Digraced hairstylist, No more!

I went a few days without washing my hair. Which is pretty normal for me as a hairstylist... washing your hair everyday can strip it of it's natural oils and health. (expecially when your hair is constantly bleached, colored, and tormented with hot tools like myself.) However, I ran out of shampoo.

I tried to resort to using just conditioner but that made it worse. WIth no shampoo to get rid of all the dirt and overly oily hair... I was a hot greasy mess. This gave me the excuse to go and get my hair done at one of the local hair salons.

Cambodia-style.

I also decided to try out a mani and a pedi too. I usually don't get those since I'd prefer to do them myself (or at all) but why the hell not.

I walked down the street from my hotel a couple blocks and I passed, say i don't know at least 3-4 salons. My mom is with me and we literally just walk into a random salon. This place had all the prices displayed on the door. A shampoo and style was 5 bucks and a manicure was 2 dollars. My mom told them to have their way with me so they did.

I sat down in the chair and they shampooed my hair while I was sitting down using a squirt-stream bottle and Panteen Pro-V (no big names, I am in a small city after all). I was impressed that hey didn't need the shampoo bowl till' they brought me back to rinse me and condition me. Along with the most amazing facial and head massage ever. (They massaged my head during the shampoo too) I got another massage while they point some oils in my hair and a good blow out.

While all this was going on I had one girl working on my fingers and another lady working on my feet. The only thing that worried me (but I was understanding about) was the lack of sanitation. They relied on limes and water to clean my feet and hands. When the lady accidently nipped my fingers, my god did it burn then she felt bad and put alcohol on me. It didn't bother me like I said I'm an extremely understanding person, but SHIT it burned. The paint job was magnificent and has lasted on my nails way longer than I expected. It also helps that I'm not constantly doing hair and sewing myself, since I use my hands a lot.

The hair lady straigtned my hair for me and did a great job. I normally don't style my hair like this but it was super cute. My mom told all the ladies I was a cosmetologist (from the U.S.) too so I can tell they were trying their absolute best. I think they did excellent. I normally don't pamper myself so it was a treat.

Grand Total : $7.00 (not including my generous tip for each of the ladies)

Pinchy. Pinch. Happy St. Pats!

I just woke up! but during my sleepy times, I hope all you had a wonderful St. Patty's day and were safe!

Be careful if you go out to the bars tonight too! I'll be celebrating in spirit for Bobby's Irish side

love and miss all of you immensely!

Love, Linda

Every Last Drop.

I'm leaving the city of Siem Reap today. Here is a list of things I noticed and took a liking to that I just half to mention, this doesn't really correlate with any of my entries.. it's almost like

left over blog spew.

Hoards of Sellers: Note to self and those of you who visit Ankgor Wat and the temples anywhere in Siem Reap. Never whip out your wallet (I'm looking at you Sunny!) flashing your money. Once you buy something from one independent seller, they will all mob you asking you to buy their stuff. It's hell to get out of of.

Typical Asian Tourist: Okay, think of all those (you think they'd be racist) cartoons and movies that have the big groups of asian tourist with the ball caps, sun hats, black sunglasses, floral shirts, scarves, and those huge canon cameras strapped around the neck. Korean and Japanese Tour guide to add to the mix. You think these movies exaggerate that. No. NO. I saw it. It was glorious. Which made me think of the ultimate theme party. (Don't you dare steal this idea... Actually.. if you do take pictures and credit me, I'll love you for it [invite me too!]).

Dead skin-eating fish: There are these big aquariums sitting variously throughout the city. They have a kagillion sucker fish ( called Garra Rufa) in them with big booths for people to sit on and dip their feet in. The fish will swarm your feet and eat all the dead skin. This takes approximately 25 minutes for $1 (sometimes with a free tasty beverage). I enjoyed all the signs that said "NO PIRANAS!"

Sugar cane blocks: My little cousin offered me these small soaked yellow pieces of sugar cane. You bite, suck, and spit, suckering up every piece of sweet cane juice there is. It was really tasty, better (but reminded me of) those wax bottles with juice in them.

My dad's haggling abilities: While visiting the old and new market the variety of stuff they sell is so neat: Statues, hookahs, spices, bags, clothes, even small vile' of alcohol with scorpion, alligators, and other weird animals floating in them. As things weren't cheap ($1-$10) enough anyway, watching my dad talk the price down is insane. He's able to talk down a price in half or get a lot more out of it.

Seller: "$15 bucks for this"

Dad: "how about $7"

Seller: "10 is the lowest I'll go

Dad: "What if I buy 2 for $15?"

Seller: "Sold."

Damn Dad! How'd you do that? Apparently he had years of haggling selling veggies as a kid. He looked at me and told me he was a pro. When Sunny and I went later to try the bargaining ourselves... it was a complete failure. They take you more seriously when you can speak fluently. I was only able to get a few dollars off.

Ankgor Wat, Bayon, Siem Reap +

Angor Wat is beautiful!

Ready to go at 5:30 AM. It's actually pretty cool out and it's so early that the shops are just now cooking breakfast for the locals and tourist. We all hit the taxi and take a good 20 minutes drive out to all the temples. Ankgor Wat is the first large land mark we visit. For some reason it looked much smaller to me from what I did see in pictures. Then I realized... I was only walking through the stone gate way to get to the actual temple. When I finally walked under that on to another stone pathway, I saw all it's glory and the beautiful ponds on each side and the palm trees accenting the building nicely. Workers were scattered throughout the site restoring some of the reliefs and larger parts of the building that have worn away. (this made me think of Brandon a lot ). This also made me think that some of my Art History classes really paid off despite how boring they were. (Mostly just for it's basic terminology to recognize certain historical artifacts.)

