What we can learn from Cambodians

The place that we went to go swimming at made me think that this is what they do for fun - go play in the water at this "resort" and spend time with family - just like we would.  It really is all the "same same...but different" (this is a quote you see on t shirts everywhere here, and a lot of ppl say this here).  Same in the sense that as humans, at the basic level we are all the same.  On days off we spend time with family or go on vacations or the beach.  The Cambodians are the same - they might be a lot poorer but they still meet the basic needs just not in the extravagant ways we might in America.  They don't need a big house, cars, or expensive "stuff."  They make due with what they have and they are truly happy people.  This proves that if basic needs are met and you don't expect more - you too can be happy.  The Cambodians don't think - "oh no my bicycle broke down - what do I do? how will I get to the market?  Who will fix it?" They just DO - they fix it (themselves) and go on about their day - there is no time to think yourself into a depression or unmotivation - they just do, no excuses.  We are all capable of doing - but why do we spend so much time talking ourselves out of these things or why the idea you once had might not be such a good idea anymore.  Just do and deal, don't think about what if - if Cambodians thought what if, they would not be so efficient or diligent, or as hardworking as they are now, but most importantly...HAPPY.  Even though they have one of the worst life expectancies (60s) and don't have cars or coach purses or an IPAD - and they still manage with the basics.   If you took the time to read this, take the time to appreciate your car, coach purse, and IPAD and smile because you have NO reason to think yourself into unhappiness.
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After Battambang (my favorite place so far) we went to Siem Reap.  Rachel and I went to the market where I bought some souvenirs that I will ship out before we leave Cambodia - read on for my post office experience.
But first, Angor Wat!  Rachel and I ran into Brian and Jenni randomly at the market so Brian, Jenni and I went to Angor Wat (not Rachel bc she has been there before).  We woke up at 4:30 am and went straight to Angor Wat to watch the sunrise - tons of people and their tripods gathered in the middle of the night to watch this once in a lifetime event.  Angor Wat was pretty breathtaking.  I ended up seeing the actual sun when I was inside Angor Wat.  I would have loved to sit there for an hour and just take it in - but we had one day for this tour so I couldn't.  We went to Angor Thom which included Bayon (temple of faces of the egotistical Cambodian king, Jayavarmen VII (sp?)), Baphuon (worlds largest jigsaw puzzle), Temple of elephants, Terrace of Leper King), Ta Prohm (where trees grow thru the tmple!!!), and we ended up back at Angor Wat and tired to find famous carvings on the walls.  This whole place was so overwhelming (in a good way).  I mean the intricate detail, the time it took to build and carve - how did they do it?!?!?! did they have any idea that people would be seeing their work thousands of years later!!!!!  I couldn't wrap my head around the daily chiseling and design and effort it could possibly take to make that whole city!!!  I was in complete awe and again, wished I could have stayed longer and chilled in the shady places in each temple and just enjoy these infamous structures.  They say one day is not enough and I get it - but I still appreciate this opportunity to see the "8th wonder of the world."

In the evening Jenni got too overheated form our day trip so she had to miss our "girls massages."  She is fine now, but she was running a high temp and overheated and was probably dehydrated.  Rachel and I went to get a "khmer" massage where they gave us a cucumber mask and massaged our full bodies including neck and face.  I was just relaxing and it was a good time for me to remind myself that I'm in Cambodia getting massaged and that I'm truly lucky.

The next day I decide to go to the post office to send my package.  I had a tuk-tuk driver (a guy driving a motorcycle with a little attachment where people can sit) take me to the post office and back for $2.  When I got there the package person was out till 2:30pm - so I just spent $2 and got nothing done.   The not so luxurious part of traveling - these little inconveniences.  Now I have to pay $2 again and hope that she is there at 2:30.  So right now I leave you to go try the post office again.