Final update

Hello again! I have been unable to get internet at the last few places that we've been staying at. I am now in Kep along the southern coast. Here is a photo update. I would elaborate but I cannot charge my laptop. I have just enough time to upload the photos.

Major things that I've done.

Birthday - Ah.. I am 24 now. So I took up on my mom's offer to hire a girl to entertain me. Well her name was Tien and she was my dance partner/teacher for the night. Can't really convey the experience through the internet... I will go in depth in person. Fun times. =P
Ankor Wat - How people have built such things amazes me.
Uncle's Wedding - Long day/great night. Gave me a "revelation" about what I am looking for.
Sihanoukville - Beaches - Sandy beach, warm water, and a perfectly partly cloudy sky made for a great day of relaxation.

Ah here are some photos from the days prior to my birthday. I have 1000+ photos to go through when I get back....

http://picasaweb.google.com/PSon86/CambodiaII#slideshow/5477403471360181490

I will be back soon! Take care until then. =)

Elaborate Update!

OK I am now in Siem Reap where I am staying in a hotel with WiFi!

20 some odd hours later we arrive in Phnom Penh.


Photo of Asiana Airlines hub in Incheon, South Korea


Photo of the development behind my Uncle's place, in the foreground is a fish farm's pond. Ducks are also raised here as well!


This is a small market catered to the workers of a nearby factory. At the moment calm, will soon be bustling with workers when they arrive, during their lunches, and when they get off.


My Uncle and his house. Most houses are built like this. 5m x 20m or so. Bifold doors and a collapsible gate. Commonly a business is run down stairs.


A local restaurant/karaoke bar

Water buffalo herd

Iced Coffee - A layer of condensed milk and coffee. Very popular and I've had it almost everyday.

Pitbull was in town, so officially my first concert!
Overload - very common. These trucks bring in workers from just about every province in Cambodia to work in factories.
Group of local children in the country
Local volleyball team that we donated to
My great grandmother's grave site on my mom's dad's side
Independence Monument at night
The central median is packed EVERY NIGHT. Music, dancing, badminton, a version of hackie sack, and people just hanging out.
Dancing - You pay a dollar or so and everyone just follows the instructor and his/her music. All kinds but mostly Khmer and Korean dance types.
Water Buffalo!
The King's Royal Palace at night
A small water town. These people spend all their lives on these floating houses.
Sand dredger - Sand is in high demand in Singapore so everyone is scrambling to dredge sand from everywhere to meet the demand. The waterline will get to the lowest point as the boat fills with sand. It kinda looks like a low rider.
Motorcycles are the PRIMARY form of transportation. Even for transporting just about everything. One hand to steer/accelerate and the other can hold your: kid, pipe, metal, basket, or whatever.
Independence Monument during the day
Royal palace during the day!
My Aunt Lisa, mom, and my brother at Wat Phnom
Monkeys - Odd, they tend to like single girls... known to harass girls walking alone.
Riding Bo the elephant!
A Buddhist monk
Seriously, this is how you get around. No harness or anything.
Need to transport something big? Ad a cart to your motorcycle

So what I have done lately...

05/18/2010 - Vietnam

Finally met my Aunt Polly and my cousins in Vietnam. To get through the border, even though we had Visas to get into Vietnam required some patience unless we wanted to bribe them...

05/19/2010 - Vietnam

Took a taxi into Vietnam to visit my grandmother, likely for the last time. Spent hours on narrow roads with a crazy taxi driver weaving and honking his way around buses, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles. Had lunch with grandmother and other family members, it was crazy. Everyone was crying and it kind of made me want to cry... after lunch we went to a temple to be blessed by a monk. Afterwards we head back.

05/20/2010 - Leaving Vietnam

Left Vietnam and visited my great grandmother's grave again to pay someone to fix the site.

05/21/2010 - Tortoise and a goat

Relaxed during the day and dinner that night. Key part of the menu of that night: tortoise and goat.

05/22/2010 - More family stuff

Another low key day. Family dinner with some family that has never been to the city.

I will upload new pictures soon! I hope that everyone is well, I am off to Ankor Wat!

Pictures!

OK I have finally been able to get enough time at the computer to upload some photos! I will be busy celebrating my birthday among other things to caption each photo... When I arrive in Siem Reap (where Ankor Wat is), I promise full en-captioned update will commence! So here are photos in slide show form!

Phnom Penh

Flying into Cambodia was pretty much a breeze. The only issue was that my uncle, who was suppose to pick us up, got the dates mixed up. The airport closed at midnight. Luckily we were able to convince the guards to open the gates so he could pick us up. Disaster avoided!

Cambodia is ridiculously hot right now. Average temperatures have been in the mid to high 90's. Fortunately most places have air conditioning now!

Here is just a quick update:

-During this time the country is taking a 5 day break to celebrate the birthday of the new king!

-Touring the city of Phnom Penh - A ridiculous and terrifying experience getting around...

-Visiting Wat Phnom, a hill with a temple in which the city was named

-Riding an elephant

-Dance lessons in the heart of the city

-Watched the city's volleyball team play a scrimmage game

-Visited my great grandmother's grave and my mother's old village

Photos coming soon, internet is rather slow. =D Check back for an update!

!!!

Well hello! This is JUST A QUICK UPDATE! (CAN'T TURN OFF ALL CAPS, SORRY!) I HAVE MADE IT TO CAMBODIA WITHOUT ANY ISSUE. I HOPE THAT EVERYONE IS WELL. I PROMISE A PROPER UPDATE WILL COME SOON.