Friday, January 1, 2010

Camera Problems, Camera Problems and MORE Camera Problems!

After writing my blog last night I did my usual nightly routine. Besides the typical “getting ready for bed stuff” I also clean out my backpack, reorganize and recharge all my electronics. As I was going through everything, I couldn’t seem to find my camera. I keep all of my valuables in the second pocket of my backpack which is always locked! But, it wasn’t there. I PULLED apart my backpack and then my room and it was NOWHERE to be found. I replayed the day in my head and knew I had it at dinner (I took pictures of the Amok) and was 99% sure I had it after at the market. But, that is the last I remember of it. I was SO upset. I did what anyone does when they are upset (or at least what they WANT to do) and called my mommy! Ugh I was not a happy camper and she can vouch for that!

I have tried SO hard to be so careful and cautious on this trip. I always make sure I have everything with me, that what needs to be locked up is locked up, that I am not leaving anything behind, etc. and I failed! Ugh! I was also upset because I keep LOSING EVERTHING. I have become the dumb blond (Steve..don’t read on..and if you do..remember how cute I am and how much you love me!) Before I left for this trip my mom and I went to visit my brother in NC and I lost my iPod! NO idea where it went. Then as I was packing for this trip, I couldn’t find our international cell phone! My mom made me a list of things I need to make sure I had before I leave anywhere (the plane or a country) and the last thing on the list is MY HEAD! And it is SO true! Now don’t anyone make any dumb blond jokes because honestly I am so sad. My mom had to remind me it was just a THING (so true) but it was more the fact that I wasn’t careful enough. I went to the restaurant today and they didn’t have it and I really am positive I had it at the market so my GUESS is it got (stolen) there. I wouldn’t have put it DOWN at the market..and I THOUGHT I put it back in my locked compartment..but maybe I didn’t. Anyway I was in a VERY bad mood but luckily my mom was sweet enough to call me back and console me. We talked about how I was still alive, I was still healthy (mostly) and I didn’t lose my passport or ATM card. We ALSO played the game of somebody who really needs it found it.

When I was in 4th grade I had an experience that forever changed my youth. My family had gone camping and for reasons that would take another ENTIRE blog to explain we ended up leaving in the middle of the night. When I got home I realized my pillow had fallen off the roof of the car (we had tied things up there). Now the pillow..ehh..not a big deal. But..(are you ready for this?) there were BEANIE BABIES IN THERE! UGH! It hurts me even writing about this now! I WAS DEVASTATED! My parents told me that there was some little girl who didn’t have the money to have a beanie baby and now she had them.

SO my mom and I decided there is a Cambodian grandmother dying and she needs food and now someone can sell my camera and make money to give Grandma some food! I am also looking on the bright side and saying..1) I only lost a couple of days worth of pictures..not ALL of Cambodia! 2) The camera was actually breaking in half anyway (no joke) and 3) My mom is coming on Sunday so I will have a photographer! WAHOO! So yes it could be MUCH worse..but there ya have it!

I didn’t sleep too much because I woke up BRIGHT and early (4:30am) for sunrise at the Temples! Wahoo! Sun Same (the same guide I had on Sunday) picked me up (yes he was early but I didn’t hear his phone ringing outside my room) and we were off! I knew the most popular place to see sunrise was Angkor Wat but I had read of another place that was less popular! I asked him if we could get a disposable camera and he said places weren’t open yet but the Temples would sell them. We arrived at Sras Srang which overlooks a lake for sunrise. It was VERY cool to see the world come alive and very peaceful UNTIL this guy (he looked Cambodia and was by himself) started playing music on his phone, WESTERN music! Now I liked all the songs he played..but HELLO? We are here to enjoy sunrise not listen to your music! Geeze I feel like all I am doing is complaining..haha I think the traveling is wearing me down! It was still beautiful but I just thought he was a bit rude as it took away from the majestic nature of sunrise over a lake.

It was cloudy, so it wasn’t a GREAT sunrise anyway. We stopped by a couple of the tourist shops to find a camera but it sounded like they were going to go to another place to get them (the type of thing that they tell you 5 minutes and after 10 minutes you want to leave but feel like you have wasted too much time waiting..you know the deal). Sun Same knew there would be more at the next place so we moved on!

