Crossing the border into Cambodia was like stepping out in to the wild west. As soon as I was out of the taxi Iwas surrounded by people wanting to help ... before you know it your bag is disappearing off in to the sunset and you are left stranded at the crossing to deal with the visa. Everyone wants a piece of the action someone will fill out your visa application form, another will stick the photo, another to hand it to the customs guy and so it goes on - all the while you have children and people with limbs missing begging you for money - all quite intense but everyone has a smile and their spoken English has generally been much much better than that spoken by the Thais. After a night in the red dustbowl of Koh Krong fending off the locals - I got a boat 4 hours down the coast to Sihounakville. Stepping off the boat in to a sea of 'moto' drivers (guys wearing baseball caps on mopeds who wil take you and your bags on their 50cc bikes anywhere you want) was again a bit crazy but I'm slowly starting to get used to the initial onslaught of helpers. This place is another laid back beach town but without the resorts and crowds of western families that you get in Koh Chang. It's all just a bit more raw. Most of the children are the friendliest you can meet and whilst they will try any turn they can to get you to buy a bracelet, scarf or bag of fruit their is a genuine warmth and it breaks your heart to see the shacks they live in and the cruising peadophiles. The boy to the right above is a lady boy in the making called San, and is 13 years old - the other day he pointed out an English guy to one of my friends who was in his 30s - a doctor apparently - who had been his 'boyfriend' until a couple of days ago 'but now he like someone else'. It's sick - sex tourism is rife both here and in Thailand and I am trying to get my head round that but peadophilia is something else - evil is the only word that even vaguely comes near to describing it.
I'm now ready to go to the city so Phnom Penh here I come ....
2 comments:
Hi Sarah
Like the nellie. Carla says foreign correspondents club for cocktails happy hour 5 to 7. Sunset at backpackers places on lake for lots of gear and good tunes and boat ride with little boys.
Go S21 and killing Fields - horrible but worth it. Spend as muchtime as you can as Siem reap. ie temples
Sounds as if you having good time - its raining here and has been for three weeks or so on and off
Love from Gill Tim, Carla and a walking isobel - hurrah she has finally got the principle of one foot in front of the other. xxxxx
lovely beach - whose the chap in the red speedos ?
alls much the same here - wet, foggy, government lost more personal details etc etc
keep taking care
love em
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