KELLY'S GONE AGAIN
…AND HERE'S WHERE I'M AT.Archive for Southeast Asia
#6. Battambang: Miscellaneous
Today, on the way back from school, I saw a woman passenger on a motorbike breastfeeding a baby. While it was in fast motion. On the highway.
I don’t really know what to post after seeing that. More this weekend.
#5. Battambang: The First Day of School
I’m covered in red clay. It’s what the schoolroom grounds are made of, and it gets in and on any- and everything. Shoes aren’t allowed in the room, so you spend most of the day barefoot, though the floor is cement and dirty and might as well be the bare ground.
I’ve been sitting a lot, reading to the kids, today. My favorite so far is Riti — he’s an energetic, super-fun kid of 12, who looks about 7 (malnutrition, no doubt). I taught a yoga class to him and the more “unruly” kids this afternoon – the first day of my “Yoga for Young Artists” program I’ve designed for the English School here in Battambang – and they did great. Really great. We sang the Om song, went on a “yoga adventure” to the jungle resulting in lots of animal poses, and sang the Namaste song to close. They don’t speak English, and I don’t speak Khmer, so a teacher translated. The kids had a wonderful time, possibly almost as much as me, even. *smile*
#4. Border Crossing: Thailand to Cambodia
Note: when confirming your alarm setting on your blackberry, also confirm your time setting. I missed my 6 a.m. bus to Cambodia this morning. Brilliant.
It actually wasn’t all that horrible, and worked out in the end — just 3 hours past schedule. Here’s how I got to the end point. From Central Bangkok, I took a taxi to Mo Chit bus station (long), then a bus from said station to Aryana Pathet (loud), where I took a moto-taxi (it’s what you might think) to the visa office, even though I said I already had my visa (drivers get commission for new applicants). Disappointed driver in tow, I then arrived at immigration. Upon approval, I literally walked across the border into Cambodia.
#3. Bangkok: The Best Way to Begin
Hello, vacation. Having a lovely time with Emily (i.e., girlfriend-host extraordinaire) and very glad I eased into Southeast Asia with a quick stopover here in BKK. I feel fantastic and still haven’t felt jet lagged, which I attribute to strict veg meals on the plane (no mystery meat or scary dairy), lots of stretching (Note: some people actually call it “plane yoga.” It’s just stretching.), drinking lots of water and intermittent napping. I also had my favorite chocolate bar with me, which had to help.
So, a few notes on the last 24 hours…
