things that could happen to you in cambodia, they happened to me.
the rainy season in cambodia means biking to ministry and then basically swimming back in deep water to get home. sometimes you just have to jump in and splash around a while, it’s up past your knees anyway. in our town of battambang there arent many gas stations to fill up the mopeds that you’ll nearly been squashed flat by almost every day. though you do eventually get used to traveling around with no traffic laws. they sell gasoline in glass bottles on the side of the road that happen to look a lot like the signature lemon iced tea that you can get nearly anywhere here. but the best deals are at the market, just $0.75 for more than you could ever want. sometimes you just need to stop biking and have a cuddle sesh with someones cow grazing on the side of the road. most dogs dont like to be pet. the best plate of veggie fried noodles in town goes for 7000 riel which equates to $1.75 in US money. everyone is either constipated or nearly pooping their pants every day and whichever you are you wish you were the opposite. some nights youre sitting on a tuk tuk and the next thing you know youre being told in 12 hours you have to board a bus to thailand or else youre getting deported. look at it as a trip for lunch. afternoons breaks are for drawing sessions with your best friends that lead to pouring out your biggest defining life moments. stay doodlin. after dinner roti pancake trips are always the answer. when everyone else decides they are no longer washing their hair, jump on in and two weeks later have some natural dreadlocks. children run from their houses yelling HELLO and waving as you bike by and although it happens every bikeride every day, it still feels special. say hello back. grasshoppers are dinosaurs. KFC opened up our last week with the best prices ever seen by an american. embrace the sticky paint and dirty feet, there’s no escaping it. the old airport is so big and open you feel as free as a plane as you race bikes down the strip. you are every little kids “Cha” whether or not you actually teach them. if a kid wants a red jellyfish, paint it red. you’ll never see a bigger smile. personal pineapples for $0.25 are the best breakfast. but then again so are mango smoothies from Parlant coffeeshop 2 minutes down the road. most people genuinely are curious about why you are there, engage with them. the laundry lady, baristas, monks, teachers, tuk tuk drivers. the young generation wants to help build their country up, if you have advice or knowledge, be open to share. sleeping in a hammock under the vibrant stars of cambodia on the roof every night may just be the best “bed” youve ever had. go swimming in lakes surrounded by mountains, even if you have to bump down patchy roads for 40 minutes to get there. dont be afraid to praise God in a country of another religion. worship in the slums. worship on the city sidewalk. worship by the river. after all, it’s all His anyway. smiling at strangers eventually becomes so natural because you’re always smiling. giving love eventually becomes natural because you are in such a place of joy.
