Thursday 15th May – Phnom Penh – that evening
In the evening I decided to go and get some dinner and then went for a couple of drinks. I went to a bar with a couple of groups of locals sat having their dinner. They left shortly after I arrived – they had finished eating before you start getting any ideas! I got talking to the waitress who was really shy at first. It later transpired that she was an only child and an orphan as both of her parents were intellectuals killed by the Khmer Rouge. We only got to this point as I asked how old she was and she didn’t know! Apparently she is in her late twenties as a friend was born at around the same time as her. She also had no idea when her Birthday was. I suggested that she pick a day when she had a really good day and decide that should be her Birthday. She seemed to think that this was a good idea.
Whilst I was talking to the waitress a tuk tuk driver asked if he could join us. I agreed and he proceeded to sit and chat with us. As I left he asked if I needed a tuk tuk. in spite of my protests he took it upon himself to follow me in his tuk tuk. The waitress had formerly asked me if I knew martial arts so I lied infront of him, when I said this she said, "Oh, that’s good!". So, when this guy decided to trail me I was slightly concerned. In all fairness it wasn’t really that dodgy as there were loads of people about and I was on the main strip. It was more disconcerting and amusing, a bit like the movie duel, except every time I turned around it was some comedy guy in a tuk tuk rather than a huge tanker! I started to get slightly annoyed by it and, much to my amusement, realised just how big tuk tuk’s turning circles are. After a couple of manouvres I was safely in a bar hidden from the tuk tuk man.
Once in a different bar for my final drink the waitress came over and said, "Excuse me lady (they all call you lady here) can I ask you a question?". I said she could and she asked if my necklace was gold. When I said it was silver and asked why she had asked she said that it would be a problem if it was gold. I asked someone about this the following evening and they said that it would be very likely to be snatched if it was gold.