Arrived back in bangkok the morning of the 15th after a really long 14 hour overnight bus and headed to Poms after a call. Seeing her again was wonderful and really it just felt like I never left. Did a BBQ at home again with loads of fresh crab and prawns on a blanket outside the Apts for the night. Loads of friends, seafood and drinks just made for a great night. Pom ran in the apt for a bit around 10pm and I "waited" around till about midnight before my drunk ass realized she passed out and called it a night myself.

     Next morning we went out for some breakfast at some street stalls before heading back to the apt for a relaxing afternoon. We decided to do a movie in the evening and got to try my fourth theatre in Thailand which was fantastic. Saw "Contraband" which was good for cheasy action movies anyway lol. After the movie we headed to a nice outside bar with live music and had a couple glasses of white wine. Wine... wtf was I thinking letting her pick that. I was done in by just a single one. So when we left and headed to the bar Gullivers I met her at a while back for beers it was just asking for a hangover. Great time there though watching her play pool. She dominated the table for 6 games, really fun to watch her beat person after person. Probably were home for 10 minutes after leaving before we were both passed out, good night.

     Tonight the plan is for us to do a dinner at a nice restaurant and cap off my time here before heading to the airport. Such a great time and really couldn't have asked for a better way to leave.
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      Having gone out every night for quite some time here I was starting to know what to expect with my nightly routine. Of coarse every time you do that things change. Headed out around 8pm to the same bar I've been going to the past few night and had a couple drinks chatting with one of the girls there and playing pool. About an hour in a rather interesting group of guys came in sitting in the 5 stools next to me. Crazy bunch with one guy from Libya, one Korean etc all led around by a Singapoean guide. Got to chatting and it wasn't long before they were buying rounds and since his pockets were alot fuller than mine who was I too arge lol. Had a good time there befre moving on a local bar called Passion which I hoestly thought was going to suck but the placee was great. Sat at the bar playing connect four? lol for a bit with one of the hostesses before switching over to a local card game. Bars here have an amazing array of games to play with drunk patrons. Its very effective. Keeps you drinking, laughing and having a good time spending your money. The night eventually has to end and for them it did but for whatever reason I wanted to keep going... Oh yeah its because they payed the entire bill so I actually had money to keep going!

     They dropped me off around the river and I headed into a completely empty place which felt awkward a bit having all eyes on me but hey it was quiet. Stayed there a while before grabbing some drunken late night food with someone from the bar before heading home. Was getting pestered a bit by a women who looked pretty rough begging for money and I just kept saying no. A bit later though she stopped what would have been a nail in the coffin for this trip. She tapped me and pointed to the ground where my wallet and passport where having fallen out of pocket as I sat down. Fuck that was close. Of coarse I had to give here money now even ifonly a couple bucks. Also got my leftover food wrapped up and handed it off to her before we left. Great night but could have ended really badly.

     I was planning on hanging in tonight but I met a group of 6 guys from the UK and they were talking about places to go for a night out here so I joined in. For the first time in my life I'm qualified to take people out for a night knowing all the hot spots. What the hell has happened? lol
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Beers And Bars 01/10/2012
 

    The past week or so I've woken up with an idea for the day that never paned out. I've become basically domesticated to Phnom Penh and perform the role of a lazy expat quite well. Sleeping until 2pm, having a late lunch and sitting around watching the world go by until the sun goes down... Then the party starts. Been hitting up the same place night after having the time of my life and I guess its really made me understand my fellow mans addiction to bars and beer alot more. The fact that the bars here are only staffed by young women has nothing to do with it I swear. 

