bird legs getting bigger

So we've just been floating around Phnom Penh for a few days now. Even
though it's dirty and there are a lot of sights that hurt to see, there is a
charm to the city. It feels really relaxed and easy going to me. - Or at
least, for travelers.
 
I don't feel like writing a day to day of what's been happening, so I'm
just going to make this a random thoughts entry, paragraphs of different
things I'd like to remember...
 
We went to the Killing Fields a couple of days ago, and what many people
find hard to say, when asked what it was like - it was actually physically
really beautiful - which seems so bizzare and not right to say. And it made
the whole experience so eery. - To think these people died meaningless,
unfair horrible deaths, in such a beautiful spot. It's quiet with lots of
birds and huge trees and there  was a lushness to it. There were signs here
and there stating "Please do not walk in mass graves". There were huge holes
everywhere where people had been burried, and huge trees that were used for
beating people against. In the center of the area there is a tall memorial
building, that has about 30 glass layers of skulls dug up from when  they
excavated the graves. The thing that struck me the most about the whole
area, was that there were butterflies everywhere. Huge ones and tiny ones,
all different colours. - And I truly truly believe they have something to
do with all the lives lost in those fields...
 
Evenings around where Dave and I were staying for the first 4 days (moved to
different area today) were my favorite. To get to many of the
restaurants/bars you have to walk down a long alley and then a long dock, to
spend time at the places on the lakes, which were really nice to relax on.
But my favorite part was walking down the alleys - Local people live in the
alley and leave their doors open, and as much as politely possible I liked
to look it. It would often be huge families going about their evening
business. The house are so small and everyone looks so happy. Usually about
3 children and a mum or dad would be gathered around a tv, a parent would be
rocking a baby to sleep, grandparents rest in hammock in the from of the
house, older daughters usually would e cooking something outside by the
front door. The sense of family among everyone just really, really
comforted me. I could be content living with my family this way, so close.
 
Last night Dave and I went to meet a new friend by the bars along the river.
This area is a little more posh and generally seemed to be more travelers
with money to spend. - With that, attracts more poor people. I saw too many
single mums living on the streets with naked babies then I ever wanted to
see. So many of them begging, and it's so hard because you just can't give
to everyone that's begging you. I can't believe that this happens, I can't
beleive the government allows it. I had read that the contrast between wealth
and poverty is extreme, but I just couldn't imagine seeing all these fancy
restaurants and well dressed people, and right outside these desperate
starving people.
 
In the evenings when you sit around and drink and eat the night away, tons
of kids come up to you with boxes of books to sell. Dave and I bought one
the first time, but there are literally dozens of these kids, and it is
impossible to carry that many books! so we and most other people have to say
'"no" to all of them, and it gets so so repetative. Some look sadder than
others, some are really clever, so really, really beg, but we just have to
say no. the tuk tuk drivers here seem a lot more desperate too, they aren't
really more aggressive, but it's just the tone of their voice, and they way
they make us "promise you come back to me, when you need a ride."
 
Internet bars are everywhere, but the computers here are dinosoars. So, my
photos are really starting to blog up, and they will probably be really far
behind from now, and probably until Im out of Cambodia - I might not even
get any up in Cambodia, unless the next city we go to has faster
connections. But as soon as I am in Thailand again, I will spend time
getting them up to date.
 
Dave and I as I said moved into a nicer place today, and not on the tourist
strip. It's a lot quieter and cleaner, and closer to the river and walking
distance to the palace. Our room is probably the nicest, biggest, and
cleanest room we've had yet, it's $15 a night, we are treating ourselves! 
In a couple minutes we are walking to the Royal Palace, which is supposed to
be really really beautiful. I might not be able to take photos though
because apparently they really overcharge you to use your camera, so I will
prob just buy postcards...

EDIT:
I didn't have time to post this, so now I am here again AFTER the Royal Palace and it was ammmazig. I was able to take photos of the exterior, which is more beautiful than the interior in most cases. I think the photos will d it a lot more justice than my words, so yu'll have to wait a week or two for those!

We walked to the Palace and I must say  really like the area we are staying in now, it's so much more clean and bright and open. There is a looong clean park about a minute walk from our place, so I'd lie to go watch the sunset there tonight. And I'm getting excited for my Amok dinner!

Peash