these are monks we saw on the street that so kindly allowed us to take their picture. they are not what i meant by the title. :)
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after tuol sleng, alex and i decided that we needed a break before visiting the killing fields. though there's a lot to see in phnom penh, we opted for sleeping late and shopping. along with this, our canadian friends suggested that we visit wat phnom. i wasn't really up for visiting another temple, because though they're all so pretty and interesting, i dont exactly worship at them and they all start to look the same after a while.
but this one had monkeys!!
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i was under the impression that they were everywhere, but when we got off of the motorbike, i didn't see any. our driver told us they were around, typically at the top and to hold on to our belongings. i was sooo excited... just think, monkeys tryin to steal my shit! i imagined them swinging in their little trees, running around, chasing each other, running right up to us the way they did in siem reap. alex and i climbed the stairs to the top of the temple, and i could hardly enjoy the building. i just wanted to see the monkeys, but still no avail.
we walked around the top of the temple. it was peaceful and shaded well, so we plopped ourselves down on the brick siding and just sat. we watched the traffic go by, elephants walk the circle around the temple, and people socializing. i still didn't see any monkeys, not even in the treetops. disappointed, i thought maybe we had come to the wrong place. eventually, when we got too hot just sitting in one place, we got up. we walked around to the front of the temple for a few more photographs and to marvel at the huge clock before leaving.
walking out, we saw a worker washing the elephant that gave rides around the temple. there was a big sign that said "do not approach the elephant," so alex and i stood back.
we were glad to be so close to him, but felt bad for the work he did in the hot sun. he just kind of stood, but slowly started walking forward. we thought we were far enough out of the way, but for some reason, the guy kept yelling at us in khmer and we couldn't understand him. i looked at him, confused.
"WHY are you yelling?!"
but he obviously didn't know what i was saying either, and just kept yelling.
buddy. yelling is still not an answer to my question.
when he figured out that we didn't get it, he pointed to the sign. frustrated, i wished he spoke english so he understood my annoyance and that with my white skin, i had no idea what he was trying to say in khmer.
"i. am not. approaching your elephant. he is approaching me."
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just as we were about to get back on the bike, we spotted a woman with about five bags of fruit. and where there is fruit in a random park, there are monkeys!
i walked up to the woman, and seeing she was more than likely khmer, i pulled my wallet out assuming she would have no idea what i was asking her. still, she looked at me quite puzzled. usually they don't argue with money around here, so i was confused.
"can i buy?" i asked her.
we were told that there were numerous vendors from which you could purchase fruit to give to the little guys.
but this woman was still confused. i just wanted to feed them, and i wasn't sure why she wasn't grabbing my money. another woman that was with her asked me, "can i help you?" i told her i had wanted to buy the fruit, but she told me that she buys the fruit from the market every day to feed them. "just grab some," and she invited us to join in.
the youngest one would walk right up to me and his little hands just grabbed whatever i was holding. i wanted to take him home.
how rude of me, but i'd just sit and watch him take his little bites to eat.
hiiiiii little guuy, come with mee!! :)
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i didn't think i would, but i really like phnom penh. it's a calm city: laid-back, low-key and open. there are parks, pagodas, temples, and fountains everwhere.
this is just one near our hostel, but i could have taken pictures of about four more within easy walking distance. in fact, along the riverside is a display of every recognized country's flag.
at night, there are usually groups of teenagers doing dances on the sidewalks, welcoming anyone to join and tons of families gather in the parks to eat dinner in the grass.
even after the turmoil, cambodia is such a wonderfully peaceful society.
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Y rae. racho. d.
