Daydreaming of Cambodia

On my last day in Siem Reap, Vir planned a hike to Kbal Spean. My return bus to Phnom Penh departed from the Capitol Tours bus depot at 12:30 pm so we had to start extra early.

By 7:30 am we had already parked next to a little village stand along a red dirt road, slurping our hot soup and noodles for breakfast.

Vir warned me not to put the vegetables in the soup.  I asked, “But why do you get to to stir them into your bowl?! And anyway, I ate these same vegetables at your home on my first night here.”  He was quick to respond, “We cleaned and cooked the vegetables well in my home.   And my body is used to it and yours is not.”  I looked over at the beautifully chopped lotus stems and almost cried. =(

Alright, I didn’t add the raw lotus stems to my soup but I could not resist the beautiful yellow blossoms and red beans that everyone else was putting into their bowls. Yes, I easily succumbed to peer pressure.