The students were half and hour late! It was so funny because one of them actually gave me an order to be on time! It really cracks me up because I am usually the person who is late for everything in Singapore but I actually came down from my room 5 minutes before 9am the appointed time.
Anyways, Chivy, Mariny and Phany finally showed up at around 0930hrs which was cool because I'd actually thought that they weren't going to show or that I made the silly mistake of thinking it was 9am when they meant 9pm. But anyways, it was really nice that they took the time out to show me around.
Found out more about the students. Chivy is very young but has already been to like all the SEA coutnries because she was on the Ship for SEA programme. She was in Singapore in 2000. Mariny comes from an upper-crust family and owns luxurious homes and a number of cars! Phany is a Chinese Cambodian who's grandpa doesn't speak anything except for Teochiew! He is a revelation because he is very quiet in class but today he really opened up and showed his true self! He is really funny and very game in trying to communicate in English. I learnt so much more about three of them. Here's the tour route!
The first stop was the Royal Palace. That was very nice.
I like it much better than the Royal Palace in Bangkok. he amazing thing is that the King actually lived in a closed off compound within the areas that are open to the public.
NOTE: Eve, do wear a shirty/blouse with sleeves or you have to rent a T-shirt! That's what happened to poor Mariny! She had to rent a crappy t-shirt for 1000 reil or US$0.25! :c)
The next stop was the National Museum. It is a fantastic place as the religious artefacts are absolutely amazing because they date all the way back to the 6th century. I have totally forgotten my DGE Hall History of SEA! I found out that the Khmer empire once stretched all the way to Perak! Absolutely mind boggling! I guess that's why the culture resembled the Thai culture so much. The empire owned Thailand for awhile. Ab fab!
Chivy, Mariny and Phany treated me to a sumptious lunch at a Cambodian restaurant. The food is interesting. It draws influences from Vietnamese, French and Thai cuisines. Tasted gorgeous!
After lunch is more sombre. They took me to the Toul Sleng Museum. It is horrific what humans can do to their fellow humans. It is sad. Mariny told me that she lost her grandma to Khmer Rouge. Luckily though, all three of them were born in the 80s and didn't have to witness the horrors of the killing fields.
Puts things in perspective. The Cambodians that I have met so far has been nothing but amazing. So full of warmth and happiness. It boggles my mind that the beastly Pol Pot came out of this country.
Mariny's child called at around 4pm so we had to finish off the sightseeing. Mariny and Chivy dropped me off at the hotel. A nice day!