I had been to Siem Reap one time before this last wonderful journey. The first time, I was with my sister. That was great to see such extreme wonder – Angkor Wat. Not until this time did I realize the land is personally tranquil for me to which I went with my friends…
Departure
The alarm rang at 5am, waking a lazy guy up. “Hmm, why do we have to leave that early, people?” I sighed, searching for way out of the net with the closing eyes. “I have to make noodle. I don’t think I will have enough time to eat at the bus station,” I thought preparing noodle and started my showing. Then the phone rang. “Yee, why hardly ever have you phoned me before I entered the bathroom?”
I finished and got out of the bathroom, checking who had called me. The phone told me that I had some missed calls and the caller was Sear with the date Sunday, December 30, 2007. I rushed my noodle and the other things. I finally opened the door and was about to leave home looking for a motordop, but at time I saw my father was also ready to get his morning coffee outside. “Oh daddy, can you take me to Capitol?”
Hey people! Are you ready?” I called out to the two men sitting at a table having their breakfast. “Oh ho, we are just worried about you because it is now time the bus started. Have you had your breakfast?” asked Sear. “Hee hee, I am ready, boys!” I replied cheerfully, “OK, let’s go!” Then I walked straight to the queue and was about to pass the bus door. Suddenly, “Hey hey, where are you going, Boran? Are you going to Kampong Som? Siem Reap bus is that one!” Thoeun called me, pointing at the other bus nearby. “Hark!?!” I puzzled.
Now we got in the real bus. “Finally, Boran is joining with us for sure, Sear,” Thoeun said as the bus started its way. Sear added another teasing on me, “Just 30 percents sure, unless we see Angkor. Remember when somebody did not join the festival at school when he had paid already? Unbelievable!” They said to each other as if I was not there listening. I could not reply anything because they said the truth. I have missed several classmate fun times.
“Chom, why are they driving on this way? Are we going to Kampong Som? I just got back yesterday!” I exclaimed. “Onh, this way goes to Kampong Som, really,” Thoeun agreed. “Wait a little bit, man. May be they are going to pick more passengers behind TV3,” Sear tried to assure us. A moment later, the bus turned left from the Russian boulevard, heading to TV3 bus station. “Oh yes, they are really picking up more passengers.”
The bus stopped at TV3 bus station, letting more people get in. Searching for seats, a conductor found one vacant with a large backpack. “Oh, that is my seat,” Sear told the conductor. “Oh, did you buy a ticket to put your bag, sir?” asked the conductor. “Yes, I did,” Sear replied bravely. I spoke nothing as usual, but smiled. The man went on searching for other seats at the back rows. Some minutes later, he came back and asked us again; perhaps this had never happened to him before, “Could I see your tickets, please?” Sear handed three tickets to him with Samnang’s ticket which had been abandoned in the early night. The man counted the four tickets and then vanished.
The bus turned to the way to Siem Reap. On the bus, they played movie to accommodate people who seemed to be relaxing. Some were laughing with the movie while some were asleep already. Wanting to reimburse for my sleeping time in the morning, I ignored the TV, put on my walkman, and then closed the eyes. Few hours later, we stopped to eat at Steung Meas restaurant, and went on after a short break.
And there we were at Siem Reap. “Yes! I am 100% sure now. Boran is really coming with us!” Thoeun spoke to Sear, altogether walking off the bus. Now most people had left on their ways by tuk-tuk and motodop. Sear was calling to Sonthara who had been there the day before with Vuth. “Oh, no need to rush, Sear. We can wait here a little longer. This place is beautiful,” Thoeun said and glimpsed at a girl standing nearby. “No, why you arrive so fast, tuk-tuk?” I muttered, “Come on Thoeun, we have to leave this beautiful waiting lot by now.” We got on the tuk-tuk and looked at the waiting girl for the last time, driving to Naga guest house.
“Oh, this is Phsar Leu! My aunt is around here. We will visit her,” I told the people on the tuk-tuk, “Oh, that is ACLEDA ATM. We survive!” Crossing a small bridge, a moment later we arrived at the guest house. “Hey Vuth, where is Sonthara?” we called out at a Korean-like nice looking guy standing on the first floor. “Hey boys, come on up here. It is very hot out there. Come have a little rest before we go to Tonle Sap.” We went up to the room and saw a white skeleton looking like a toothpick. “Hey Sonthara, how was your day? Where did you go yesterday?” “Oh, this year we are with a millionaire’s son. I’m almost broke in just one day. Anyway, prepare yourselves. We’re going off to Tonle Sap now.”
