Let me describe to you my happy place. Well actually, there are a few “happy places” dropped in for ya.
For the last 2 months, we have been living in Siem Reap (not the capitol of Cambodia, but one of the, if not the, most traveled cities of the country, thanks to Angkor Wat). With two months I was able to navigate the city center pretty well. I knew my favorite spots, I knew landmarks and key street names. I got to the point that I was actually able to pay exact change on complicated totals.
For those of you who are unaware, Cambodia accepts USD bills, but also still uses KHR, Khmer Riel (pronounced “k’my real”). 4000-4100 KHR is equal to $1. If my bill is $1.50, I pay either 6000 KHR, or I can do $1 USD with 2000 KHR. Easy enough, right? But what if the total is $7.65? and you’re about to leave the country and don’t want a ton of KHR leftover? In the most simple form, this would be one $5 USD, two $1 USD, one 2000 KHR bill, one 500 KHR, and two 100 KHR. Yes, I did a happy dance when I was able to properly pay exact change on a total like this. It’s a proud moment! Ok?! Happy place #1.
Here is a screen shot of my Siem Reap map, with my favorites indicated!
One day we were out purchasing our extra photo prints for Thai visa requirements, though still in Siem Reap. I saw a juice stand for this great lime/sugar cane drink that I loooove. While waiting for our pictures to be cut, I walked over to the lady, and asked in Khmer (pronounced “K’my”—the language spoken in Cambodia) how much it cost, and she answered in Khmer. Hearing what I thought was 1000, I said “1000?” in English, and she said “ja!” (yes, in Khmer) with a big grin on her face. I handed her my 1000 KHR ($0.25) and smiled as I realized I had just had a conversation (simple, yes, but conversation nonetheless) in Khmer. YES! Happy place #2
Here is a pic of a sugar can drink stand. They run the sugar cane, a few lime wedges, and sometimes ginger through the press, and wallah…there’s your juice. It’s quite tasty!
After two months in Cambodia, we arrived in Chiang Mai yesterday. We promptly went out for Khao Soi (pronounced “cow soy” but truly tastes nothing like cow or soy)—one of my favorites! Happy place #3—then caught a movie! I love love love watching movies…and I got popcorn! Happy place #4.
I know this is quite a jumbled collection of thoughts, but bare with me.
So today, I mostly spent the day relaxing. I slept in (ha! JK, I slept until 7), enjoyed breakfast and tea on the porch, wrote a blog (yep! knocked two out in one day), painted my nails, read, read some more, did some laundry, and watched (most of) a movie in bed. It was a wonderful day. My team went out to a market on the other side of town, but I decided to hang back. Being an introvert, I have to capitalize on opportunities during which I can have some me-time. Though after spending the day at the hostel, I was ready for some explorin.
I took a quick look at the map to see how to get myself out of this hidden area (seriously, this hostel is not visible from any main road), and to a somewhat main road. Left, right, right. Got it. I took a left out of the hostel, took a right at the end of the block, and took another right at the busier road. After walking a bit, I had a feeling I had gone a bit too far. Checked my map, yep. Too far. Oh well, I’ll just keep walking and see what I find.
I was walking along, and thinking it’s strange that so many shops aren’t open at 6:30 pm. I was looking for food, but the only places I saw were hotels (expensive) and pricey cafes. Just keep walking. Just keep walking.
Suddenly I notice an intersection that’s full of parked tuk tuks and sorngtaaous. I go a little further, and notice spotlights and loud music. Then I notice a stage. Once I round the corner of the intersection, I find that I have just stumbled upon the walking street market. Jammed packed full of venders and foreigners. I make a quick loop around about 2 blocks worth, then circle back around to a stand that caught my eye.
For 30 baht (about $0.90) I found this tasty little treat for dinner made by a mom & daughter duo. Glass noodles, bean sprouts, shredded carrots, diced raw green beans, green onions, roasted peanuts, garlic, chilis, and pepper were the ingredients I recognized. There were a couple sauces thrown in, and a special sauce from a bowl added before mixing it all together in her mixing bowl. She served it to me using a wooden platter and I should have just grabbed my take-away box from the platter. Instead I just grabbed the whole thing, wondering why I would be given something that’s not disposable when there was no seating around her stand. Instantly I realized my mistake when the mom quickly began speaking to her daughter in Thai and pointing to the wooden platter. The daughter gave me some change and politely waited for me to pick up my take-away box before quickly snatching up the platter. I chuckled to (and at) myself as I walked away.
I love stumbling upon wonderful adventures and I especially love when exploration leads to tasty (cheap) food! Happy place #5.
Here is my lovely veggie dish. So so good!
If you haven’t noticed, my primary motivators are exploring and trying new food and drinks. What a great way to wrap up my time in Siem Reap and begin this next venture in Chiang Mai.
