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Flag of Cambodia Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Thursday, April 19, 2007

Quick update! The morning I was supposed to meet the Aussie couple in Kampot, I ran into Vinh and Sue (expats who live in Phnom Penh that I met through Tobias in Siem Reap a few weeks ago) - what a small world! They were down there with a British chap and on holiday as well. They were getting ready to take off to head back up to Phnom Penh and offered to give me a lift...then convinced me to stay a couple nights so we could go out on the town. I'm easily swayed.

The British guy, Charles, manages a restuarant/bar just down the street from my guesthouse (how convenient!) so he's introduced me to a lot of the local expats in the Lake district where I'm staying. I went out with Vinh and Sue the other night and they took me to what was undoubtedly the coolest bar I've been to in Cambodia over on the other side of the river. We were joined by Charles and a host of their other expat friends (mostly journalists) and made a night of it.

I was supposed to head back to Siem Reap yesterday so I could go to the opening of the new Landmine Museum, but decided to stay down in Phnom Penh for the weekend instead. I'm making a lot of good connections here, both personal and professional (one of the journalists I met asked about doing a small piece on Human Translation...after I talked his ear off about it all night!), and having a hell of a lot of fun in the process. Anyhow - there's a big expat party tonight, theme: 1980's I went with some of the people I met yesterday and we spent the afternoon combing the second hand markets. We came up with everything from hard rocker chick with fishnets to my outfit, which is pretty much Peg Bundy, complete with tight pants with cowprint ont hem, some super cheesy leopard print shoes with sequins and a red, off the shoulder (via scissors) top. Now I just need some blue eyemakeup and pink lipstick (which I hear is quite easy - just go down the street to the local beauty place where the brides go before their weddings and for $1.50 they will give you a makeover unlike anything you will see at home - they love bright makeup here!)

Alright - off to shop...not totally conviced about the cowpants, must check to see if I can find any good acid washed tight jeans.

More soon!