Marek Did I mention anything about the weather in Siem Reap? Heat is an understatement. The only moments of relief from the heat were rides in an open, resembling a cross between a wheelbarrow and a scooter, vehicle driven with gusto by our guide, Mr. Wah. The breeze achieved in this way allows our bodies to dry out for a while. However, every stop invariably leads to the return of sweat stains, especially on the back, under the backpack.
Bottled water, sold outside the city, reaches prices at which a barrel of Brent crude oil costs as much as nothing. Maybe it is worth starting a business in Cambodia and opening a shop with bottled water. This is a better business than selling at an airport. Our guide, Mr. Wah, could become a director in our company. The boy is talkative and very motivated. It seems that he wants to make friends with us.
We sit down in a pub with a bottle of beer (beer is cheaper than water) and try to start a conversation with our guide. I explain to him that buildings similar to the Khmer ones can be found in Mexico. Mr. Wah presents an astonishing combination of ‘yes’ (spoken with enthusiasm and conviction) with a facial expression that signals a complete lack of understanding. Even a political atlas of the world found on the Internet does not help. Mr. Wah, looking at the contours of Mexico inscribed in the shape of Central America, asks the key question: “Russia!?”
Continued under the photo carousel.
We spend a large part of the night wandering around the city. It resembles a resort a bit in the season. There are very few indigenous people, several times more tourists. The city offers a lot of entertainment, mainly dedicated to visitors. These include Khmer massage (the Khmers are the envy of the Thais), pubs with very loud music and European menu, a lot of souvenir shops from Angkor (made in China, of course).
Just like in the ruins, souvenirs in the city are mainly sold by children who are a few years old. The locals realized a long time ago that it is difficult to refuse a poor-looking kid. And indeed, tourists (including us) buy a whole lot of worthless rubbish. After some time, I start to explain to the kids that I don’t have any more space in my backpack for more souvenirs. I don’t find understanding, I only hear ‘buy, buy’.
The resistance I put up makes some kids start to contrive. A boy, probably 8 years old, comes up, and is convinced that if I don’t buy his Chinese souvenirs, I will suffer a terrible loss. Especially that I probably won’t come back here.
I explain: “I would like to buy these souvenirs from you, but I already have a lot of them, probably 5 pieces of this set that you sell. I won’t have the strength to carry a backpack”
“You’re strong, you can do it”, the boy replies “don’t talk, just buy. I need money very much.”
“I understand the little one, but I can’t buy everything from all the kids who hang around.”
“But you can buy it from me, I need money, I go to school barefoot and I need to buy myself shoes.” He begs.”
“You know what?” – I answer – “I won’t take anything from you, but if you detach yourself from me, I’ll buy you shoes.”
He agrees – dragging us to the nearby bazaar. I buy the kid shoes. They cost me maybe 5 dollars. No amount. It’s just that I have to run for my life when word spreads around that a guy from Europe, if skilfully blackmailed with tacky souvenirs, buys gifts. I only have a problem with catching up with Agnieszka. Bending under the weight of a backpack full of Chinese junk, I am not able to develop full speed.
I also invite you to the 1st part of the story about Angkor.