     I'm heading to bangkok soon for my last few days which I'm going to spend at Pom's apt so really its looking like the blog is coming to a close. Probably could have guessed that though becuase every time there was more than a 3 day gap in my blog it was women related lol. Feels like on here its ending with a flicker but for me I'm going out with a bang. Never before have I spent an entire week in so much debauchery... On that note if I dont get on here again thanks to everyone wjho followed along ;), been great.
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     Just felt the need to thank my grandfather and my dad for the added support during my trip. Would have been home more than a month ago if it wasnt for you guys. Thanks for everything.
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     Wow... What easily could have been just another day turned into probably the most memorable new years for me. Started off simply enough with me doing nothing but not want to get out of bed and hanging around the guesthouse. When evening did finally roll around I just grabbed dinner and passed the next couple hours having a few beers and watching people enjoy a live new years soccer game. Honestly I wasn't really thinking "holiday" omg I have to go do something. I have perfectly happy just sitting and drinking. Then I started talking to a guy sitting next to me and hearing about his plans to go walking around and bar hopping a bit before hitting the street to watch everyone go nuts for the new year. It was hear that I realized I probably wanted to go out all along I just needed a little push. 

     So a bit later we started the 15 minute walk to the riverfront to the side streets littered with bars. Walked past quite a few before settling into one although only outside seating was left. Was for the better since inside was standing room only and a mess while I had the patio to myself and a dozen or so others which made for a more relaxed feel. Was pretty much done in by all the beer by midnight but after the 4th balloon pop right in my ear I was awake again lol. All the hostesses with sparklers poped the dozens of balloons hanging everywhere and locals took to the streets with small fireworks and roman candles. At times looking from the bar it almost looked like a firework war with different sides of the street firing off candles at each other lol. While it wasn't exactly the original plan to stay in the bar it was probably the safer bet with the chaos on the roads and the fact that walking wasn't easy at this point. The whole scene was great and made all the better by the company in the bar. If I wasn't so drunk I would have taken my camera and got great pictures of the fireworks war and all the crazy hostess balloon popping as well as the massive tuk tuk and moto bikes rushing around there customers... But mental pictures are just going to have to do. Inside the bars another story, dozens and dozens of pictures there ;)
     Its hard to say when the celebration ended simply because it really didn't... Not for the next couple days at least. Was still up at 4am the night off only to drink a bit more the next day with same the friends and hit the same bar the next night and the night after. The drinking was daily and nightly thing and its actually considered a week long holiday here so people are still yelling "Happy New Year!" which just seems to make me smile to keep me going. Today feels kind of add actually just knowing that I'll be staying in tonight but I'd probably collapse if I didn't as last night going to bed a 6am felt early. Going to the same place to keep the party alive every night really made it easy to really get treated like regulars and bring out the best times in everyone. Heres to not letting this holiday just be another day on the calendar like I usually do. Great time. 
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      The new Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol movie came out yesterday and with no plans for the day I found myself trying to find if there was a larger theatre in the city playing it. I found Legend Cinema in City Mall, the largest mall in Phnom Penh popular with locals. What can I say I have a soft spot for seeing movies abroad. Stayed around the room until the afternoon and then grabbed a moto to the mall around 330pm. Upon arriving I noticed that the biggest mall wasn't really that big and there were parts completely abandoned with empty stalls. Didn't much care though I wasn't here for shopping. On the top floor was the theatre which while unimpressive had a small charm to it. There was some leftover decorations and a really friendly staff to welcome you. One of the ticket guys was recently deported from the USA and once lived in Rhode Island so it was cool to talk to him in english for a bit. Hell he even had the accent which was really crazy combined with his khmer accent lol. He explained to me when I was buying my ticket that I could save money by showing an a student ID if I had one. For whatever reason I still had my ITT Tech id in my wallet so I got a $ off to bring my ticket to $2. Waited around a bit for the movies starting time and then proceeded to grab the drink and head in. 

Pictures are from the Legend Cinemas facebook page since I didnt bring out my camera.

      The theatre here felt like a true local movie experience here as it was full of locals ready to watch the just released movie. One thing that does suck is the seats lol. There like a foot shorter than ones back home made for the shorter people here. My lower back is at the headrest. Great time though and the movie was pretty good for action. Great way to enjoy a day away from the heat.

      Most likely going to hit up a the irish pub nearby for new years and drink a bit since the island new years thing didnt work out. Turns out that it falls on a khmer holiday and since I've seen what the place is like on khmer holidays already im not doing it again. The prices are double and the crowds not worth seeing twice. Cheaper brews in the big city anyway and alot more people to share it with.

