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Day 29: 7/7/2013
We didn't need to set any alarm this morning as there were roosters, dogs, people and machinery all in action by 5am! We didn't have to be up until half six. We could see the woman of the house with the baby when we had to walk outside to the bathroom. Otherwise we didn't really mix with the family at all. I thought we would be with the family all the time, rather than being at a community centre all the time. But it was still good.
We went to the centre at 7 and we were due to hike first thing but breakfast was ready so we ate that first. They had baguettes, slices of omelette and bananas. Their bananas are mini little ones- they're cute.
We headed off on the hike then up o a waterfall. I knew when they were saying 'up to the waterfall' that it meant climbing but it wasn't too bad. Our guide and the bus driver that we've had since Phnom Penh came with us. There was also a local guide and a young girl who was a volunteer and they both wanted to practice their English. I was chatting to them both during the hike. The girl was learning English herself- reading at night and then volunteering with tourists- she had eight brothers and sisters and none of them learned English- so she must be very dedicated to keep it up.
The Guide had learned English from volunteers a few years ago. His name was Thy- he said I'd remember it because it was pronounced like a cup of tea! I was asking if everyone likes tourists coming as its such a small rural area. He said when he first started to learn English his parents couldn't understand why he wanted to study and not help them out with the farm work. But now they are learning a lot and earning money from all the people that come so everybody is happy with it. I asked also about the dancing they were doing around the fire as it was like salsa dancing. He had never heard of salsa but said they were traditional Cambodian dances. It's weird how countries so far away could have so similar dances! He said they have a whole season of parties where they dance a lot- weddings, rice- harvesting, etc. They meet up very night and dance all the time- sounds like fun!
We got to the waterfall after about an hour anyway. It was slippy enough at the top and we had to climb over rocks to get in close to the waterfall for a good view. We went back down a little bit to a pool at the bottom of the waterfall for people that wanted to swim. I didn't bother swimming. On the way their I was taking photos and the guide took one of me with the waterfall and all the greenery. The bus driver was there too. He's really smily and friendly- we've had him for the last three days and he's full of jokes so he hopped in a photo with me too!
When we got back to the community centre we had a few minutes to go te bathroom and tidy ourselves after being dripping in sweat for the last few hours! Then we headed off on the bus towards Sihanoukville. We stopped about an hour in at a little shop that we had stopped in yesterday too. We had borrowed the shopkeepers eskey to keep our water cool so now we had to give it back! We bought some snacks as the guide said it could be another three hours until we get there. About a half an hour later though the traffic was fairly bad as there were lots of trucks on the road so they decided we should stop for lunch altogether- after we had all eaten our snacks!! We only had rice or noodles anyway so that would never fill you too much!
We were chatting to the guide at lunch and I was asking, as it was Sunday, if they traditionally went to the temple or had a particular holy day or ceremony or something. She said people don't go to the temple together every week. The only time that everyone would go at the same time is on Spiritual day where they bring food to the temple so that no bad spirits will come after them. It's between October and November which is Halloween time for us and the same time that we say that the evil spirits can enter our world! It's weird that its a similar belief at the same time of the year!
We arrived in Sihanoukville around 4. I spent most of the bus journey looking out the window as there are loads of wooden little houses along the way. People do their work early when it isn't too hot so you can see loads of them sitting around when you're passing. Sihanoukville is a beach town and seems pretty small. It's named after the king Sihanouk. The hotel here seems nice, although the rooms smell of dampness- weird in a place this hot!
After checking in the guide brought us on a quick walk so that we'd know where the beach, shop, laundrette, etc were. We had about two hours before we had to meet for dinner so most of us went to the beach. I brought my book to read but I didn't end up reading anything at all. There guys (lady-boy types!) came up to us straight away offering bracelets! I didn't want anyway but they were chatting anyway and decided to give Hannah and I one for free- the rest were gone in swimming. I was expecting some scam when the but the free one on my hand so I didn't really want it and they were saying -"chill out girl-frieeend"!! So I got a free bracelet and there didn't seem to be any more to it! We got some drink aswell. I think you kind of have to buy a drink if you sit on the loungers. It didn't bother me as they had a strawberry daquiri so I was well happy to get that! Draft beer was only 50c in this place too from 9:30am to midnight, so basically all day. I was saying to the guy that worked there that they must make no money!! He was trying to get us going to the barbeque that they had there then but I explained that we were all a big group and we already had dinner booked. He wanted to know which company we were with and it's intrepid. He said they were trying to meet them to get their business but they hadnt yet! I was asking him plenty of questions so he thought then that I was the guide!! I'd hardly pass for Cambodian!
We met for Dinner at 7:30. We were supposed to have dinner at the beach but it was raining so we had to stay in the restaurant/pub area beside the beach. This place had a barbeque aswell and most of us had that- barracuda on the barbie- it wasn't bad! The Had cocktails too so we were well happy! There were loads of children going around selling bracelets, sunglasses, even fireworks. You could let off the fireworks into the sea. They were more like flares than fireworks but still, I don't think it would be good for the sea! Two little girls, no more than 12 I'd say were trying to sell bracelets and when they realised we were from Ireland they came out with 'Póg mo thóin' and 'Conas atá tú'! They had it all off!! They warned us not to buy anything from them though as most of them don't go to school and giving them any money just encourages them.
We went back to the hostel then and I managed to get wifi in reception- it wouldn't work in the room. I rang home anyway- the FaceTime seems to work really well. I heard about the big surprise Shane gave them and how Galway were losing the hurling to Dublin. I filled them in on the trip but I couldn't say too much as I was getting funny looks from the people in reception- it didn't seem like they were used to people chatting in reception! So if ye are wondering why I was a bit quite- that's why!! When I said I had been at the killing fields the two heads in reception shot up so I couldn't say any more!! Our guide has us warned not to talk about anything like that in public!
A few of them had been watching the Wimbledon final between Murray and Djokavic while I was on the phone. I went in to their room then and I saw Murray being presented with the cup. It was a good weekend for Britain- the Lions winning and Murray winning, the first British player to win in 77 years they said! We went to bed shortly after that.
I'd been doing really well with the bites- I just had the seven that I got in Bangkok. I had one on my foot this morning and I thought that wasn't too bad for a night in the jungle! Then tonight I found one right on my ass cheek! I was wondering how it got there but Ann-Marie said it's when you use the squat toilets late in the evening or night- next time I'll have to put the repellent on my ass!! I found another bite afterwards on the back of my leg but that seems to be it, just three from the jungle! That seems pretty good!
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