Day 12

May 2 2013

Siem Reap Cambodia

I have been on a constant travel schedule for 11 days . Last night I felt tired so I figure I need a rest for at least a day. Just sit around, drink water, do some writing and plan ahead. I thought to buy some breakfast next door but kept walking until I reached a market where I only found local people. One side of the market has eateries which I am sure would not pass any health and /or safety standard anywhere in the Western world. Unrefrigerated food everywhere. Open vats and pans. The smell was very appetizing though. So as the saying goes "When in Cambodia do as the Cambodians do".

I settled down between some old women sitting on low stools. The food I had ordered was prepared right in front of me. Fried noodles and vegetable mix, two fried eggs and a spinach frilled steamed and fried balls made of dough. Frying is ok, clean chopstick straight out of a pack is a must. My only concern was the strength of the plastic chair I was sitting on. The size I have seen sold in kid's stores and not made for someone my size. Just imagine tumbling over and throwing my food all over me. It would not embarrass me but think it would embarrass the persons around me as they may feel that they failed to supply me with something adequate to sit on.

To escape the heat of the day I went back to the relative coolness under the awning at the front of the hostel. Writing things down gives me time to reflect on the reason why I may find myself in this place at this time in my life. At the beginning of this journey I did not know what I was searching for, the way forward was filled with doubt, clouded by ignorance and uncertainty. The question remains why I am attracted to living a lower standard of living, fighting the heat and bureaucracy. I hate the haggling with tuktuk drivers and sales people but in another sense love it. Is it the constant pursuit of change, of self reflection and realization? The experience of seeing the world in its rawest and most beautiful form? Or is it the lives of the people I’ve come into contact with? Constantly challenging my perspective and building honest, lasting and meaningful connections with those that matter . Relationships. That’s what this life is all about. You either open yourself up and allow other people in - to build, to grow, to learn, to like - or you wall yourself off, never evolving, never knowing the beauty of affecting another person’s life, never feeling what it’s like to go outside of yourself and find a higher purpose and calling. Whatever it is that makes me different, unique, valuable, in the end the ultimate expression of that talent will be to the benefit of others. If I can make one person’s life better through my words or actions, just one person, then it’s all been worth it. All the countless hours, the sleepless nights, the painstaking and endless search to perfect a purpose, a passion, a way of life. And when the twists and turns of this long winding road come to an end, I can look back and know without a shadow of a doubt, I lived and knew what it meant to live, and hopefully the world is a tiny bit better because of it.

Last night I met a wonderful man. I went to a small restaurant looking for a simple meal. A man wondered in and sat with his back towards me. Both of u were alone, as it was still relatively early there was only one other person in the place. People, cats and dogs wonder in and out a there are no doors and everything was out in the open. I had taken out my laptop to write the words above when I thought to challenge my inhibitions. I called out “hello’ I have room enough at this table…if you wish” . The man turned around , did not say a word , got up and sat across from me. We introduced ourselves. His name was Harry and came from Tasmania. I had already noticed how he interacted with some of the staff. Yes he said, I live here. He went on to tell me that he lived here 6 to 9 months a year teaching 4 to 12 year old underprivileged children some English. He was not a teacher at all but… he said, I taught my children to speak English so that make me a teacher. His wife would join him from time to time One of his sons had a business in town and the other was a pilot for Qantas. Whenever he flew back with empty cases he filled them up with 40 kg of clothes to give away. He had approached Malaysian Airways to give him a special deal on baggage for no other reason than that he wanted to give away item which could be given to poor families. He had a developed a smart way to arrange transport around town. Tuktuk drivers always need to be haggled for a lower cost because they ask 2-3 times more than what a fare should be. As they always take him for a tourist he had approached a driver for a special deal. Being in need of reliable driver with a reliable scooter/trailer he now has a personal driver. First he had asked the tuktuk driver to go to a dealer and price a new bike and ask what the trade in value would be. Once that was done Harry paid for it and the driver had a new bike. The cost for ride from his home to the school was agreed as were certain other regular fares. The drive is paying harry back by means of “free “rides.

A win win all the way. He was now sponsoring a family, was assured of getting reliable transport and it was helping everyone concerned. Meanwhile Harry made sure that sick children were being cared for as well. Harry looked about 55-59 I guessed, but when I enquired about his age he answered that he would be 70 years old next week. His pension and superannuation was paying for it all. What is the point of paying a high cost of living when all my money goes back to the government anyway. Here it can do some good. When his own kids have a birthday he writes to them that for their birthday he had bought 20 KG rice and would give that away on their behalf. Again I learned a lot last night.