                                               Happy New Year
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      Having decided that I wanted to spend New Years on the island of Koh Rong near Sihanoukville I've spent the past few days just hanging out. For the past two days I've spent the afternoon around the guesthouse lobby eating and watching films in the lobby. Then in the evening taking a nice stroll along the river and basking in the cool breeze. Theres alot worse ways you can spend a few lazy days. During on afternoon I grabbed some photos of things in the guesthouse that I find pretty amusing. Paying here uses trust and you write your bill in your room book. On the sign it actually says "In God We Trust" as if that will make tourists be honest lol. Then theres the rooms rules which cover everything from making sure prostitutes check in at the desk and leave there ID for your safety all the way to drugs and luggage. Pretty funny.

      The evenings lately have been great drinking with a group of 4 from Belgium who were one very long trips. Sharing stories and the normal drunk gossip made for a great night. Did the same the next night but we were joined by a girl from china who made for some interesting convo herself. Lots of talk about banned facebook and chinas version of it that can be sensored etc. The night was in full swing when something just nostalgic happened... They played "Babys Day Out" on the guesthouse TV! Havn't seen that movie since I was maybe 9 on VHS and here it was playing on a flat screen in Cambodia... so random but it absolutely made my night.

      Today I'm hoping to do about the same. Not very interesting or thrilling but had to be done. The way money is right now without some down time I wouldn't be able to do the nice things I have lined up over the next few days.
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     Made my rounds of calls back home when I woke up this morning using gmails new calling system from the PC. Stayed in the restaurant online for a couple hours and ate before heading up to the room for a bit. Had no real plans for the day but I didn't want to just sit around either. Just felt like walking about and maybe taking some shots of street side activity. Around 3pm I decided to go for a walk but the heat got the best of me a bit quickly and was more than happy to get in a tuk tuk that pulled up beside me rather shoo him away as usual. Ended up going to the central market which while i've been before I never walked the area around it nor have I given the outside of the market any justice. After arriving I walked inside a bit but having no intenion of buying anything I didnt stay in long. The outside is quite a remarkable if odd sight as the giant yellow building is a eye sore to some and a architectual wonder to others. I think when looked at from afar down the busy streets it does have a nice look to it.
     I walked around the market for a bit taking some pictures before heading down some of the surrounding side roads. The atmosphere of the busy city is great but its the little sights that make walking around delightful. I passed this crazy trolley looking truck with dragons on the outside that looked like it belonged in china if anywhere. It wasn't even until I got back to the room that I realized it was actually a normal converted pickup truck with decrative panels on the outside, kinda cool. A bit further around I passed a shopping mall that to me was in an odd spot on a side road but that wasnt stopping business. I had every intenion of checking out the random find but wasn't done walking just yet. Circled the block all the way passing louds of tuk tuks and some small vase exhibits before making my way back to the entrance.
     Inside I noticed it was rather small per floor but made up for by the fact there were 5 floors. Felt strange coming from bangkok though where just one floor couldnt fit in this whole place. I worked my way rather quickly to the 5th passing a bunch of fast food places crammed into this place. Its there where I hit a multitude of gold. First up was the view from the roof. Although in all honesty it was pretty rough and at times hideous pretty much any view frim the roof of a tall building is kinda cool. Seeing life pass by below and all the action going on atop roofs and balconys etc. Was pretty amazing but not as amazing as what was directly behind me on the roof....
      Theres a freaking roller skating park on the roof of the mall! Total local hangout spot for young kids with no foriegners in sight other than one guy checking this out from behind the fence. There were seats along the outside to watch and have drinks as well as wait your turn. The place was packed with young kids just tearing it up on the ramps and pulling off some incredible moves. You could see it was one of those spots they probably come to everytime money allows and just hang with friends till the place closes. I was so tempted to go in but had no idea the cost and frankly they were moving so fast in there I'd be risking injury. Plus its cambodia, I'm 99% sure that size 12 skates dont exist here. Malls dont even carry shoes in my size since locals are never over a 9. What an amazing thing to watch from an almost 360 degree view as I made my way around the roof.
     Whats next? The Sorya Cineplex lol. Hey theres no theatres in the Lao capital and after so many films in thailand I couldnt pass up the chance to movie it up in Cambodia. The place was simple enough with a single ticket booth and maybe a dozen movie goers but I was hooked. They were playing immortals which I really wanted to see so a win win. Got my ticket and then went into the single snack counter where the single greatest thing in movie going history happened. The stands prices for drinks and popcorn were the same as they were on the street in tourist places! Large drink and popcorn for $1.75 and you had a choice of 3 different popcorns, even kettle corn! So excited now I waited 5 minutes until the doors opened and headed inside to sit with my 3d glasses. 

