A Sunny Sunday in Oudong

Saturday afternoon was spent at school (that sentence is often accompanied by a shudder) but it was actually quite nice.

The grounds at NISC are tree filled and the families were all out in force for the school BBQ.

I went with May (which was an interesting item in itself!) met many of the staff and families.

I entered the Watermelon eating contest (dont ask why, it seemed less painful than the corn or banana ones) Came a creditable 2nd but wont be entering the Nathan's Hotdog eating champs anytime soon.

So Sunday saw us up early and getting our local TukTuk driver to drive out to Oudong.

Now I haver to own up here, i was a trifle peeved when May decided we "ARE GOING TO OUDONG TOMORROW" I was looking forward to a relaxing day spent moping about the house (actually more likely spent watching telly in bed, followed by a nice pho soup)

But yet again i was pleasently surprised, the ride out was that strangely Cambodian mix of flat landscapes punctuated by surreal overloaded busses/cars/mopeds rattling past.

With us went Mom , Mays younger sister, who spent much of the time on her cellphones (one for each bf im thinking!) lol it is very innocent but takes you back to when sitting listening to utter drivel from that special someone seemed like the ONLY important thing to do with your time (Damn 17yr olds)

So we saw the stupas rising out of the flatlands well before we got near the temples. The flatness of cambodia makes even a small hill seem majestic.

As we arrived a series of young boys chased our tuktuk with the intent of being the "guides"for the day (it is a way to make some cash and use their English which is always cool) so with our entourage in tow we set off up the steps .

All 400, they were actually quite nice, mostly shaded and leading up to the first Stupa, we kept passing people begging or offering good luck tokens and our small notes quickly got eaten up.

When we got to the first level we posed for some quick pics, admired the view and then went inside to the 2000 Buddhas or 3000 depending on who you listen to! lol

We got some incense and some beautiful lotus flowers (folded a special way) then made our way to the candles to light our incense and make an offering.

I have to admit it makes you feel quite at peace sitting there having a chat to Buddha as a throng mill about you doing the same.

Outside we continued on our trek, going past more stupa and eventually we went down a shortcut to the eating area below the temples.

Here it was as if half of PP had come for the day, there were food stalls, 12 yr oldgirls cutting palm nuts (with sharp cleavers, it was scary to watch them chatter and cut in a series of quick motions!) and lots of thatched roofed eating platforms.

May soon zipped off and bought some river fish and fresh chicken and gave that to the owner of the eating area we had chosen (it is a mix of byo and catered which allows you to buy whatever you want, whereever you want it and then pay for them to prep and serve with rice/condiments etc.

As we sat the local kids came by, some selling trinkets others just looking at us and smiling. when the meal came (in true khmer fashion it came out over about a 45 min period) it was great, three lovely fish, roasted with a bamboo skewer holding it together. It was served with the ubiquitous but much loved fish sauce/garlic/shallot/mango condiment which is so beautifully refreshing.

Then came the Kaffirlime and chicken soup, a clear stock and pieces of whole chhicken (you get used to eating and pulling chicken apart for real in Asia, no chicken breast only meals here!)

We lay there groaning full when May looked over and said there is one more dish coming. This was chicken with fried holy basil, a very tasty and piquant dish.

We had a couple of khmer kids sitting with us as we ate, a brother and sister who looked very knocked about and hungry and their friend another little girl.

May ordered more rice and we gave the kids some moist handtowels to wash their hands and they tucked in.

The food they didnt finish was poured into plastic bags that they all carried under their tops, we talked with them about who they were collecting food for and they all had a couple of people in their family who needed feeding, either old or very young.

Its things like this that makes me so angry listening to expats going on about how its a system to fleece tourists and that not giving is the only way.... hunger is real, sores and skin diseases are real.

Kids shouldnt be hungry.