It was about a 30 minute drive to Banteay Srey and it was cool because since we were there so early there were only about 5 other people! Sun Same got something for breakfast (noodles) and then we headed off to find a camera! There were two options: a typical disposable and a Kodak that you put film in. Film? What’s that? I know, I know, I had to remember how to use it! I decided the Kodak seemed good as I could “refill it”. She started at $30 and I paid $15 (which was still TOO much but hey I was desperate) and off we went!

The Temple is like the others but a little more detailed so I am glad we went to see it. Also, to get there one has to drive through the country side which I enjoyed. We saw kids walking to school and it amazed me they have no shoes. Sometimes kids have to walk miles to and from school and it amazes me to think about how kids at home complain about how much they hate school etc. as they get picked up at their house and dropped off at the school door. I am not preaching by ANY means but it is just amazing to see how EASY I had it growing up.

I also found it interesting to talk with Sun Same about the corruption in Cambodia. He explained how you can do anything with money. You can skip school and pay the teacher not to get you in trouble, get a licenses, pass a test, anything at all! It really is so sad.

On the way back from the Temple we stopped at the Mine Museum (which was actually on my list but I didn’t think we would have time). It was very small but it was so interesting (and so sad) to learn more about the Khmer Ruge and the Killing Fields. I asked Sun Same if his parents ever spoke about it and he said no that people don’t talk about it. I have found it so sad that in every country I go to I visit something about a war/mass murders, etc.

We continued on to Banteay Samre which was much smaller and nothing overly impressive. Our last stop of the morning was East Mebon which again wasn’t anything too special. I was VERY tired and said it was ok if we went back into town to rest. I knew I was also “Temple’d out” and they were all starting to look like rocks so I was happy ending it there! I saw A LOT in my days of touring so I was satisfied.

He brought me back into town and I asked if we could stop to get film and I bought two more rolls. Then, I decided I would have him drop me in town since I had some “errands” to run! It still amazes me how there are “things to do”. My first stop (and most important) was BREAKFAST! I was starving seeing as I had already been up for about 6 hours. I got a banana pancake and unlike the one in Hanoi this was actually a pancake(ish) with sliced bananas! Not too bad! I also got fruit salad and yogurt which is my favorite! While in Asia, I have fallen in love with fruit salad and yogurt, dragonberry (a type of fruit), cheeseburgers and tea! I know, I know, nothing besides the dragonberry is Asian.

After breakfast I decided to hit up the market as I was trying to find a good deal on batteries and film! They didn’t have either! Sheesh! I then stopped by the cyber café to catch up on emails. It always makes me laugh when during the middle of the day I will be checking email and it will say I have a new message! I always think, “Who the heck is up in the middle of the night sending me an email!” and I always laugh when I check and it is some type of spam. Well not spam, but some company (Walmart, Brookstone, etc) emailing me and telling me about their promotions. So when all of you wake up and have those silly emails..I am awake while they are being sent! It’s kind of like I get a head start on the deals!

I also decided I would treat myself to a FISH PEDICURE! I don’t know if you have seen them on TV or anything, but you put your feet in a pool of fish that eat your dead skin! Gross I know but I HAD to try it out! When I first put my feet in I JUMPED because it tickled so much! It was such a strangle feeling..it didn’t feel great but it didn’t hurt. It almost felt like pins and needles a bit. Anyway the woman said they come from Turkey and I THINK she said they die every day (although that doesn’t make sense) and they enjoy dead skin! I also got a little back massage with it as well (I knew this place did massage as well which is why I picked it) and it was great! My feet felt a bit smoother but I don’t know if I will be going back every day!

While I was having the fish pedicure I was taking some pictures (couldn’t forget this) but it seemed like nothing was happening. I couldn’t wind up the film; I couldn’t take a picture, nothing! It was a Kodak camera and I knew there was a Kodak store SOMEWHERE so I went out to find it! I finally did and THESE are the times I get the most frustrated with the language barrier. Not at the people, but just at the situation. I tried to explain it wasn’t working etc. and they finally said it wasn’t working because of the film and they needed to take it out (no, it wasn’t that simple and quick but I am giving you the spark notes version). I knew this meant I was probably going to lose all my pictures seeing as the film would be exposed (see I do remember a thing or two about film) but it sounded like there was no other option! Oh another day of losing pictures! He took out the film and put the new film in and NOTHING happened. I couldn’t quite understand WHY it was broken but from what I could tell the thing that made the film spin (so technical I know) was broken. Oh wow another camera problem!

