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Cambodia

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Thai-Cambodia Border
I began my journey to Cambodia this morning just as the sun was coming up. I walked out of Chitanun exactly 3 weeks after checking in and hopped on a motorcycle taxi to the bus station. Shortly after I was in a mini-bus to Bangkok. After a few pitstop bathroom breaks and about two and a half hours later the driver told me it was time to get out... I had no idea where I was, haha. I walked up to the closest tuktuk driver and asked him to take me to the Ekamai Bus Station. An hour or so later we arrived and I booked my next ticket to Trat. Four and a half hours after boarding I was at the Trat Bus Station looking for my ride to the border. Once enroute on the ninety minute Cambodia Border mini-bus, they worried me I wasn't going to make it to the border in time when they had me get out in a place that looked more like a downtown than a border. Thankfully after sitting patiently for a few minutes another minibus pulled up and they had me hop in there. Twenty minutes later... I crossed the border into Cambodia just as the sun was setting. Beautiful!

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Cambodian Monks
I slept most of my day away today after having insomnia upon arriving to Cambodia yesterday. I took a walk down the street through the the market and then grabbed a late breakfast/lunch/dinner. I met a man at the restaurant from the Bronx, Mark, who had been through the area a few times. He mentioned a temple down the street so we went for a stroll to check it out. We were peeking in the window listening to the monks chant which started to distract the younger ones so an older one invited us in to join them. There were lots of giggles during the rest of the chanting as one of the monks sitting closer to us tried to explain to Mark how to sit correctly. Mark was a clown about it and got them all laughing more and more. They were all very sweet smiling at us. After about 20 minutes of listening (we couldn't join in because there was no English translation) we said our goodbyes and headed out.

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River Walk
I walked down to the river to watch the sunset today. I was sitting enjoying the view and watching some kids play swords with sticks on a boat when I was approached by an Australian man. We chatted awhile and when I asked him why he chose to live in Cambodia he said because there were no extradition laws. Not sure if he was kidding or not but I didn't want to know so I didn't ask. Even with that statement, after he invited me join him and his friends at a table I decided why not join them for a beer. It was the most fantastic bar system! You had a cooler full of icy cold beers and just kept your cans to declare for your bill at the end. There was quite an array of characters in the group, some Americans, more Australians and a Canadian. There was a lot of good BSing and I was glad that I joined them.

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Happy Valentine's Day!
After beers by the river last night, one of the Americans, Joey, and I went to grab some dinner. We wound up having a few more beers afterwards and just as it turned midnight I remembered it was Valentine's Day. So, what else to do but make a Valentine's beer heart! Needless to say I had a hungover Valentine's Day consisting of drinking water and napping. Hope you had a wonderful one!

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Pit Stop!
I hopped on the bus early this morning headed for Sihanoukville. It cracked me up when the bus driver stopped to pee and half the bus emptied out to join him. So many grown men taking a quick look over their shoulder realizing the rest of the bus is staring at them as they go. Haha, at least we didn't get the view from the cows' angle! Shortly after we took a stop for the ladies to go. They were such pretty toilets I would have rather joined the men in the field. I arrived to my guesthouse midday so there was plenty of time to settle in and then head out to soak up some sun at the beach. I am glad to be back to the breeze and the waves!

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Threading
I got out of town today, destination Otres 1 Beach. I was checked into a room right away and switched into a swimsuit immediately! I took a stroll down the beach and found a nice tree to take a rest. Immediately the massage ladies were on me trying to give me a pedicure or a rubdown. One of them called me out on my leg hair which I had just shaved 2 days prior and was ok with. We talked for a bit, basically me saying I as fine but thank you for asking. Somehow we got on to her just 'trying it out'. It was amazing! So smooth. I agreed to a half a leg but then slowly progressed to doing full legs and eventually the armpits. I have always lived by the statement 'I will try anything twice' and this is the first time I regret to inform I will not be trying something twice... The armpit threading. Wow, the worst pain I've ever put myself through!

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Winning
When I went to return home last night I realized my flip flops were no where to be found. The last place I remembered having them was earlier in the afternoon at the other end of the beach. It was too dark, too late and had too many cocktails in me to go on an adventure to find them so I waited until this morning to take a look. This morning I got to the spot where I remembered holding them last and got a sad face when they weren't there. My next bright idea was to go ask the hotel if they did any collection of flippies in the evening or morning. While walking there I was shocked when three tables later, covered in sand, they were laying there! Winning!! Someone had obviously taken them for a walk around but I was happy to have them back and it made the rest of my day! UPDATE: Two days later I lost one out of a hole in the bottom of a tuktuk to town. At least I won for two days!

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Sunset Run
I found a nice path that connects Otres 1 to Otres 2 today. I took the opportunity to head out on it for a sunset run tonight. At my halfway point when I went to turn back the sky was looking gorgeous! I made it back to Blame Canada just in time to grab a cold draft and watch it finally set. Beautiful.

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Cat TV
Blame Canada has officially become my Otres Beach sunset bar. Since I've been coming to watch it set here they have installed the latest craze... Cat TV! The photo was taken while the kitties were 'Off Air' but the bunny was still having a great time chilling with me.

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Boat Trip
Tonight I hopped on a free boat ride out to Koh Ta Kiev to listen to the Madagascar drumming girls. I arrived there in the dark so I didn't get a good look at the island. I think that means I'll have to go back. The girls drummed around a huge bon fire and everyone had a great time dancing around with them. I got separated from my friends on the first boats to head back and had to spend what felt like an eternity waiting for the boats to return. At least the bioluminescence was shining bright in the waves on the ride back to entertain me!

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Kickin' It
Cambodian hacky sack anyone? These guys were having a great time kickin' it around in the street behind Otres Beach. Theirs was more of spring loaded feather thing than a hacky sack but the same moves. They were all smiles and giggled even more when Eddy joined in on their game.

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Honda Winning
Nothing beats sitting seaside doing some updates to ShannyBug. Sitting with a fellow traveler, Brian, while doing them gave me the opportunity to help him with his travel blog. He's touring the area on a Honda Win so we created a Honda Winning logo for him. Win-win, I'm getting paid for my services in cocktails later today!

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Fear the Beard
I went to my first night of trivia down to Pappa Pippo's tonight. Seeing as all of the men on our team were fully bearded we chose 'Fear the Beard' as our team name to put some fright into the competition. We welcomed free beers for winning the first round and I was amazed when we went on to win the whole game! A free bottle of wine for the win made for some very cheery trivia players!

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Boat Trip

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Boat Trip

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Boat Trip

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Boat Trip

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Boat Trip

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Hintzman, Party of One
I had my first ever airport sign today! I wasn't even sure the hotel was going to pick me up from the airport as I had put in such a last minute request for a room. I avoided the hoard of drivers with signs at first since I was unsure. The driver was so relieved he had finally found me when I went back to look. I liked how it was hand written since I had booked my room the night before. If you check out the one on his belly you can see what you get when you book in advance. Loved it though!! The other two waiting for me in the tuk tuk were relieved I was just a party of one... There was no way we would have fit a fourth and their luggage. Feels good to be back!