      The movie began soon after and the 3d was so off everyone took off the glasses in moments. Luckily it fixed itself in a few minutes. Great movie with surprisingly good effects in 3d. There was a really funny moment when a small nude scene came and the entire theatre giggled like crazy. Kinda conservative here. Wonderful way to spend a day and catch up on the movies I'm missing.

      Headed back down all the escalators and met the usual mob of tuk tuk and moto drivers waiting outside. When I started the ride back I had every intenion of just giving him the $1.25 I got him down to but something amazing happened. He actually knew how to drive. Seriously we never went over what I'd consider speed limit back home and obeyed what little traffic sense you can have here. First time ever on a moto bike I felt fully same at least with my driver, everyone one else is still putting you in danger. So I had to give him a bit more upon arriving. Keep up the good work whoever you are.
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     Its almost hard to even say that I had "christmas" in Phnom Penh because I really didn't do anything christmas at all. I woke up around 11am but didnt really get out of bed until 1pm. See sounds like christmas already doesn't it? Even then I slowly made my way downstairs had a burger and didn't really move for a while thanks to free wifi. Hung out till around 5pm when I headed out to the riverwalk again, this time I did bring the camera although this time things were more about just enjoying the weather and hanging out. The temperture has gotten really cool lately and after the sun goes down its a most pleasant 70ish with a great breeze. Perfect for walking the river watching fisherman cast away and other people enjoying the sights sitting along the rivers edge. 
      Walking towards where part of the boardwalk where the dancing takes place I passed the royal palace as the sun was setting behind it. Wonderful sight and a very popular place for everyone to hang out. The streets were buzzing with afternoon traffic as hundreds of people froggered there way across the street for better views. I really dont know how its going to work when I get home because ive totally gotten used to crossing roads here the local way. Doesn't matter if theres 3 lanes of traffic coming at you you just walk into the road with your hand out and slowly move across the road weaving in between on coming traffic. The driver is anticipating your next step and moves accordingly and you do the same. Its a surprisingly good system since everyone knows how it works. Trying this at home will get me killed lol. Not many roads back home have palaces on the other side though either...
     Just before hittint the heart of the river I passed The Pizza company, one of the very few chain restaurants in cambodia. This place has been the most popular dinner place on the river every night. People outside actually in line for seats for a cheap pizza place lol. I guess there not many other places for pizza here and it turns out local cambodians have developed quite the taste for it.
     I was pleased to see things in full swing when I arrived with dozens of people doing an arobics routine. It seems the music is a late night thing but from sun down to late night theres always som sort of dancing going on by the river. Brave ass people. You couldnt pay me enough to dance in a bar never mind in public. Amazingly interesting to watch though made even better by the instructors giant santa hat.
     I walked about until around 7pm passing a few hotels and restaurants with someone outside in a santa hat. Not too long after I headed to the same bar from the previous night and visited a friend there for the rest of the night. The place was full of hostesses dressed in there red santa style dresses which was great eye candy for the night. Started to feel like christmas a bit in the bar more than outside lol.
    Its funny I did more the previous few days than I ended up doing tonight yet this was the holiday. Then again its really fitting because for me days just blend together anyway. Also as in Vientiane years before with the exception of thailand theres not really a large celebration for christmas. Alot of cheesy santa hats and a bunch of people wearing red is about what you get outside nice hotels. I could have found more nice christmas like photos if I had walked around during the day but I wasn't trying to force myself into a "good" time. Just going about my days the way they work for me holiday or not. Had a good time the past few nights even if I did them a little backwards lol.
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