I asked them if they had any type of disposable cameras and they did! Since I had already bought all the film I decided it really only made sense to get another one that took film. So I am now the proud owner of camera number three, which I shall call, “THE BEAST!” Not only is this thing about the size of my head, but it makes the sweet film sound when it takes a picture. So in case anyone is wondering, “Does that girl REALLY have a camera with film?” the sound will confirm it! I am HOPING third time is a charm because I NEED this baby to work!

I got a ride back to the homestay (no crazy story there..just the typical “$3”, “No $2”, “Oh so far”, , “Ok ok ok”, “Take a left, go straight till the end, now a right”) and I only had a little bit until Sun Same was picking me up again.

He was 10 minutes early this time (I was ready) and we were off to the lake! I didn’t really know WHAT to expect but he had recommended we check out this lake. It was about 20 minutes away from Siem Reap (in a direction I had never gone which I thought was cool) and it was so different! The area was a fishing village and all the houses were built on stilts (I could NOT tell you how they were still standing). He was saying how they use to be VERY poor (they still are..) but that tourism by the lake has greatly improved their economic situation.

I still didn’t know what to expect because he was telling me the boat was a bit expensive as I was a single tourists. We arrived at the pier and there were lots of tourists around (this was a good sign) and I paid my money and we were off! Since he was a guide he could come for free so we hoped on this little boat and LEFT! Now I understood what he meant…we were literally the only ones on the boat! I don’t know how to describe the boat but it had a roof and maybe 10 moveable chairs. It was myself and Sun Same, the driver and the dock pusher oar kid (who made sure we didn’t crash into anything). The boat was old and if it had lifejackets I sure didn’t see them (yes mom I looked!) Fortunately I figured my swimming lessons from Pierce Island pool would come in handy if need be!

I really was still in shock that they take a boat out with two people! What a waste of gas and pollution! I have NO clue why they don’t have set times it leaves or SOMETHING! Most of the boats (and these are decent size) had no more than 3 people. But THEN there were the boats with Korean tourists packed to the MAX! I have nothing against Koreans but I always laugh when I see about 10 tuk-tuks in a row because I KNOW they are filled with Koreans (always with face masks as well!)

Anyway, we traveled along the river and through the villages and it was amazing. I could not believe people lived here! They had little “house boats” and many were fishing or lying on hammocks or I don’t even KNOW what else. I was trying to understand what EXACLY they do all day but it sounds like they fish and drive boats! There was one area (on land) that floods every year (during the Monsoon season) so they literally have to move their house! SO CRAZY! It felt so Cambodia and the type of thing you would see in the movies. I had to remind myself I was on a river in Cambodia looking at REAL people!

We made our way out to the “lake” which looked JUST like the ocean..it was HUGE! We continued on and stopped at a little touristy place with some history on the village etc. We then continued back through another village (past a school and a Catholic church..how cool!) and made it back to the pier! I am actually REALLY glad I did it. It was a nice break from the Temples and it was really beautiful and interesting to see!

I was exhausted and came home to the homestay for a rest. I got caught up on blogs (I can NEVER seem to catch up) and rested before heading out to the Apsara show! I found a motorbike along the road and of course he had NO clue where I wanted to go! But the problem was, I didn’t have a clue either! So I had to do the no hands/reading a map thing but we managed to get there!

I had made myself reservations at a place that served dinner and had the Apsara dance which is a cultural dance. I had heard the show was awesome but the food…not so much. I STILL went even though I didn’t think I would enjoy the food..Imagine that! The “theater” if you will, was beautiful! There were three long tables to sit at and the stage was in front. I was ushered to my seat and soon met a man (his name was too hard to pronounce) from Switzerland! Since it was just a long table (probably sat about 40 people) we started talking. He said how he left a wife and 4 kids (age 12-19) at home to come here! I thought that was so different as you don’t hear about that a lot! But he said he just enjoys traveling alone and not having to worry about anyone.

