Bokor Hash

Avid readers may remember that we've already been to Bokor in February. For a quick recap - Bokor mountain sits near the sleepy town of Kampot, about 2.5 hours drive south of Phonm Penh. Atop Bokor is an abandoned French resort, complete with casino, church and other basic amenities.

Anyway, last weekend, the Hash organised a trip to Bokor. Here's the ranger station where we stayed:


Activities included

• a Full Moon Hash - a run through the villages at about 9pm at night. We woke up all the dogs and all the Cambodians came out to make sure we weren't stealing anything.
• Bokor Mountain Hash - a 6km run stopping at all the scenic sites at the top of Bokor

• Saturday night party - The organisers had arranged for us to have a party on the second floor of the old casino. It was a bit hard to see what we were eating by candle light and there were no toilet facilities (the caterers said they had organised a "toilet", only to be shown the casino's original lavatories with plumbing to goodness knows where), but it was fun if a bit spooky. It was only the smoke from the fire, where the plastic rubbish was being burnt Cambodian style, that drove me away back to base camp, where the party continued with loud cambodian pop music and dancing.

(Casino during the day)

• Recovery run - I didn't think I was going to make it but I'm glad I did. We went to this pretty pagoda

and saw a monkey which like to be patted. It was strange to touch his hands - just like people hands. Bokor is really lovely but I don't think I can handle the bone shaking ride it takes to get there again. There are road works in progress and word is that Sokimex (a petrol company) has bought the rights to redevelop the area into a soul-destroying modern day resort and casino, so it might not stay like this for much longer.

P2H3

We've been going to the Phnom Penh Hash House Harriers for a while - 12 times now to be exact. So I thought it was about time to post some photos about what this shindig is all about.

This is the train station we gather in front of at 2.45pm each Sunday

and the truck that we travel in...


Last weekend the run started in the Special Economic Zone.


As you can see, the Special Economic Zone currently consists of a magnificent gate, and not much else. Land ownership in Cambodia seems to be alot about fences. if you buy a piece of land, then the first thing you've got to do is build a big fence around it. If there's no fence, it's pretty much free game. Similarly, if there's no gate, then clearly it's an invitation to just walk right in.

So we were marginally surprised when some men lounging around the entrance to the Special Economic Zone waved us down and said we couldn't enter. But without too much fuss, they eventually let the small convoy of cars and the truck full of crazy barangs (foreigners) to go in and do what they needed to do. We didn't even have to bribe them.

Our run took us through some beautiful green rice fields punctuated by sugar palms - a real symbol of Cambodia -

And across some local bridges...


Villagers often come out to watch us run past.

Or are already out and about.


(Added by Brett): They often yell "hello!" at us as we run past. Usually they do it kind of expectantly, as if they're hoping for some kind of response, and giggling if they get it - it's a bit like when people tap on the outside of a fish tank, hoping they'll get a reaction from the strange creatures inside. Our presence in the villages - and especially the fact that we are running around like idiots, clearly exhausted and covered in sweat - is fascinating and perplexing to them. A Spanish colleague of ours, while exercising, was once told by a confused Cambodian - "But if you run like that, you'll get tired!". In any case, we're happy to provide them with a few minutes of entertainment, and probably endless opportunities for jokes at our expense afterwards.

The perfect analogy

So we were at the hash on the weekend. A bunch of westerners sweating it up in the name of fun and exercise. We came across this truck which was stuck fast in the mud on the road. We told the people that we could help - some pushed, some stood around and gave advice. In the end, it was too hard so we said sorry and left the truck probably 6 inches deeper than when we started. Sound like an NGO?

In other news - here is a photo of 1 of 2 geckos that live in the house. they are pretty and blue with red dots.

Photos at last!

So finally, we have been able to upload some photos as evidence where we have been. I've posted them in the relevant entries so some scrolling will be required. Also, I might add that many photos were lost/corrupted in the course of travel so these are not alas the cream of the cream - just a few sentimental reminders (eg, the photo of Brett wearing his Save the Catba Langurs" t-shirt while firing an AK47 was lost. Incidently, so was the t-shirt but I think that I was more upset about that one than Brett).

We have now had 2 weeks to settle down into our new surrounds in Phnom Penh. We live near Psar Mon Ang, which literally means -"Market of the BBQ Chicken". If we need to give directions to a motodop (motorcycle taxi), that's what we say. The people are lovely, the food is great and the work definitely keeps you occupied. Some of the fun things we have to contend with are the mosquitos, the power cutting out every so often (especially when it's hot as the power station has to contend with everyone turning their air conditioners on), the lack of air conditioning (evidently, we are not one of them), the cold showers, and the garbage bin of water next to our bathtub that must be kept fully filled for fear of the water being cut off. No really, we aren't complaining. It is part of a great experience.

Our house.

Our bedroom.

Yesterday, we went to our first Hash House Harriers. For those who may not know, 3H is a global movement about getting people out and running and then drinking beer. There was a strange, almost cult-like atmosphere that was.. eh... unexpected, but a great way to meet people (mostly expats) and see the surrounds of Phnom Penh (they drive you to a different place to run each week on the back of an open air truck) so I think we will be back.