Same same...but different.
This southeast Asia tourist colloquial rings true as our plane lifts off from the phnom penh airport bound for Singapore. Seven days ago my third world cherry was popped. And now looking down on the cambodian coast as the sunsets, nothing has changed about the topographical landscape ("same same"), but the viewpoint from the observer is completely altered ("but different"). The effect is not unlike meeting someone new and, subsequently, getting to know them. The other person doesn't change (usually), but with familiarity comes alterations and understandings of that individual. Thus, over time, that individual may seem completely different. So it goes.
Drew has already covered a lot of the stage directions of our escapade, so I will attempt to add some background vocals to the high lights and low lights. Organized (because the Lewis' LOVE to organize!) by topic area:
Physical health: travelers diarrhea? Double Check. Two of us have started cipro. One of us is dosing it correctly (+1 for marta). Deet rash? Triple check. By phnom penh, Japanese encephalitis did not sound too bad. Impetigo? Single check. Glad to know that my skin is an adequate culture medium. Fatty liver? In the works. Drew and I have a significant head start on marta, but we are staying with one of her bff's in bali, so we'll give her the benefit of the doubt (generous I know).
Mental health: while the museum and killing fields (pleasant name, right) tours yesterday certainly jarred the jubilation just bit, we rebounded in true Midwestern fashion, and drank away our sorrows. After some charitable consuming and an American trivia competition between tuk tuk drivers, we were firmly back above homeostasis.
Threat downs: komodo dragons still top this crews most feared list. But drew's recent encounter with an elephant amidst a herd of school children in a city park certainly ups the threat level to defcon 3. Sumbo (not to be confused with the feather toting flying cartoon version) looked eerily similar to other face crushing beasts I've seen on late night Spike TV - mashing human bones with head and hind legs alike. But such a massive piece of mammal, standing completely unteathered, in a horde of shrieking children only seemed dangerous after his owner (?) snapped at me quite strongly for being to close for a picture of drew feeding the giant a rack of bananas. His obvious fear of Sumbo's potential wrath made me question who owned who in their relationship? (and also where the hell did they live?).
Flight crew is preparing the cabin for landing, so better stowe the crackberry. More to come. And hopefully some more random marta thoughts next time, as this post is noticeably lacking in that department.
Ps this is the longest note I've written with two fingers since cheating in typing class in grade school. Didn't know at that time how big the skill of keyboarding was going to be.
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