Yesterday started with me moving rooms. My key hated the lock, or the lock hated the key, but either way they refused to work together. The hotel's solution: new room. Whatever works I guess. But I was excited, because the view is so much better in the new room!
Old view. Not too bad, but...
Here's the new view! Beautiful wat, palm trees, much better! Until this morning. But more on that later.
After my room switch, I went out to explore. I tried to check in at the Embassy, but apparently you have to make an appointment, so I never made it inside. After that failed attempt, it was off to the Central Market.
It was one of the coolest places I have ever been, and I don't mean the temperature. It was hot as balls in there, but everywhere you looked, there was stuff, just tons and tons of stuff. I will have to do a whole separate post on it, I was too amazed to take any good pictures. I had to steal this one of the outside, thanks Phnom Penh Hotels! But I did manage to get: an alarm clock, a surge protector, head phones, speakers for my computer, hangers, 20 Valium, a beautiful dragon fruit, and an orange, all for $30. The Valium was for my shoulder, shooting that machine gun banged it up really good, I have a bruise and everything!
Then Peter, my tuk tuk driver for the day took me out to lunch by the Tongle Sap River. We tried to go to Friends, a restaurant that takes the street kids and teaches them how to cook, but it was closed for the holiday. No one can explain what holiday it is, but it's a big one, because a lot of the city is closed down because of it. After lunch, we drove around, and I was able to see more of my new home. I really do love it here. From the constant meep meep of the moto horns, the monks I see almost everywhere, and I saw an elephant today!
So far, except for the chanting of the monks that woke me up at 530am, I love it here. And it just feels like this is where I am supposed to be. (Feel free to remind me of that when I am homesick, and doubting my decision.)
It seems that the chanting is over, so I am going to try and get a few more hours of sleep...