Traveling through the Old Market (Day 1 in cambodia)

Saran, our singing tuk tuk driver

Market
Old Market

I slept very well in the white cloth, beautiful room of Journeys Within (minus waking up three hours before necessary). No surprise that I have trouble sleeping in at home and therefore find the same problem here in Cambodia despite "jet lag" and time differences. Today, seven students and I decided to use our free day to not just sleep and read, but to explore the streets of the Old Market. One way home on a taxi in Athens costs $5 each person. However, as I hung onto the popular mode of transportation, a tuk tuk, which is a less glorified drawn carriage, complete with a motorbike instead of horses and street weaving instead of a gait, the cost to my three new companions and I was $2 (not per person!). In a caravanning style, our two tuk tuks, four people each, stopped in the middle of the busy Old Market. Immediately the familiar market aura was present. Anything from wooden happy Buddhas to hanging pig hoofs filled the streets with smells of sandalwood, aged carcasses, and more interesting aromas coming from the various Khmer, English, Italian, and Mexican restaurants that resided among the various merchant sellers.

The market is a place of little to no rules, unbridled in its system, and controlled by a swarm of individual workers that make the market bustle with sound. Their diligence and persistence is the same all over the world, in every country and every market. Familiar shouts of "look at this, perfect for you," "it matches your eyes," and "I will make you a special deal, special" filled the thick market air. For lunch we chose a suggested restaurant from the Journeys Within packet from our room, the Blue Pumpkin. This heaven-like serene restaurant, bakery and ice cream parlor seemed to be hidden among the old buildings and faded Khmer signs. Walking into the all white walled restaurant, we sat at a nice glass table while others sat on couches with "TV trays" over their laps to eat. This coffee-shop-couch feel along with restaurant tables awed each of us. And, not to forget, the wonderful air-conditioning! After walking around for close to two hours, every part of our bodies felt of sweat, which made all of us feel as if we had found home in this small, cooled restaurant. The food was delicious and not particularly high priced for the atmosphere. However, I can't help but be excited by the idea of eating real Khmer food alongside Cambodians for the price of $2. Today we were told of a noodle bowl place right next to our B&B that served meals for $1...Welcome to Cambodia.

After eating and walking through Pub Street, we were recognized by the serenading tuk tuk driver that found us earlier. Singing to us down the street he offered rides anywhere and his personality was bright and his humor intoxicating. During the persistent offers, his friends came to talk about rides. Amazing how a few foreigners make tuk tuk drivers flock. We met one man who claimed to be "Obama's personal bodyguard" and another "James Bond." We negotiated a price back to our new home, and "James Bond," the original and persistent singing man, happily loaded us in while singing Michael Buble during our trip back. I am happy to say Saran, our driver, has the potential to be a new friend and hopefully, a trustworthy one, even if he questioned our status of "single" or "taken" as he pulled away. Ah...Saran. A funny short man with a loud voice. I am sure we will see him again.

Once "home," we swam in the pool while getting to know each other. Although the pool was lukewarm, the simple refreshing feeling of water over our heat-beaten bodies was enough to replenish our spirits. We were in the pool for probably a few hours, escaping the heat, while waiting for dinnertime at 6:30pm. Today seemed to be a search for one meal to the next and one water bottle to the next. The first official day was full of laughter, discovery, and our first attempt to understand the Cambodian lifestyle and culture. I can only imagine the amazing adventures still yet to come.