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Siam Reap to BangkokMar 18, 2005
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Golden Banana had changed me to a room in the back-they said it was a beautiful room but they failed to tell me about the temple wailing that would keep me up late and then wake me up in the morning. Not sure if it was a loud speaker or real monks but it seems there was a funeral--and I even knew whose funeral it was. Someone I met at Lingas bar downtown had told me that it was the mother of his friend. At about seven in the morning I just said what the hell and gave up on sleeping. Did enjoy hearing the frogs at night and when I was in another room even got greeted by one on my floor.
Took a shower, collected my stuff and went out to the patio to get breakfast. Nick was there who had spent two years in New Zealand studying hotel and tourism and was now helping her uncle run the place. Didn't realize that her sister was also working there together with her Mom who was the cook and her father who was the caretaker. Seems as if her uncle Kee who owned the place had sent her to school and now employed the whole family. Employed is not the correct word-they all seemed to work together so beautifully-and the staff never needed to be told to do--there were a lot of staff but they went about their chores and did what had to be done with smiles on their faces. My diarrhea had made the toilet rather messy and I was embarassed when I was sick about the state of the room but ne4ver mind.
Nick had told me that she was soon getting married to an Australian and she was excited and nervous about her new life--maybe she was all of 21 or 22 and would be making an entirely new life for herself. She also felt bad for her uncle who had supported her education and now she was leaving--and where did she meet her new husband--at the Golden Banana of course. She had sepnt a month in Austrlia getting to know her husband to be and meeting his family and finding out more about her new life--but of course it was such a big step to move from Cambodia to Australia. Yet I was confident that she would do well. She wondered what she would do for work--another guest told her that becuase opf her administrative skill she should work for the government--but I said no--she whould work in fashion or something creative--she had it in her as well as the fear. Was I talking to her or to myself?
I was sad to leave here. Was feeling better--almost over my stomach flu or whatever kind of virus I had and could not resist ordering the banana pancake for $2.00. Figured it was a risk for my stomache but as I write thius so far so good. It was delicious and like everything at the Golden Banana presented so beautifully with flowers, garnishes and fresh fruit. I asked for the bill really not sure how much it would be--I thought it was $16 or $20 per night and I fiugred all my food and drink would be another $10 or $20. was freaked to find out that my bill was over $130. She charged $18 per night which was quite reasonable given that there were some nights that I was in a room that went for much more but it seemed all those bottles of water and extras at breakfast added up so it was 5 nights for $90 plus $45 for food. It seemed so expensive-not even thinking that there were many times I had stayed in a Bangkok hotel for much more than that for one night-or had been in hotels three times the price when others or I had paid. Still it seemed so high when everything was relatively cheap there. Luckily I had gone to the bank the day before and got a cash advance of $200 becuase my cash had been running lwo. I paid the bill, said goodbye, left some money for the staff, exchanged some email addresses and I was off.
Nick had arranged for a taxi to take me to the airport--actullay a motorcycle attached to a carriage. I thought eh airport was 10 minutes away but it was actaully about a half hour. I had only been on motorbikes in Siam Reap and this taxi tipped over on the way to the aiport. I wasn't hurt--the carriage stayed put but the driver fell off his bike. Luckily he wasn't hurt. I had known this driver for four days now and such a bright pleasant personality. He apologized but it was no bother for me-just wanted to make sure he was ok.
Arrived at the airport--looked alike a modern shopping center. Staff is all well dressed, customs officials in beautiful unofrims--no looking for handouts or "gifts" as in Burma or Vietnam. My favorite shop the Blue Pumpkin, a coffee shop, has a branch here and an internet cafe. I'll finsih now, board the plane soon to Bangkok after a nice cup of coffee. The flight will take only 45 minutes--so the price of $145 is riduculous. I can only think that the Prime Minister of Thailand-Thaksin-has a deal with the Cambodian Government that makes it impossible for anbother airline to compete.
Tonight Bangkok and then the next day in Phuket.
The flight was so fast, cleared customs quickly and took a taxi for about $10 to my hotel--the Pinnacle. I remember when it was first built 15 years ago and it was kind of fancy. On the internet it was usually $30 per night but I found a special for $10 including breakfast and booked it. When I got there the desk clerk told me it was a great deal. I went through the restaurant where they were serving lunch for 189 baht--a beautiful buffet, but I just went up to my room and tried to get organized. I thought I would just go to Phuket with my small knapsack. After all I wasn't using most of the stuff I brought anyway. I figured could leave my big bag here and then collect it when I came back. Tomorrow I wanted to go to the art market and see what I could find and din't feel like schlepping a huge bag around. Anything I didn't have I figured I could buy.
When I got into my economy room for 400 baht I was stru ck by how new and small it was--two minisucle twin beds--must have been Thai size--and then I noticed what was missing-a toilet and a shower. Well, at least it had a TV with Fox News--got a chance to see how they spin the news. Went down the hall and the shower and toilet were quite cflean--I figured I could get by with this toilet and shower down the hall esepcially since it looked like it would be shared only by about 4 rooms. I may feel differently about this in the middle of the night--and I'm sure glad the diarrhea is gone. Otherwsie the toilet and shower down the hall just wouldn't work out.
BTW, I tell people on this trip I'm a writer rather than all the other stuff. Sometimes when I meet Japanese I tell them I'm a consultant--maybe I feel being a writer is not enough for them--but in any case it is really clear for me that being a writer is what I want and this writing I am doing seems to come easily to me. I hope you are enjoying it and please tell your friends about this website. I'm glad to have them read this and I welcome your comments. With love, BOB
