squad got on a AIR CONDITIONED bus at sunrise this morning to travel from Siam Reap to
Phnom Phen, Cambodia. This 6 hour bus ride Started off GREAT, but quickly changed into the most Uncomfortable drive ever.
Let the “Honk Honk Honk‘s” began…
The
air condition didn’t last long- It either broke OR questionably got switched off by the bus driver… We will never know. Either way, the comfortable COOL air when we boarded the bus was just a tease I guess. To make the sudden unbearable
heat even worse, the driver feels compelled to give a LOUD Honk (or three) every 10-30 seconds. (It is common in the Asian
culture to honk and alert the fellow drivers you are approaching) – It is NOT
common for it to be SO loud & SO often. I was honestly waiting for the ‘candid
camera’ announcement.
So the
bus driver spoke NO English, refused to turn the air back on, & drove like an
absolute honking maniac.
In
a very short time, our ‘luxury’ air conditioned bus ride turned into a horn
blaring, bouncing sauna… With 5+ hours left to go.
walked on the oldest historical bridge in Cambodia- ‘Spean Brab Tes’ (Bridge of
Indication). It was constructed 1000 years ago, and a super random stop. This was barely enough of a break to stretch
out our sweaty bodies, and rest our pounding heads…
Honk
Honk Alert!– Back to the Sauna Bus. Back to the Bouncy seats. Back to the HONKHONK HONK… (pause)…
HONK HONK!
Next
Stop (Hour 3)- Squatty Potty Restroom Break after a long time of begging the driver
to stop. (mostly with gestures)
Honk
Honk Alert!– Back to the Sauna Bus. Back to the Bouncy seats. Back to the HONKHONK HONK… (pause)…
HONK HONK!
Last Stop (Hour 4)- A Market on the side of the 2 lane highway. We where immediately greeted by vendor children/ beggars who were Nonstop & in your face demanding you to buy
from them.
“Why you no
buy from me?!” “You buy bananas now?” “You don’t forget me, ok?”
smelly ‘rest stop’ full of deformities and disparity. For the next 20 minutes we uncomfortably held Tarantulas,
ate Tarantulas, and shewed vendors and beggars away. I eventually caved & bought
some banana chips from a little girl that had been by my side time I got off the bus.
Honk
Honk Alert!– Back to the Sauna Bus. Back to the Bouncy seats. Back to the HONKHONK HONK… (pause)…
HONK HONK!
banana chips- which turned out to be completely stale, and had enough sugar caked on them
to make 10 batches of cookies. Gross.
Honk! Next
Stop: Phenom Pen
This
Year & this Trip is overall UNCOMFORTABLE. In fact, it would be pointless if it was
NOT uncomfortable. How would I grow, or learn to place my faith in something
greater than myself if I stayed IN my comfort zone?!
story was simply a lighthearted parallel to the challenges & ‘Uncomfortable’
situations that Life will inevitably bring. Strangely enough, I YEARN for the UNCOMFORTABLE this year. I WANT
to experience things that challenge my priorities, integrity, patience, & Faith.
was the complete Opposite of Comfortable… from the unbearable heat, bouncing, and honking on the bus, to the yelling children & tarantulas at the market. Knowing it wouldn’t last forever, I can honestly
say I was Smiling & Laughing the whole time (while plugging my ears of course).
Q: What is a time YOU conquered something out of your ‘comfort’ zone?
