Gooooood Morning Cambodia!

Entry #2.  February 12, 2012, 10:23 am.  Hotel room, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  There are no words to describe the feeling I had when I woke up this morning and looked out my window.  I arrived in Phnom Penh late last night and barely could get a feel for the city because: 1- it was so dark and 2- I was still a little souped up on anti-anxiety and sleep meds.  So imagine when I woke up to find a sprawling city and ancient temple outside my hotel window this morning!  This is what it means to be high on life. 

Although I haven’t yet experienced that culture outside (apart from my rickshaw ride from the airport), I felt that I needed to share this picture of my hotel room view. Notice the insane traffic heading into the city, and the great deal you can get on a Cambodian cell card from the red billboard.  Not to mention the gold temple, or "Wat" as we natives call it.  I am going on a city tour at 12:30 and then to a welcome dinner at 6 pm today.  Watch out Cambodia because Jmart is in town.  I already caused a scene at customs in the airport last night.  After waking up on the flight from Seoul to find that we had already landed, I felt that painful urge to find an immediate bathroom.  Of course that was impossible since no one is allowed to get out of their seat while landing, which I found out when I tried to stand up to go the bathroom- to no avail- because two Korean stewardess ran at me from both directions and made me sit back down.  And I thought they were so accommodating.  But when we finally got off the plane and everyone lined up for customs, I was weaving my way through people in desperation to find a bathroom, praying that one existed on the questioning side of customs.  Luckily I found one, but afterwards, I was so content and relieved that I tried to walk through passport control without first purchasing the visa!  The agent probably thought I was an idiot. So I had to go back, walk a walk of shame since it looked like I got rejected by passport control, go buy the visa, and then line up again to get into the country.  Howdy Cambodia.

 Better pictures will be uploaded soon.  I appreciate all the comments I’ve read so far!  I just skyped my parents and they have some peace of mind now.  If you are wondering (my mother asked me three separate times), YES, my bed sheets are clean. 

Next time I post I will have a much better understanding of my surroundings and maybe another humorous story.  Take care and rest assured, I am starting my life well and eager in Southeast Asia, in the Kingdom of Cambodia!