he is talking about how we can go in to business together. I brush the comment off. Next thing in know I am upstairs and with a card table in front of me. Franz tells me he is a card dealer and shows me how he is going to deal me winning hands at blackjack. He lays out how we will go in 50/50 and split the winnings. You can see where this is going, I'll be allowed to win at a local game and themes when I put in the money, I'll be fleeced. It starts to get a bit awkward as I politely make my excuse and leave. Further enquiries are made to where I am staying, I pretend that I can not remember. Lisa jumps in the tuk tuk with me and says she will take me back. One last chance effort to get money out of me comes in the form of a story that she has to go to hospital to see her sister and she dies not have enough money. I've had enough and get out of the tuk tuk, with no idea where I am. I find a Moto and jump on the back and get back to my hostel. I check out online, and get fully versed on the scam, which happened word for word. Lesson learnt, go with instincts next time.
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In my absence Elias has been sorting his visa to go to China. After days of ifs and buts, he knows that he is getting it and so he is very relieved. We nip out for dinner to an Indian place along the river. It was amazing. With 3 massive pieces of cheesy garlic bread and some spicy chicken. All the elements I need, meat, cheese and sauce. Fully stuffed we head home.