I asked if he could take my pictures and that’s when I had to take out..THE BEAST! He sort of laughed and made some comment about how he didn’t remember the last time he saw something like this and I explained my whole camera story! He then laughed even more when he heard the noise it made (the sound of the film winding) when he took the picture. We had a good laugh but I told him he couldn’t make fun of me anymore as I was sensitive about the camera. Sadly, I guess they put him in the wrong seat so he got booted and a group from France sat down.

But then I started talking with a couple on the other side of me. They were older and from the Netherlands and we spoke a lot! They are a retired couple who purchased “around the world” plane tickets so they could travel the world! They started in Thailand and now Cambodia before moving on to Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia! They will then be in New Zealand for a month before going to California to pick up their daughter and her husband so the four of them can travel to South America! What a life huh? Mine aint too shabby either! Haha! Anyway they were very nice and I enjoyed talking with them.

The show was actually really good and I enjoyed it a lot! One of the dances involved some of the dancers wearing a mask. Afterward, they took off their masks to take a bow. When I looked at one of the girls I thought, “Wow she looks very familiar” and then I saw her look at me and her eyes opened wide! It was BO FROM ODA!!! She is the dance teacher and she dances here! I LOVED IT! I was in Cambodia at a traditional dance show and I KNEW one of the dancers!!! How cool am I? I didn’t get to talk to her after (I’m not sure where they go) but I can’t wait to see her tomorrow and tell her how proud I am!

Sadly, I had run out of pictures on the roll of film so I decided I would discreetly try to change it during the show. The boy had showed me some button and made it seem like I should definitely be pressing that so I did and it made SUCH a loud noise! I soon realized this is what I had to do to roll the film back into the canister before removing in! People literally turned around to see what the noise was. Ugh I was SO embarrassed! So while I DO have pictures from the show..it’s only the first half! Haha!

I left the show to walk downtown. Payal had texted me and said how she was going to a bar on Pub Street with the three brothers from the homestay. I was exhausted since I had been up since 4:30am, but since I don’t really enjoy the homestay I am trying to find the positives..like hanging out with the brothers. Since I was still hungry (the food wasn’t that good) I decided I could go and get some food with them.

As I was walking there I got asked if I wanted a ride on a motorbike and I smiled and said no and this one guy said, “Why, so you don’t get STOLEN?” but he said stolen in this REALLY creepy voice! I wanted to turn around and tell him he was the SCARIEST man I have ever seen (he really was)! I can’t believe he said that to me! Luckily I was in a pretty well lit area!

I showed up at one of the main restaurants/bars on Pub St. and it was AWFUL! First of all it was like any American club. But I sort of felt like, I can do this in America..why would I come to one of these in Cambodia? It was SO loud, there were lights flashing everywhere..haha I feel like an old lady complaining but I think I AM an old lady because I did not like it. Anyway I decided to get a fruit salad with yogurt (my NEW favorite thing) so I went to the bar to order it and that’s when I started people watching.

AWFUL AND DISGUSTING. Ugh I feel dirty even WRITING about this but the whole place was filled with local girls wearing next to nothing (literally..it was like a convention of woman plumbers if you get my drift..) and a lot of older unattractive Western men. The girls were ALL over them and you could TELL they don’t get any woman back wherever they call home. Payal said how most of the “woman” were transvestites and how Thailand is worse! I could not stop watching; it was like a train wreck but the kind that would make my grandparents roll over in their grave. I almost rolled over in my grave and I’m not even dead! Ugh no words or pictures or videos or ANYTHING could describe this, but I ate my fruit QUICKLY so I could get out of there!

I really like the three brothers and I really try hard to interact with them since I feel like that is the only benefit of the homestay (that and the Cambodia wedding ceremony). But the problem is..there is really only one who speaks English. I enjoyed the first conversation I had with him..just learning more about the culture. But I CANNOT understand the other two and they seem to get frustrated when we can’t communicate (not that I blame them). I am not complaining..but I spend my whole day trying to understand people and so I feel bad but usually at night I am so tired that it feels like even more work to try and talk to them. I wish we could communicate better because I feel like that would be a benefit to the homestay but since we can’t it’s just like we awkwardly sit there. BUT the Cambodian wedding ceremony was definitely worth it!

P.S. – I am hoping to upload more videos (and if I can..pictures) this weekend..so please check out the videos before I have to delete them!

Hugs and kisses from my THIRD camera!

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