Dragon Fruit

There are some things here that are fantastic. One of those things is Dragon fruit. I feel that more people should know about this wonderful fruit so I have included pictures of before I cut it open and after. The amazing thing is that the skin peels right off which makes it easy to cut up. The consistency is similar to Watermelon but less watery when you bite into it. The seed look like those from a Strawberry and the taste is very mild. I love that the fruit is so colorful and you can even buy a variety that the inside is dark purple instead of white. I heard you can get them in America for $8 but here I pay around $0.75 for two, you pay by the Kilo.

Time to eat some fruit!

One of my favorite ways to eat this fruit besides in a fruit salad is with plain yogurt and Muesli...I'm getting hungry just thinking about it :) This is something I have been eating for breakfast most mornings and find that it is a great way to start the day and really healthy for you. Muesli is toasted oats, dried fruits, nuts, and seeds...my New Zealand and European friends are rubbing off on me.

Peel and ready to eat

Birds, Bombs, and Ba-rang

On the third day of our travels (me with the staff) we were out in one of the provinces and it was time to stop for lunch. We  stopped early because the area we were heading wouldn't have any places to eat once we got out in the villages. We told the guy what we wanted and waited for our food. As we waited some of the staff wanted a light snack. The light snack was soup with beef. It smelled sort of good and as I was considering if I also wanted to get some one of the staff members started giving me a run down of what he was eating. Yes, there was beef in the soup...but not the part you might think. He held up some cow intestine and also pointed out the hoof. After this I didn't ask what other cow parts might be their soup.

Irish Cows...but you still get the idea

After they were done eating the guy who was educating me about his soup told me the guy cooking our food raised birds. So we walked to the back of the house and there was a small shack like building. It didn't really have walls and the ceiling was maybe 5 feet 7 inches. Under the roof, just after you cross the small trench filled with standing water and algae, were wire cages with birds. The smell of bird and poop was strong but I enjoyed seeing the little baby birds. The guy on my staff who was leading this tour was soon picking out which bird he wanted to have cooked up. The birds weren't quite Quails but smaller then Guinea Hens. As I walked in the small wooden structure I felt that two things were certain, 1. I was glad I had my tetanus shot up-dated before I left, and 2. that I would not be surprised if we all got the Avian flue by the end of the day.

Lunch time

After the bird was cooked and our meals packed up we headed out towards our destination. As we were driving along the single lane red dirt clay road the same staff member who had been telling me about his soup and showing us the birds started explaining that there were landmines all over in the area. Note to self, don't leave the vehicle. He pointed out one of the signs by the road that warns people not to venture into that part of the forest and fields. This lead into a discussion of the Khmer Rouge because they lived in this area, which is why it was bombed. Lovely. So being a "ba-rang" or foreigner meant that if our car found a crack in time on this road and we jumped backwards 30 year...well I would be dead. This became a topic of discussion which I let play out, not having brought it up myself. (Not so wise to jump in on a war you weren't a part of and when both people discussing it lived through it). One staff member said I would be safe and the other said I would be killed. I thought to myself...is this really happening and why isn't anyone else here with me to hear this?

Don't tread on me

My conclusion at the end of the day was that if I could survive the birds and bombs, in the end it might have been the Khmer Rouge who would have gotten me. I think this is the highest number and strangest ways I could die...all in one day. I guess I just live life on the edge here :) But also a small glimpse into how I never know exactly what will happen any given day when I am out and about in this beautiful country.

Lunch

So a couple weeks ago I was out with the staff for a few days. As we entered one of the cities it was close to lunch time. Here lunch is a very serious affair, one eats and then takes a nap for a little while. The average time for lunch is 1.5 to 2 hours. I usually eat at the Khmer restaurants with my staff and typically am eating something familiar (well familiar after living here for 7 months). As we were driving through the city one of the guys told me they would be dropping me off at a more western restaurant for lunch and would come pick me up later. I was puzzled why he would be saying this and asked him jokingly if he was trying to get rid of me. He laughed and then said he was concerned for my stomach and I assured him I have eaten at places similar to what ever the driver was going to pick. He still tried talking me out of it until I assured him I appreciated his concern for my gut but I would be fine.

The rest of the day went on as planned, meeting with various organizations to do some networking with a new staff hire. It was the next day as we were driving that the truth about lunch the previous day was exposed. The guy who seemed to be concerned for my tummy confessed that they had wanted to go eat at a restaurant that served dog meat. I laughed because I told him I knew he was trying to get rid of me. And I asked why they hadn't just told me that. I'm not sure I would be ready to eat some Fido but I'm up for different experiences while here. (you can judge me all you want for considering eating dog, but after 7 months things that seem different start to feel really normal) Of course I don't speak Khmer well enough to know that is what they were talking about in the car the day before. I think I should learn the word for dog.

Too cute to eat this dog ;)

That night for dinner I ate at a place known for their smoothies...wow, that is all I can say. I have never had such a good smoothie. Jack fruit with pineapple...my mouth is watering just thinking about it. A friend and I are hoping they open up more of these restaurants in our city!! 5 hours is a little too far to go just for a Smoothie :)

The city

I am trying to stay up to date with posting but being sick and not paying the Internet bill makes it a little hard :) So here are some pictures from around the city which I took in April when most people have left the city for the Khmer New Year. The one of the police cracks me up because that is pretty much what they do all day, sit on street corners pulling people over. I found out one girl got pulled over and all they wanted to know was if she was married. I really hope that if I get pulled over that is all they want to know. Welcome to the culture where everyone knows everything about your business.

Riverfront

Part of the Royal Palace

Independence Monument

The police hard at work

I am feeling much better and hope to post some of the stories from traveling with work earlier this month.

Bike

I have reached a new level of biking ability...riding through traffic while carrying in one hand a bag containing a cake. This coming from a girl who would never dream of taking her hands off her handle bars or riding super close to people. The only other event that has been a prequel to this feat would be the time I answered and talked on my cell phone while biking as well. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of either of these events. While I was carrying my cake due to lack of basket on my bike (visiting a friend in another city) she had two cakes balanced on her bike's basket as well.

The plan was to keep these cakes as safe as possible and get home as quick as possible because of the garnish on top and the heat. Now the next obvious questions is why I had this cake in the first place as well as why my friend had 2. We had the job of going to a bakery in town to get cakes at half off for a birthday party we are helping host. So we arrived at one of the nicest hotels in town and scouted out what cakes they had and if they go half price. Their cakes were great (not as amazing as the Scrabble cake) and they did go half price at 6. So we plotted and I joked that when we came back later we would arrive early and I would fight off anyone who would try to get the cakes before us. Which lead to me amusing two European guys standing behind me who heard. And we met a woman later who we thought might be coming for the same reason we were there as we sat and waited for 6 o'clock to roll around.

But we got the cakes and made it home...now it is a matter of getting them to the party, but we will use our driver for that :)