Amazing what difference a day makes - that is if you are reading this after the S21 blog.
Amazing as today is all about excitement, expectation, the unknown, meeting new people, chatting, socialising, exploring all those lovely things you do when you hit a new country or experience for the first time - then BOOM day 2 your world is rocked.
But I have to say the Cambodian people do not allow you to be sad. Even after we walked from S21 and Killing Fields we were greeted with nothing but smiles and warmth. I therefore have no issue balancing the experience of Tabitha 2013 in such a way - happy and sad!!!
Day No.1 - 'the arrival'
5 virgins and 5 seasoned members of Tabitha House Building 2013 descend on Phnom Penh.
First up some late breakfast and I whizzed them all for my favourite Cambodian brekkie of curry beef noodles - bloody amazing - but I hope you saw that from previous year, the trip with Ollie and even my recipe version - hey ho if not it truly is just delicious.
Eating at the market - restaurant 126. It doesn't get much better.
4 newbies - or virgins as we like to call them.
1 virgin and 3 seasoned - hmmm which is which ha ha!!!
Narrowing it down now - again 1 virgin and 2 seasoned - as Rolf Harris would say "can you guess who it is yet???"
The kitchen.
Yes indeed the kitchen.
No A, B, C or D cleanliness of Singapore here folks. It is literally cooked on the street.
Adds to the flavour I say.
And look - they are bloody young, banging out dish after dish of wonderful fare.
You have to try this place - 126 on the corner of the food market.
Love this shot.
We are truly mixed with the locals.
These ladies are very likely to be sat on their haunches for the next 10 hours selling their wares in the market, crammed in to small stalls. This is their break, their breakfast. Sitting chatting and eating.
Here it is.
Why we came to 126.
To experience the people, the market, the bustle and the local food of course.
I can hear harps, choral music and feel angels wings beating cool air across my brow.
I love you!!!
Go Mario - chill eating contest.
Seems confident enough!!!
Whoops I spoke too soon.
Toilet is first on the right matey!
Yum that was nice OK - on to something else.
Hold on a minute what's this?
Wooden slabs of fish drying in the baking sun - deliciously flavoured with a smidgen of carbon dioxide. mmmmmmmm!
It's tuk tuk time to the Brewery Tour.
Help you down Ma'am?
Or has he already had a few too many - you decide!!!
Let's get on it - 6USD a head for all you can drink. Woo Hoo.
What do you mean it's closed for lunch???
You have to be f*cking kidding me!!!
Right plan B kicks in - back in the tuk tuk and off to "fish restaurant" for a few beverages.
Beverages that turned out to be 50c each - YES 50c each!!!
I can hear music - "heaven, I'm in heaven..."
Here come the some of the BEST sales people in the world.
These kids are just incredible, they start early selling papers, they go to school, they hang around trying to shoe shine then they're out selling books and/or woven bracelets. They are non-stop. They're English is incredible. They do this every day. They are SIX and SEVEN in the main!!!
Rutherford buys a translation book from her.
"Excuse me, can you point me in the direction of the nearest jewellery shop, I fancy some new earrings..."
Thank god he learnt that one - see final day blog, coming to you soon.
Off to The FCC - Foreign Correspondence Club. In fact the place where a lot of the atrocities were reported from to the 'ignoring world'.
Dougie ordered 8 of these divine prawn cocktails, deep fried, sat in some thousand island dressing, with salsa beneath. Divine.
So 8x people = 8x prawns.
Nope they brought 8 plates of 4 prawns - whoopsy.
So actually 8x people = 32x prawns.
No worries though - believe me there were NONE left!!!
Up to the roof top now - for a couple of cleansing ales in the sun, awaiting the other members of Tabitha 2013 to start arriving.
Look left - beautiful Meekong River frontage.
Still looking left - Mario speaking to Mary. Checking in time for me.
Look down - here's our guys. Out tuk tuk drivers for the day on some well deserved R&R.
Look right - the mighty Meekong disappearing in the distance, stunning isn't it.
Still looking left - a bunch of virgins in front of a river.
You know who you are - ha ha!!!
Finally they all arrive and we meander to Liquid.
Group shot minus yours truly as one is stood on a chair taking ze picture.
Nice to meet you all - what a great group this year!!!
It starts to get a little later in the evening - as you can tell.
Clearly much later in the evening.
VERY much later in the evening.
So much later we even have a change of hair-do never seen on any previous trip.
NICE!!!
If I close one eye I can still walk in a straight line!!!
And here she is again.
That sales girl.
Much later in the night - but boy did she have a VERY lucky night tonight.
Spend wisely...
And final for day 1 is actually of the morning after.
I went to get some supplies for team Kennett - that included what is known as "Cambodian Wine".
Tasted more like some horse has taken a piss in some lemon juice - oh yeah plus some local herbs.
According to the lady this would make you feel great, give you energy, give you strength.
How wrong was she.
Gave me heartburn - ha ha!
Actually I jest - it really did give you a kick-start.
Well done team Kennett for all trying it!!!
Day No.1 over and out!!!
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