I got pooped on...

Hey faithful readers.


So we are still kicking it in Siem Reap (which means Siam defeated in Khmer). Things have been going swimmingly. Yesterday we spent the morning visiting the floating village of Vietnamese refugees on Tomle Sap, the biggest lake in Asia. The vietnamese are the ancient arch-nemeses of the Cambodians and thus during the war when the vietnamese fled to cambodia for refuge, they were not able to own land. Since they are a people accustomed to living off the water, they took to the lake and live there still. The government has given them amnesty, but the only life they know is on boat, so they dont want to move. The village itself is really interesting. Minus the fact that everything is on a boat, its just like any other village. Fish are extremely bountiful in the lake, and many of the villagers have prospered. They are cultivating the tourist industry, though it takes away from the beauty of the village, it is currently bringing in much needed funds. Sister Louise took us to the floating church that she had helped build. A small family lives in an ajoining boat in the back. They were extremely happy to have us as visitors and it was really cool to see a floating cambodian catholic church.

Next we went to The Blue Pumpkin in Siem Reap. Upstairs they have an all white room lined with beds. It was so cool!! We had some great food, all in repose, and then a short nap before taking off to visit the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Theresa's nuns in Siem Reap. They run a small orphanage near our guesthouse. We kinda just showed up and told them that Sister Louise has sent us. The nuns were relieved to have a break from the children so they could prepare food and bathe the infants. The children were so excited to have visitors and were extremely interested in what we were wearing. One little girl played with my leg hair like she had never seen any before. The kids were hysterical, climbing all over me like little monkeys. We had a great time. At one point I picked up a crying baby and tried to comfort it, but could not figure out why it was so mad. Next thing I know, the nuns are yelling and grabbing the child out of my arms. I looked down and the entire right side of my body was covered in poo!!!! This was no ordinary poo either.. It was the color of radioactive mustard and was dripping everywhere!!! It was terrible. I had to wipe it off of me with a rag and just deal with smelling poopy the rest of the afternoon. It was worth it though. It felt so good to bring enjoyment to these bright, smart, and happy children.

That afternoon we wandered around looking for a hotel with a pool. We found a 4 star hotel and just walked in like we owned the place and swam for a few hours. It was so relaxing. Wierd to see that level of ostentatious wealth in Cambodia though. Two blocks away, people are struggling to survive and living in corrugated metal shacks.

We reviewed all the footage we have been taking with Sarah's video camera. Be ready for some exciting scenes. The footage of motorbike riding in Hanoi is crazy!!! We also shot an episode of MTV cribs at our guesthouse which is hysterical.

Miss you all, but am seriously addicted to life in Asia. DOnt wanna come home!!!

J