Last night we had the wonderful opportunity to shower in a cold shower. And I mean cold. It was alright though because we finally decided to go with a room without a/c which can get pretty warm.
This morning we finally had the wonderful opportunity to sleep in until 7:45am. And it was not that wonderful. We hurt so bad we both got out of bed without laying around. We went for breakfast and then off to figure out what we wanted to do today. When we got to the hotel front desk, trying to see what they had posted for what to do, a motorbike guide started telling us all the things to do. We could rent a motorbike for $7 for the day or go with a guide for around $20 for the day. He finally talked us into going with him because we had no idea where to go to get anywhere. So we both hopped on the back of 2 motorbikes and off we went. They took us right off the main highway and onto the farms. The farmers were out transplanting their rice crops and also plowing and getting ready to plant new ones. As we went a long every little kid would yell and wave at us, even if their parents had to point out us for them. Its kind of nice being a celebrity. I hope things stay that way when we get home. So as we went we asked them to pull over and let us go into the field and watch some farmers transplanting rice. It was sure hard work they were doing planting each plant individually throughout the whole field. And I complained that an ant bit me while I watched them work. Then on through lots of more fields and to the killing cave. We hiked up a mountain with a little kid we payed $1.50 to take us all the way to the top and guide us. He took us and showed us a building that the Khmer Rouge would cut people and then kill them first of all. Then onto a place where they would bludgeon the people and then throw them into a deep cave. They had a big cave where they threw little kids and babies they killed, and then another one where they would throw the adults. Sick people they were. They had killed over 10,000 people and threw them into the caves. These places are all thoughout all of Cambodia almost. Then our tour ended with us walking through some pagodas and then down. The heat was almost unbearing. But we made it with the help of our water bottle. Our trip continued with us eating at a small restraunt on the side of the road, and yes the meal was rice and noodles, surprised? We did try something new though, it was some plant they have here. It tasted pretty good. Then off we were again. We went by many more fields and then to a rice processing plant where they shell the white rice. Kind of like combining, but just with the seeds. Then onto the bamboo train. It ran 7 km one way and then back again. So we hopped on and took our guides raincoats, because we had forgot ours, and then off. We only made it a couple kms before it started pouring buckets and it didn't matter rain coat or not, we were drenched, and everything with us was. Our camera is still in the hotel drying out. The next thing we did was go buy rice, books, pencils, and candy and head to an orphanage. It is run by a monk who takes in unwanted children and children with AIDS and makes a family out of all of them. They were so happy to see us and grabbed our hands and led us under the place where the monk was sitting. We talked to him and all the kids for a while and gave the monk the rice, notebooks, and pencils, and then started handing candy to the kids. They would come forward and put their hands together and bow their heads to us, a very repectful way and take the candy while saying thank you. There was a bunch of them, and I decided it was Nikki's heaven. She just ate it all up. Then we went and played games with them. I played football (soccer) and Nikki played some hand games with the girls. One of our guides videoed us playing with our video camera, he actually was probably having to much fun with it and just kept videoing forever. When I got sick of soccer I walked over to where he was videoing Nikki and he threw the camera on me and ran to play soccer. I guess the main income of this orphanage is the tourists that go there, and most of them don't go there, probably mostly because of the AIDS. After a while we decided it was time to go, it was hard not being able to talk to them. So we went and told the Monk and the kids goodbye and the kids all wanted to say goodbye with their new handshake, so we had to do it with every kid, and multible times at that. It was sure fun and they were sure grateful for the rice and treats. Our guide then ended.
We went back to the hotel and got ready for dinner. I swear there was raw chicken in mine. Oh well, I guess that is what you get out at these restraunts.
We are now off the Phnom Pehn for tomorrow and then to the coast the next day.