Diamond Dog

I got myself a mobile phone number!

But I'm not posting it on the net. So email me for it friends.

Keep well.

Zaorla Stardust

Walking to work this morning, I thought about how fragrant the air was. It is true that there are piles of rotting rubbish too but you get used to that very quickly and there was a scent of blooming flowers in the air. The sun was not out and there was a fresh breeze. It was very pleasant. Walking back to work after lunch this afternoon was a completely different kettle of fish. The sun was beating down and the humidity was sky high. I was bathed in sweat (which attracts the mossies) which is a pretty picture!

The dust is extravagantly present. It burns your throat and blinds you. Many people here wear surgical masks as they sit side-saddle on mopeds. Guys don't sit side-saddle and neither do chicken-shit female Westerners. I may have to buy me a mask like that, although it’s the dust in my eyes that bothers me more. They say that it is one of the dustiest cities in South East Asia and I believe them.

Night is lovely. Breezes and lack of sun! But one has to be careful, because of the poverty and crime. If someone tries to take your bag here, you let them. Many carry guns. And so I won’t get to chase after someone with my hockey stick as in times past. Just let it go, they say. I have a full security briefing tomorrow!

After playing tag with my real estate agent for over 10 days he finally came up trumps with a great apartment for only $260. Better still my landlord can speak English. Its close to work as well. Of course, security has to check it out because Cambodia is in phase one security alert.

Interesting article on Cambodia, malaria, and the state of the kingdom.

China Girl

OK so Happy Chinese New Year. It's the year of the dog! I celebrated yesterday by going to my Japanese friend's Singaporean's friend's house and eating delicious spicy fish curry, sticky rice, and an assortment of food that was most impressive (though quite unrecognisable to me). They wouldn't let us leave until all the food was gone so we stayed until nightfall. Phnom Penh can be quite dodgy after dark - especially Li Hon's neighbourhood. Got a tuk-tuk home. It's safer than a motodop especially since the driver is a friend of Li Hon's. You can go anywhere in Phnom Penh with a tuk-tuk for only $2. Its great value.

Anyway as I'm skipping along to work today, I have to cross the street several times to avoid the dogs (rabies) and the random chickens (bird flu) that wander the streets of the capital. This is one of the major streets as well as being in the posh area. Every time I cross the road is an exercise in oh shitism. The cars honk at every corner and the motodops and tuk-tuks don't follow the rules of the road. In fact no one follows the rules of the road. The thing is to dive in and keep going. Don't stop even if thousands of motodops are bearing down on you. The only way forward is forward.

Job is good.

Weather is hot and humid.

Pretty Vacant

No post yesterday because I left the office in a hurry. Was supposed to meet the estate agent to see houses but wires got crossed and I missed him twice.

Finally got some work done. I created my timetable for the next year. It has pretty fonts and sizes and all the frippery of a 14 year old boyband fan. I spent the morning putting the finishing touches and the afternoon removing all the frills.

I want to talk. As I look at my skype list everyone is offline. I haven't talked properly in ages, except to Padraic - intern in Vietnam - we skype to bitch about weather, food, feeling foreign, Lyons versus Barrys - all very important topics :-) Send me your Skype IDs so I can bug you about beginning work when I am about to go home!

Oh well, Chinese new year is just around the corner. Its the year of the dog and preparations are in full swing. Maybe, like in the year of the chicken, they'll eat all the dogs. Ten percent of the dogs here are rabid so now I cross the street to avoid them. They can run in packs though which makes the walk home somewhat of an obstacle course.

Anyway since you're offline I'm going home!

Feel free to comment

Space oddities

A restless night full of half remembered dreams segued into a surreal day *dramatic sigh*. As night falls I debate the merits of a Diet Coke versus an Angkor Beer while catching my physical journal up to speed (it is currently in November - according to it I am still in Brussels).

Am currently afraid of any flying insect and there are two in the office just now - my mosquito repellent burns but it is better than the alternative.

Going back to the hotel now. I have brought my headset into the office and so will be available for Skyping from 17.00 to 18.00 my time - that it GMT +7 - on most days.

Tell me why I don't like Mondays

They spelt my name wrong on my ID card. OK so for once it is my surname as opposed to Soarla or Sarla or Serla or Sirla or Saorle or any other variations on same. Its annoying though - how hard is it to get it right. And it seems so petty to ask them to correct it.

Anyway, I had my job description explanation today. They are treating me as a communications officer not intern. It seems like there will not be a lot of supervision but I have to fumble along. My supervisor told me that as the expert I would be able to work alone - OK then that means that I'm in charge of all information and communication for my organisation in Cambodia. My duties are

* Assist in the promotion of volunteerism
* Produce and distribute newsletter, brochures etc
* Work on website
* Set up international GIPA list serv or discussion forum
* Organise and catalogue resource centre
* Update resource centre
* Correspondence including making boilerplates
* Distribute promo brochures appropriately
* Cooperate with other Comm officer for advocacy
* Do other stuff too

A little overwhelmed here - probably due to the heat and humidity :-) also I have the sniffles

Rereading this makes me sound like a grouch - there are great things here too - noodles and cashew nuts for breakfast, air con, and the people around me. Plus I found a place to live that security has approved (provided I change the locks and get a fire extinguisher) so hopefully i'll move in soon. Its only $310 a month and that includes a garden and cable TV! Paying $25 a month for a garden seems a little odd. After all they couldn't remove it if I no longer wanted it.