Seriously, climbing these extremely steep stairs to some of monuments reaching a good few stories up is tiring (Some of those monuments had monuments within' those monuments and those were filled with more reliefs and statues!). Parading through rock gardens, long pathways, and did I mention there were about 10 more smaller temples that we checked out? I didn't even realize there were more! Another temple that particular stood out to me was called Bayon, (HUGE smiling buddha faces). It was absolutely fascinating seeing some of the wear and tear of these huge stone temples and & the faces etched into them. It really doesn't compare to seeing just pieces of it in a museum when you got the whole she-bang in front of you.

Even the surroundings of these temples were fun to take in. Monkeys were hanging out every where walking freely and I even saw a few elephants lead around by people as well as giving rides to whoever wanted to shell out cash. I tried to drink some pond water (yes they sell it) but my stomach was already upset. The water was from a huge stone swimming pool by Bayon, apparently the king use to bathe there in his down time. Other things I took notice were huge, big black bee's nest and large trees with roots big enough to make a small home out of near these temples.

I have a whole new appreciation for history. I never really liked it or was good at remembering important events. It turns out that I was just learning about boring shit this whole time and never gave a rats ass. Today was a new-age hippie and art history teachers orgasm. (especially for those interested in the Buddhist and Hindu religions & practices), either way just seeing it all is worth learning about it.

I want to type more.. but I'm sleepy. Goodnight.

Why is my butt so angry!

That meat bun below me. Be glad you didn't eat it. It destroyed me this morning.

Why is it when I'm about to go to do something super exciting and cool! I feel like pooping my pants. Every time man. Every time.

I made this a separate entry from my description of my tour of Angor Wat and the other surrounding temples. So, it didn't take away from the experience.

Sorry for the much more needed info. But I keep it reals.

Damn Robbers.

Early this morning. (like super, duper 3am early),

I hear my mom moaning and yelling about a robbery in Khmer. I wake up and kind of ignore it and try to go back to sleep.

A few minutes later my mom starts screaming loudly in her sleep "GET BACK HERE WITH THAT BAG". I look over at my dad who's clearly awake with the most confused look on his face. Then my mom yells again and kicks him in the back. Then she punches him. Still yelling in her sleep.

I start laughing.

My mom wakes up. My dad and I are cracking up and we tell her what happens with my dad finishing with a "I was scared you were going to kick me in the balls."

I laughed myself back to sleep.

Hello Siem Reap!

"I'm afraid I'll pee on her!" - my youngest most adorable and chatty cousin, when I offered her a spot in my bed for the night at the hotel. If only kids (an adults ) can be as honest as her.

My alarm clock this morning was my dad's loud fart. Now, I understand what my mom meant when he was gone a week before we were, she said she didn't miss his gas. (she totally secretly does) and he thinks it's hilarious and milks it for all it's worth to annoy my mom.

We finally left this morning for the bus at 7:30 am for Siem Reap. I had a massive headache for a good chunk of the bus ride because I accidently fell asleep. Which I shouldn't have, especially since they had The Expendables movie playing with khmer dub. As if it wasn't entertaining enough. (I don't know why, but I like Mickey Rourke with white highlights)

We stopped a couple times and I ate some strange jelly and ice combination with chunks of soy in it, coconut milk and shaved ice. I also was offered fried chicken.. except I'm pretty sure it was baby chicks that they just deep fried. Disturbing, but it was kind of tasty. (the few bites I took anyway). At another stop, while switching busses from Battambang to S. R. I met a couple Australian ladies that were there on vacation. I striked up a conversation with them and we exchanged emails. It was really enlightening to meet people from across the world in such a small town. I hope they stay in touch.

7 hours go by and we drive into Siem Reap. I was expecting it to be glamourous like my dad mentioned but here we are still in the country side, dusty road, and caddy shack restaurants. We take a taxi (a motorcyle with a big carriage in the back,) and we finally drive into the city.. which.. was... PHENOMENAL.

It reminded me of an asian little Italy and much classier and smaller than Phnom Pen. The only downside was it was extremely tourist-ee... but at the same time It was neat seeing and hearing the different langauges and dialects around me I recognized French, Dominican Republican, German, Japanese, Chinese, the list goes on. It was funny because everyone I talked to knew I was from America because of the way I talked.

Any who, our hotel is a small villa we rented out to our 10 people and we all enjoyed the views from the porch. It's the nicest one I've been in so far. I even dig the bed covers, mine has that popular japanese blue fella with a yellow bell, you know who I'm talking about right? No? Okay, well the food out here is excellent, I had some yellow noodles with shrimp. (yay seafood!) I ate my mom's shrimp and wide flat noodles and the veggies here are to die for. I'm eating veggies, I wouldn't even touch at home because they taste funny. They just know how to season them and I trust their freshness, because I feel like i can taste it and see them literally pull it from the batch and wash, clean, and cook it right there in front of you, for you.

We're resting up tonight and tommorow (I know i've said it like 20 times) I'm seeing the big ol' Angor! I got my tennis shoes ready for some rock climbing.

and this meat bun (from a stand in front of the hotel) is damn delicious!

I'm out!

Wanna bite?