Hello from Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia!
I arrived here yesterday after a 5 hour ride on a river boat up the Tonle Sap River from Siem Reap. This is a passenger boat that goes about 35 mph, and people sit inside the cabin in the bitsiest seats that make crowded airplane seats feel like a cakewalk. Because it's so crowded, many people abort the cabin and go outside to sit on the top of the boat (which truly wasn't intended for passengers). So of course, I had to take part in the action to get a fabulous video.
Right before walking outside of the boat, I put my iTouch in my pocket. Once I jumped up on top of the curved roof of the boat and sat down, I heard a clank and to my absolute horror, saw my iTouch sliding off the roof of the boat toward the water!!!! (Let me just take this quick moment to say that my iTouch has been my lifesaver during this trip. It was a gift from the extra fabulous Ronda Conger, and without it, I could not have shot all these fabulous videos that I've been sharing with you! So, I'm sure you can imagine my dismay as I watched it plumet toward the water.) As my new friend Wayne put it, I must be very Irish, because the iTouch landed on the walkway below the roof of the boat, which is about 2 feet wide, and sat there on the very edge! I screamed, made sure I wouldn't fall into the water too, and jumped down to rescue my baby. When I grabbed it, everyone on top of the boat that was watching cheered!! Some dude even gave me a high five! Thank you sweet bejubus!
Okay, so here's my happy video, post rescue. It's hard to hear me because it's so windy, but it makes for a good show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS1UHiMBzsQ
It was a very scenic ride and included huge raccoon eyes from the big sunglasses I wore (note to self - no more big sunglasses while tanning). Here's a quick vid of a floating village we passed by: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM2lDOXJEmQ
I arrived here yesterday after a 5 hour ride on a river boat up the Tonle Sap River from Siem Reap. This is a passenger boat that goes about 35 mph, and people sit inside the cabin in the bitsiest seats that make crowded airplane seats feel like a cakewalk. Because it's so crowded, many people abort the cabin and go outside to sit on the top of the boat (which truly wasn't intended for passengers). So of course, I had to take part in the action to get a fabulous video.
Right before walking outside of the boat, I put my iTouch in my pocket. Once I jumped up on top of the curved roof of the boat and sat down, I heard a clank and to my absolute horror, saw my iTouch sliding off the roof of the boat toward the water!!!! (Let me just take this quick moment to say that my iTouch has been my lifesaver during this trip. It was a gift from the extra fabulous Ronda Conger, and without it, I could not have shot all these fabulous videos that I've been sharing with you! So, I'm sure you can imagine my dismay as I watched it plumet toward the water.) As my new friend Wayne put it, I must be very Irish, because the iTouch landed on the walkway below the roof of the boat, which is about 2 feet wide, and sat there on the very edge! I screamed, made sure I wouldn't fall into the water too, and jumped down to rescue my baby. When I grabbed it, everyone on top of the boat that was watching cheered!! Some dude even gave me a high five! Thank you sweet bejubus!
Okay, so here's my happy video, post rescue. It's hard to hear me because it's so windy, but it makes for a good show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS1UHiMBzsQ
It was a very scenic ride and included huge raccoon eyes from the big sunglasses I wore (note to self - no more big sunglasses while tanning). Here's a quick vid of a floating village we passed by: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM2lDOXJEmQ
My favorite part of the ride were the extra friendly villagers we'd pass. Whether in a boat or on land, they would have a huge smile on their face and would wave like crazy. The kids were the best part - they'd wildly wave with both hands as if we were the most exciting thing they'd seen all day.
I am now at my hotel which has a nice balcony over the Tonle Sap River. I shot a quick video of it this morning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxNX9UwfT2Y
I am now at my hotel which has a nice balcony over the Tonle Sap River. I shot a quick video of it this morning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxNX9UwfT2Y
I'd like to take a quick moment to discuss the wild and crazy things I've seen on motorcycles or "moto's" as they call them here:
1) A family of five, including Mom, Dad, Son, Daughter, and Baby (yes - all on one bike!) - FAMILY TOGETHER TIME!
2) Six crates of eggs and two people - front person driving, crates in the middle, and back person holding crates with legs flailing out to the sides - INTENSE!
3) Women in skirts riding side saddle. This is a common occurance - LADY LIKE!
4) Two people and a car bumper. This one took up a lane and a half of traffic - INSANE!
The most interesting part of the driving situation here is that there are very few stoplights, and if there are stoplights, no one obeys them... At intersections, everyone just slows down but doesn't stop. They just keep driving through where they see a hole in traffic. Pedestrians walk slowly through the intersection (without stopping), and cars, trucks, bicycles, and motos swerve around them. Traffic lanes are ignored with an invisidble middle lane created for passing, regardless of oncoming traffic. Even when turning, motos cut the corner and drive for a while down the wrong side of the street until they can find a place to merge over onto the correct side. And everyone honks all them time because this is there notification to other drivers that they are passing you. I am truly in awe of this situation.
So I decided to get crazy and ride on the back of a moto today. The moto driver dude had mad follow up skills (followed me down the street, waited for me while I ate breakfast, waited for an hour while I went through a museum, etc, etc). Plus, he was wearing a pink shirt (how could I resist???). I survived the ride - and dare say I enjoyed it - and asked him how much he wanted to be paid. He said, "Maybe I be lucky and you give me $20?" I laughed and gave him $4 (a very good wage for a moto driver).
For all you CBH Homes sales peeps that I so love and adore ::: The moto driver was a great lesson in sales skills...
1) Follow your prospects everywhere they go. Wait for them outside and remind them that your services are readily available each time you see them.
2) Don't take no for an answer. Or be willing to hear it 23 times until you get a "yes."
3) If they say they are scared to go for a ride, tell them you'll be safe and won't kill them.
4) Aim high for your price and work your way down from there. And be funny about it so they're not offended.
5) Be patient and wait for them to look around before their ride.
6) Make suggestions for destinations you think they might like and might benefit your paycheck (he suggested he take me for a ride 20 miles outside of town to see a tourist sight).
7) Wear an outfit they will recognize when they see you again (Pink in may case! Or in yours... Fabulous CBH black and red! Can I get a double meow?!?!)
That's all for now, folks! Peace out from Cambodia!
All my love,
TBC
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