Also to contradict myself further, that job description seems fine. I am officially no longer overwhelmed (at least for today!). I just reread it and I cannot believe that I thought that was excessive. Nevertheless I shall not delete because it was true at one point in time (a few minutes ago).

I leave you for today - sneezing

Hot and humid

So so hot here and I would say that the humidity must be in the high 90s. I walked as far as the office today and by the time I arrived I was drenched in sweat - not the dainty ladylike kind either. There is just about enough air con in the office and at the hotel. I sleep with it on all the time - I've probably lost 10 kgs already!

Everyone in the office and hotel are really nice and friendly. The transport situation is wierd though. There are no buses but loads of motos. To go somewhere you get on the back of a strange man's bike. If I walk, "madame moto?" is what I hear every step of the way. The traffic is crazy here. Everyone asks me whether I'm going to buy a car - well not until I'm a lot more used to it! I was thinking of a motor bike (moto) instead. Might be fun of the hair raising type!

I went looking at houses to rent today and one of the guys in the office came to act as interpreter - really nice. I found a place that I might move in to. Its a bit pricy at $400 but has three bedrooms and is really near work. Security will have to check it out before anything else of course.

The food is good - noodles for breakfast and rice for lunch at the moment I'm too tired to make it to dinner. It is so much better to have the local cuisine as Western food tastes shite here! Went for Chinese the other day and it was divino! Seems to get better the closer you are to China - strange that.

Cambodia

I have arrived in Cambodia and I am tired. Not only did Padraic and I get lost in Frankfurt airport but we also kept each other awake. After a long flight we went our separate ways - he to Hanoi and I to Phnom Penh. After what seemed like an excessively long immigration process I stepped into the air of Phnom Penh. It is very warm, very warm indeed. I was met by a white air conditioned Jeep - what a thrill - and was driven to my hotel where I tried to stay awake for as long as possible. I believe that I lost that battle some time in the early afternoon.

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

Going going ...

OK so the briefing is done - thank God. The questions asked by certain other volunteers were awful. Some obviously got in on pull - in fact one of the Italians admitted as much to me. It was honest stupidity and lack of common sense.

Anyways I´m ready to go and excited about it! The Irish group have really bonded now and we´re all planning a trip to Zanzibar for R & R. My luggage is well overweight and I´ve more papers than ever but I am looking forward to hours of airplane food. One of the girls is offering Valium for those who desire or require - haven´t decided whether to partake or not.

Got to go repack my suitcase, eat, and try the minibar - such cute baby bottles!

Next stop Cambodia :-)

Journey begins

So I´m in Bonn, Germany trying to get a grip of a wierd keyboard. The briefing starts tomorrow for my assignment to Cambodia. I´m feeling equal parts excitement and apprehension - too much caffeine and not enough sleep. I packed too much and had to leave my diary and torch behind with Astrid who kindly came to the airport with me. However, I did not have the biggest bag. Victory for me!

Not sleeping well these days but I live in hope of a restful night!

Keep well

Getting ready to go

The panic is setting in. What if I forget my malaria tablets ... my papers ... if my suitcase is too heavy ... if it gets lost ... if they don't let me into the country?

On the plus side I passed my driving test today. Yes I'm a little older than most applicants but Ireland has a wierd system which involves systematically failing candidates for no good reason. Therefore passing the test is a major achievement for me!

I have so much to do before leaving on Friday and little inclination to do it. All I want to do is watch Apocalypse Now with a few glasses of red wine.

One way or another I'll have to be ready to leave in less than 48 hours.

Blogging in general

The whole blogging thing is strange. I am writing with no idea who will reading my ramblings and doing so appears so self-absorbed. The sentances begin with 'I' or 'my' which centres my writing on me. It is arrogant assumption that anyone would read an online diary. Nevertheless I will continue, if only to prove myself wrong.

http://www.talesofasia.com/cambodia.htm is what I am currently scouring for information on Cambodia while I wait for my Lonely Planet books!

Adieu Bruxelles

Just left Brussels with fairly mixed feelings. So many people to miss but excited about my next trip. I'm going to Cambodia - not even sure I believe it yet. I spend my time organising shots, buying pills, arguing about mosquitos and malaria with doctors, and trying to meet up with everyone. My Lonely Planet guides have not arrived. Its my own fault. I bought them online just before Christmas. Just hope they arrive before Friday.

My new years resolution is to answer letters and emails. Hopefully this blog will fulfill some of those duties.