Wildlife: The fact that I live right next door to several food stalls that serve dog meat is always exciting (and kind of weird), but that is not the wildlife I am thinking of. For the past 3 weeks, there has been a rather large gecko living above where my gate opens and closes. It is not one of those cute little things that eats mosquitos and is scared of people. This thing is as big as my hand, makes really obnoxious noises, and if prompted, will bite something and not let go. Still, the first time I saw it I thought, "Oh that's cute." It's blue with red spots and is called a "duck-gka", which is also the noise it makes. Then there are the neighborhood rats, which are as big as cats, and thankfully like to stay outside and not in my apartment!
Traffic: Much like any place, people talk about traffic, but in Phnom Penh, the traffic is always a popular discussion topic as most of us escape death several times a day and can't wait to share about our experiences. Actually, I've gotten use to driving here and sometimes actually enjoy driving my motorbike. Every once in a while, though, I would like to tell other people how to drive and I have to refrain from screaming things like, "Your light is red and mine is green!", because it would cause a scene, and the people already know their light is red and mine is green. As it turns out, I am the one who needs to adjust, not everyone else. =)
Construction: Buildings keep going up and other ones are remodeled, so it seems like any time of the day you can hear a saw or hammer or drill or some piece of machinery. Dodging piles of sand and dirt on the road is also common as construction takes place anywhere and everywhere.
The River: Living in Phnom Penh has it's advantages, like relatively consistent electricity, nice restaurants with air conditioning, museums, shops, large supermarkets with a variety of Western items, and so on. But one of the things I have enjoyed while being here is the Tonle Sap River, where you can walk along the riverside, look at fishing boats, buy popcorn or fried insects or pummelo, and feel like you are somewhere besides in a busy capital city. Though honestly, I usually pass up the fried insects!
The Stadium: One of my other favorite places to go is the Olympic Stadium, or the Stat Olympic in Khmer, and jog on the track. I also like to watch people because tons of Khmer people can be found there in the early morning and late afternoon, walking and running on the cement bleachers, sitting and chatting with friends, doing group aerobics, playing soccer in bare feet, or enjoying fried meat, popcorn, or other food cart delicacies.
The Markets: From markets targeted to tourists to markets packed with Khmer people, the local markets are an adventure and a half! The other day I was looking for towels in one of the larger markets and I wandered around all 3 floors in both buildings and finally found a few stalls that sold towels scattered in amongst clothing and domestic goods shops. One shop had the large towels I wanted but no hand towels in the same brand, so I asked at a few other shops before I found them. And just as the shops were beginning to close for the day, I made my selection, bargained for a lower price, paid, and was on my way. I was also the only white person (that I know of) in the entire market so I hear a few interesting comments from people on seeing a "barang" in their market! Probably made it more obvious since I had no idea where I was going, but sometimes when you get lost you learn a lot more than if you had known exactly where to go.
Odd and ends: The government has been cracking down on motorbike drivers not wearing helmets and motorbikes with no mirrors, so it is good to see more helmets on the street.
I will miss Phnom Penh and my friends, but I am excited to live in Battambang! The slower pace and quiet will be nice and there is even a small river in Battambang too. =) I move on Saturday the 12th. Praise God that I have transportation for my stuff! Thank you for your prayers for me and for the ministry I am joining.
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