Battambang

Hello everyone!

A quick update, since I think it's been too long since I logged on!

As I type, I keep thinking about one of my writing icons... Nora Ephron, who passed away today. It feels right to write on a day like this.

So, I will. About a recent trip to Battambang, Cambodia during a holiday for the Queen of Cambodia's birthday. Battambang is in the Northwest and is the second biggest province of Cambodia, second only to Phnom Penh. But, it is by no means large! It is famously sleepy and closes down by 7pm. You read those things, but, no! Really. Sleepy and closes by 7pm. No complaints--we got rest most of the time and still managed to make it to the only night club in town. (That in itself was an adventure--the club shuts down at 1am, and at EXACTLY 1am, the entire club, I MEAN EVERY SINGLE PERSON INSIDE THE CLUB, rushed out the doors and within MINUTES the club was empty, right on schedule. For a country that is not rigid or often very organized, this was the most organized, regimented exodus of a nightclub, of all places, I've ever seen). In Battambang, we stayed in a pretty bad Chinese-run hotel, but still managed to enjoy the long weekend!

The first day we arrived we took the "famous" bamboo train. Bamboo train seems like it would describe something dinky, bumpy, even slow-moving, but NO--this was a fast-paced adventure roller coaster! The train zoomed through the jungle, and at every bump my body sort of flew into the air off of the bamboo mat that was this train. Every time I opened my mouth, huge insects flew into my mouth and I nearly lost my sandals as we sped on the questionable train tracks! It was amazing. I bought a t-shirt.

The next day we saw the Khmer Rouge Killing Caves. Battambang was a Khmer Rouge strong hold until relatively recently, and in the natural caves of the mountains, the Khmer Rouge murdered over 10,000 people. 10,000 in one small area lost their lives by being flung, often still alive, into a rocky pit. There are still human bones, teeth and fingers in the dirt as you walk through the caves. It just reminds me of the horror of the Cambodian genocide, but also of the timing--this all wasn't that long ago (1975-1979). It reminds me of how far Cambodia has come in such a short time.

We also went on some hikes around mountains and caves which I wasn't a huge fan of. I really don't care for caves. I just don't and I don't know why, because everyone else seems to think they're pretty cool. Oh, well.

We also were able to check out some art galleries. Battambang has a really funky, creative side, and is sort of considered the "artist capital" of Cambodia. There are some cool art workshops for kids, too.

Other than that, we pretty much just relaxed and enjoyed being out of busy, loud Phnom Penh!

Back in said Penh, I'm just enjoying the... weather? And good friends and good times before it all ends more quickly than I could have ever imagined! As we head into July, I look forward to a few more small weekend trips around Cambodia to tide me over until my big trip to Indonesia in September and my imminent and epic return to the states!

Love!!!