The Last Good Day Before The Sickness

A man with a love of the melodramatic that's me! As I said, woke with sore throat but wanted to have the sort of day Bunnak had described - chilling in the beginning and then a bit of spirited action to finish off - so forgot about all my potential troubles and headed downstairs to find Bunnak waiting.

We headed to the riverside "restaurant", a lot of bamboo huts, reaching out over the river, connected by walkways. The bamboo construction we chose had a couple of other parties going on. The dudes down the far end insisted on putting up a sheet shade every now and again to clearly ensure that the rest of us couldnt see what was going on. What sort of illicit activity were they involved in? Could it be that bad? Bunnak assured me that in this part of the world, everyone smokes a little whacky tobaccy, so it could not be that.....Although Bunnak seemed to think it was. Just seemed very strange to me, especially when B and I were both puffing away on our own happy smokes. Anyway, had some lunch and some beer and then Bunnak rolled me one more, which was the kicker!

What beautiful colors and sounds surrounded me for the next few hours (oh, and also a little paranoia!!) - so vivid! Completely whacked out! Everything went very slow motion for me around that time and it took me awhile to get going again when B suggested we go get some water bombs and maybe talcum powder and head on down to the temple where the festivities really got going. Well, the road on the way there was totally out of control. I was being pelted left right and centre and when B finally stopped to purchase this one vendors entire water bomb collection we were suddenly a very appealling sitting target. Helll, I have bruises upon bruises. Come on, get going B, why is this taking so long? They were going for the Barang, not for him! Anway up the road we went pelting bombs all over the place, but being pelted much more> At the end upon arrival at the temple it just looked too much like a snowy shambles and so we decided to take the route back, buy some more bombs, chill out for a bit with some friends of his by the roadside and then head back to the hotel with more of the same along route.

Can u imagine this ever happening in ur Suburb? Pelting water bombs at passing vehicles? It was completely shambolic and completely joyous, even when it hurt. I missed my target of a teenage guy and ended up hitting two little kids, whose stunned look was instantly replaced by a ravenous grin! Phew, felt better about that when that grin enveloped their faces. Best targets were the picks up with the locals packed in. How could you miss?? Happy days indeed.

Finished off with another smoke and a couple of beers and a snack before bed to wake with that dreaded bloody cold. Ah yes, the sickness!! It is Day 3 proper of the cold now and am feeling better than yesterday, so let us hope that all is better in preparation for Siem Reap tomorrow....