Phnom Penh, Cambodia is stop 1

Where is Rachael now (yes, it's back; I'm on the move!): Bangkok, Thailand

Cambodia. Oh, I love Cambodia. I flew into the capital, Phnom Penh (ignore the 'h's) and walked out into the HEAT. It was wonderful! Nighttime heat with yellowed lights and laughter and good smells greeted me and I breathed out. On my flight from southern China to PP, I noticed someone with a Penn State shirt. When I ran into him at the visa station, I had to ask..and turns out he was a native! He had grown up in a nearby town as well as Boalsburg AND he had helped out at Camp Golden Pond one summer..my girl scout camp! Oh the places Penn Staters go... Anyway, I hopped in a tuk tuk and headed for my hostel. Since I am traveling alone, I have been picking hostels that cater a bit more for a party scene or include a bar..just so I know I can easily meet people. The Mad Monkey was perfect.

The next morning, I had some delicious breakfast at the hostel open air restaurant. Great people watching at all hours. I decided to tackle the tough sites first. I arranged to ride passenger to a moto driver. He took me to the Killing Fields first. The Khmer Rouge civil war is recent history for Cambodia. The Killing Fields is one of the sites where prisoners of the regime were executed. Over 20,000. Next we went to Tuol Sleng Prison (now a museum). It was here, just in town, that many people were held and tortured typically later ending up at the Killing Fields. I cried. It's a terrible story of pitting neighbors against each other and the Museum did not hold back. Truly saddening, but when I asked my moto driver: he said he was just happy that foreigners were coming and learning about this and that his country was mending.

commemorative stupa

no rhyme or reason: only Poi Pots' paranoia

I relaxed and contemplated the rest of the day at some cafes. I hadn't had a chai in months! What is so strange about Cambodia is that they work in US dollars. The taxis, the restaurants, the shops. Whatever change there might be, they make up the difference in Cambodian riel. So you get a mix of both. That evening I drank at the bar with some assorted travelers. It's easy meeting people there.
The second day I went shopping at the central market. My best purchase: pants. Everyone has These Pants. They feel like I'm not wearing pants which is best in this weather. Then I saw the Royal Palace. That evening, I went out on my own. At a restaurant I ordered...frog! Why not! It was actually quite good! On my walk back, I grabbed some icecream. That night I went out and explored the club scene a bit. One of the girls was from Seattle and she reminded me so much of friends, I really enjoyed her company.
My last day I went to one more site, the Russian Market. After that, I boarded a bus to Siem Reap. Stop 2.

a spirit home: they are all over and about the size of large bird houses

One line to sum it up: I'm used to seeing balancing acts on the backs of motos in China, but it was a first to see an entire refrigerator balanced on the back! This town is great!