Saturday, February 07, 2009
I'm back from Phnom Penh and it was so fucking great I didn't wanna come back. Parties every night, alcohol like no tomorrow (about US$3), playing pool at the bar, hanging out at the guesthouse's balcony with everyone else, and best of all, smoke pot and get stoned.
Yes you read it right (sorry mama). I was like this wide-eyed child staring at my friend in amazement as he rolled up the marijuana leaves. Everyone took a drawl and I had to try it.
My guesthouse with a gay-sounding name. Top Banana was the only place that all the travellers hung out at the balcony and went out, something that all of us agree happens nowhere else in other guesthouses.
Sovy stopped rolling up marijuana when he saw my cam, and I had to convince him to pose with it.
So how was smoking pot? Well, I didn't know whether it was the marijuana or the alcohol, but I was feeling so happy and confident the whole night and I could go into long conversations with people I just met.
Don't let his looks intimidate you. Lucian has a great big heart, volunteering at an orphanage, teaching them art and painting (he is a graphic designer in France). My pool buddy too.
That is not a real gun but it shoots out small plastic balls that hurts like shit.
At the Equinox bar, with 2 new friends that James introduced- Jane, from Melbourne, and Missy from California. Both are volunteers in an NGO.
Lilian, a 36 year old Dutch lady, who was really nice and we bitched about the relentless bastard tuk tuk drivers in Phnom Penh and the drug scene in Holland.
Lilian, Chrys and James. James is from sydney and is studying nursing at Notre Dam Uni.
This is Ingrid from Portland, Oregon. She is definitely a real cool chick, her tattoos are so awesome it makes me wanna get one too. And she is really funny and really nice to talk to. And she is a stunner, had this little crush on her. The best part of all was that she said she wished I didn't hafta leave the next morning and it was great to meet me. Aww man I swore if this girl is bi or gay I would so propose to her. Damn that I only got to meet her on the last night when we all went out.
She is drinking Mekong Bowl, which is like rum and cola and lime and taste like vodka coke. I got so high on it (plus the marijuana).
We headed out to Daniela's house for a mini house party for pre-clubbing drinks and food. Daniela is a German lady living in Phnom Penh for a few months for internship (if I remembered correctly. I have been meeting too many people.) So many Germans were around, like 6 of them. 1 Italian, 1 American, 1 Khmer, 1 Singaporean, 1 French and 1 Aussie.
Chrys, Ingrid and James. We were the English-speaking group, and we had the Germans group and a spanish duo.
Oh what sweet memories :) Take me back!
And the two crazies.
Pool scene. Looks like I'm in the States or Europe not Phnom Penh.
My first German lesbian friend, Denise. We met the night before but I only found out she's gay on my last night when I asked her if she had a boyfriend in Germany (Munich) and she replied "girlfriend". Aww. Very sweet, mild and gentle, 27years old can you believe it.
This guy went nuts. He went skinny dipping in front of a gazillion people.
The traffic in Phnom Penh is crazy, dangerous and mind blowing. There are no fixed lanes nor any traffic rule. One can ride on either side, either direction, on the road, on the pavement, make a turn anytime you need to.. First day I was too scared shitless to cross the road, then I got used to it so now it is an art. You need the art of crossing PP's road to survive and escape unhurt.
"Petrol kiosk" all round the city. Old school.
And the rubbish all around is overwhelming.
Wat Phnom
At the shooting range, you pay US$40 for 40 rounds of M16. Crazy price, but unforgettable experience.
And the infamous Toul Sleng prison, where the attocities of the Khmer Rouge took place. Google it if you have no idea what I am writing about. Well worth knowing about.
Barb wires to prevent prisoners from commiting suicide by jumping down the building.
Classrooms converted to small prison cells. Prisoners are chained on one foot, and are allowed to bathe around 7 times every 2 months.
A prison cell for high ranking prisoners. Room is spacious, but no less torturous. Prisoners are chained and tortured on the bed.
The experience was just eye opening, especially when you see pictures of young boys and girls who became Khmer Rouge soldiers and commited acts of torture and murders. The torture pictures were gruesome and I did not have the stomach to look at it.
Now that I am back home, I am really missing all my friends at Top Banana, especially her. I really wish I am back there now instead of being stuck here with no goals no plans nothing.