My first taste of the weekend in Kampot. I had dinner with Naomi (the only other volunteer at epic- she
has been here for 10 months on a funded trip from Australia and works mainly with the Vocational Training
Programme or 'VTP' students). We ate by the river at 'Rusty's'. It's owned by a mancunian guy and so crinkle cut chips and stir
fried pork and vegetables were the order of the day. Mixing east and west food already! ;)
Cambodia is
not only about food though! Each morning so far I have cycled to have my breakfast in
the epic arts cafe where the vtp students and team also hang out. It’s set up in
one of Kampot's many dilapidated french colonial buildings. But it's very nice! They
have books to help teach you sign language. All the staff are deaf so you can
sign your order to them but just to make sure it's right they also have a check
list for you on the menu! I once ordered salt when I wanted lime, and coffee when I wanted tea!
Everyone wants to help you to sign. I admire their patience.
In Kampot they have ‘shop-houses’. You're never quite sure if
you’re in a bakery or someone’s house as there’s a guy in a towel stood next to
you and usually a bed in the corner. The whole family live in the shop-house.
After dinner, around 8pm everything in the town starts to quieten down. Except for a little place on the river just 5 mins across the river from town. Bodhi Villa, the infamous backpacker hangout which floats on the river and has live music and
cocktails ‘til whenever the last person is standing. I didn't pay for my drinks
but apparently they remember you and keep a tab for a few weeks or until you leave.
I went on my friend's moto, 3 of us- Cambodian style as the road there is in complete darkness except for the odd firefly. They pretty much act as an alternative to cats' eyes out there.
This particular friday night happened to be a full moon and so we sat on the jetty by the lit river dangling our feet in and when you disturb the
water it lights up with millions of glittering algae ( or bioluminescence).
It is really nice here and it feels like
I've been here for a while already as everyone is so welcoming, and why not? it costs nothing and makes you feel good!
Little kids run out onto the street shouting ‘hello’ when I cycle past, showing
off their english. And I bought some gas from the local shop/shack and the
women
there saw I had pans in my shopping bag and started to get really excited my khmer
friend translated that they were saying 'omg! You are cooking your going to
cook
your own food! Great!' haha! :) and the man who owns the shop, was so friendly (as friendly as you can be wearing only a small sarong to cover his modesty) would try to speak french to me 'because you are english' ?
