One of my readers requested a clarification on the magic 9 number in Jaymie's birthday. She is definitely not 69. not even close... the digits add up to 9...5+4, 3+6 etc. You can figure it out.
Saturday was shopping at the Russian market. Crowded, interesting and fun. We were delighted to be invited to the home of Roladet, the chief adminstrative assistant at DDD. Her mother and friend were there as well as we feasted on fruits and coca cola. Mangostines and a bunch of other fruits that we dont have at home. Afterwards we went to the Olympic Stadium for aerobic dancing. This scene is impossible to describe. Around the stadium people are playing soccer, basketball and walking. Hundreds of people were on the top ring of the stadium doing aerobics to hip-hop music. There is a leader in the front, barely distinguishable from the rest. Pretty much in the dark by 6:30. Everyone else knew all the moves but we tried to follow along. I'm pretty sure we were the senior members of the ensemble. It was completely thrilling and hilarious. Afterwards we had dinner at a Chinese noodle shop where the guys in the front were making the noodles. Like throwing pizza dough. Amazing, delicious and cheap. Dinner for 4 was $7.
On Sunday we had a leisurely day of visiting with friends of Bryn's - they came to our guest house with their adorable baby. Interesting to hear how this ex-pat and his Cambodian wife are living in PP with plans to buy a flat and live a more reasonable life than they would have in the states. We had a lovely pool visit at a hotel and lunched there as well. Followed up with more pampering ourselves with manicures/pedicures.
Our final night was such fun - a party on a boat on the Mekong River with the DDD staff - a mix of management and operators many of whom we had already met. There were lots of other party boats as well as small boats filled with Vietnamese who are fishermen and live on the boats. Roladet, fabulous event planner, had catered the dinner and also brought a birthday cake for one of the guests - a former DDD employee. We had a DJ and dancing - some Cambodian music but a lot of American-sounding modern rock music. Almost everyone joined in with the long lines of dancing around the boat. I think they were surprised to see Jaymie and I dancing - not part of the culture for sure. They presented us with gifts and thanked us for visiting and helping and of course heaped praise on Bryn who was described as a DDD "legend". Toro drove us home and we admired the lighted fountains and monuments of PP. Sadly said goodbye to the staff of our guest house who had gotten to know our names and what we wanted for breakfast. Amazingly sweet and gracious people.
Off to Singapore via Bangkok today, Tuesday.
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