I woke again before Brooke and made my way down to one last walk along the beach. I was sure to leave Lily's flip flops upstairs. The water was yet again, calm, still and beautiful. I was so happy that I got to see this part of Cambodia. It's a must see for anyone traveling to the country.
After my walk, I went back up to wake Brooke. We quickly packed up our bungalow and headed to breakfast.
We decided on the same spot as yesterday and the same server greeted us as we took a seat. We ordered a big breakfast and recapped our wonderful girls trip. We admired our servers unique sheer swim suit cover up as she floated around the restaurant. I asked her where she bought it when she came by with coffee. "Sihanoukville," she smiled, as he gave us directions "Once you got off the ferry on the mainland, turn right and you will see a strip of stores that sell these in every color." I turned to Brooke, "Now we can go shopping while we wait for the bus! We'll be the only ones back at home with these cover ups, no doubt about it."
The ferry boarded and I inched my way to the bow of the boat. The cruise back the mainland was just as breathtaking as the ride in. I put in my head phones and daydreamed about Chris until the boat came to a stop at the shore. Brooke and I strolled down the beach in search of the cover ups. We reached a line of huts selling souvenirs, hats and cover ups. We perused through the collection until we each selected a color. We handed the woman a five dollar bill and before we could turn back to the street, the rain came pouring down. We were under a hut and the water was leaking from side to side, pouring like buckets and we were trapped in the market. We wanted to head back to The Black Grouper for lunch but it was raining so hard, the road began to flood and rushing water carried trash down toward the beach. We waited it out for ten minutes and we would be cutting it close to make it on time to the bus if we didn't run to lunch now. We couldn't take a five and a half bus ride home without food. I asked Brooke if she was ready and we made a run for it.
It only took two strides out of the hut to get completely soaked. We ran through the monsoon as spectators watched us with confusion. Each hut and restaurant filled with people eating and hiding from the rain gawked at us while we ran through the downpour. Once we reached the Main Street, I turned running uphill against the current. I was worried all my belongings in my bag would be completely soaked but there really was no alternative.
We reached The Black Grouper, laughing and trying to catch our breath. We took a seat under cover and ordered a big lunch. I ordered a heavy scallop linguine dish. I told Brooke that I knew I would not be eating whatever Khmer food we were served tonight so had to stuff myself this afternoon.
I sent Sython a quick text and told him that I didn't have a visa for Vietnam. I asked if he could help and he texted back, "I will get you one, do not worry." Relieved, I finished the rest of my pasta. I knew that Italian was probably right about the visa timeline but she didn't have a Sython.
We wrapped our big lunch and boarded the bus back to Phnom Penh. This bus was even nicer than our bus to the beach. It was very clean, modern and played a movie. We reclined our seats and watched Hunger Games on the long drive home.
Once we arrived to the house that night, Sython texted that he was on his way to collect my passport. He told me he spoke with the embassy and pulled some strings so was able to get me one overnight. I guess it pays to know people in Cambodia. He told me to pack my overnight bag and that a taxi was arriving in thirty minutes. He was going to run my passport over to an agent now and we would pick it back up tomorrow before my flight.
I packed a few things and waved goodbye to the girls. "You just arrived and you're leaving already?" They asked shocked. I told them I had my last project tomorrow at a pottery farm, we had to be there early in the morning so we were heading in a taxi tonight.
Sython knocked on the door for us to leave and once again, I crawled into a Camry this time with four passengers up front and three in the back seat.
It was only a few days away from Sython but we were like little kids as we caught up on everything we did over the weekend. I filled him in on the plankton, my missing flip flops and the fish BBQ. I asked how he did in the marathon he ran in over the weekend when I cut my sentence short to announce my discovery. I realized what was different, "Your beard!? You shaved!" It now made sense why he was smiling, waiting for me to realize. He looked so much different when he picked me up and I couldn't put my finger on what it was. We started laughing and the others yelled in Khmer in the car. "They ask us to not laugh as loud," he said while laughing more quietly.
He filled me in on the half marathon he ran in Siem Reap yesterday. "Siem Reap? You drove all the way back to Siem Reap?!" I asked. I realized as he filled me in all the details of the race that I was becoming hip to Cambodia. I knew the references he now made, I was becoming accustomed to long car rides. None if it was as much of a shock to me anymore.
We talked about the half marathon I ran in San Diego and compared our running times and discussed what other races we had done or will do. Sython and I had become really close friends over the last two weeks and I was honestly going to miss him when I left. He was such a great coordinator, I didn't expect to form such a great bond with my guide.
We didn't arrive to the guest house until close to ten o'clock. Sython asked if I wanted to grab dinner and I declined. I knew I wouldn't like the food and I was still full from my big lunch. "Can I bring you back a coke at least?" I shook my head, but then requested an orange pop. "Orange pop?" He asked puzzled. "Fanta' I'd like an orange Fanta." I explained they were the same thing. "Ah, okay, I'll bring you one after I return from dinner."
We checked in and it looked like a hotel from one of those zombie movies where the city was evacuated or everyone was killed. It seemed like it once may have been a descent hotel but now was falling apart, ceilings cracking and poorly maintained. Even the soap in my bathroom looked like it was forty years old. The packaging old and wilted, the Asia Hotel name barely legible on the box. White used flip flops still lay by one of the beds in my room. Sython showed me how to lock my door only to find the lock was broke. "We will fix for you," as he yelled Khmer to the host and walked away. "I would just give you my room but it does not have a fan, I know you will prefer a fan." The man returned and Sython assisted him while they used tools to fix my lock. I scanned the bathroom to find a blue toilet and grotesque shower mold. While I was anxious to rinse off, I decided to pass and just head to bed.
I locked my now fixed door and climbed into my bed hoping to not be attacked by zombies in the middle of the night. A fell quickly asleep until I heard a knock on my door. "Julie? Orange pop?" As promised, Sython brought me back my favorite drink.