Gone for a Month

Wow, I've done one month on my own in another country at 18. I've been gone for a month. 'Gone' was my first word so maybe that was the start of something all that time ago. Or it was that I had just eaten something and said it. I'm leaning towards that but the greater meaning thing fits better. However I'm really enjoying this ride so far. I've learnt a lot about myself, independence, teaching style, money control and all sorts of other things. Whilst enjoying every second. 

I've realised I like fish. Maybe not the fish cooked in England (that's nothing against my mother, brother or father's cooking...) it's just here they make it taste beautiful. Or 'chnang' which is delicious or depending on the way you say it 'cooking pot.' So I get some weird looks at restaurants when trying to compliment the food. The soups they have here....yum! The pork, the spices, the bitter and sour, the bbq's are all great. Also I ate rat. Tasted like pistachio a bit. It wasn't a sewer rat. It was one that swims in the dirty lakes and rivers but also lives on land so wasn't huge but wasn't tiny. If someone offered it to me I wouldn't refuse it but I wouldn't eat the whole thing probably. When I was back in England I knew that some food had to taste more than what we had and that I was missing it! So I'm glad I'm here, catching up...by eating rat. Whilst not really having to worry about weight issues because you sweat more off whilst you are eating the stuff! 

The language I'm getting there with. It will take time, I can do directions, marketplace, food ordering and classroom environment but I can't do conversation. So it's no good when I ask someone what they did at the weekend and they reply to which I have no idea to what they said. I just nod and say yes which has led to a few situations where I have placed joke bets. At least I hope they were jokes... So as they in 'Field of Dreams' 'They will come' or in my case 'It will come' it's just a matter of practising a bit at a time. Certainly when my teaching stops it'll drop as I won't be speaking it everyday to kids who have the patience to listen. On the other hand  there are others who I have made friends with who do have the patience to teach and help. I just don't want to not keep learning it. As it is so useful to have a second language. Although I had an embarrassing moment the other day...I managed to learn some not so good words just because they would become useful. Possibly to say to a tuk tuk driver eventually! They also taught me a respectful term for lady. I thought 'great! Thanks guys' Next day in class I use it when talking to a girl...Turns out the word is the same one we use for a girl dog. Cue embarrassment all round. Will have to use some of those words with the people I learnt that one off! We learn from our mistakes though. I now won't forget it, nor will I use it. 

Heat. As you can imagine it's hot. Very hot. Some days it rains and guess what it's hot. At the time of writing this it's 33 degrees. I'm not too bad though I think playing football in this weather in Bangkok and here means that I have become more accustomed to it and am able to deal with it. That's not to say if I had the chance I wouldn't jump in a swimming pool. It just means that I'm not constantly dripping like I was when I first got to Bangkok. So as I've been learning on this ride my body adapts pretty well after it gets used to the toilet.

I have had to be fairly careful with money because I didn't have a lot and I have to pay for things like rent and deposits and food in the coming months which I may not have a paycheck coming in. This weekend I am going around looking at places to live hopefully. Then next week it will be CV central as it'll be my last week at the guesthouse. I really don't want this teaching to end. I've grown with my kids. I have loved it. When I have been tired on a Sunday night I was looking forward to Monday to see them again and there cheekiness. I would miss it after only two days! So not doing it for a while, whilst trying to find a job will be annoying. 

These two last days I have been playing football with the kids at break times. Finally! They played often but didn't invite me. As I was a teacher. Then the older kids in another class asked me if I wanted to play. Of course. So now break times I go play! Come back in sweating as the bell rings, just like being back at school! Although here you have to wash the dripping sweat off of you before you go back to class and clean your dirty feet as you play barefoot. Which isn't a great idea considering what we play on... 

The goals are our flip flops. Picture doesn't do it justice of how uneven it is. 

This weekend will be hard but I hope to maybe find somewhere to live but also I'm attempting to get another haircut so hopefully it goes better than last time...

Haircut attempt last time. They call it 'The Hitler'...

However I must ride on to the next stop and see what it holds for me. 

Song: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S0nlygb1Qfw

Delve into Teaching

Well another week over. I really cannot believe this. I remember when Mum said that she wanted me to have something to go to for when I got there for her peace of mind. My immediate reaction was 'pfft, she doesn't know what she's talking about.' As it got closer to the time I was becoming more and more glad that she had said to book this. As you know what? I am really happy that I did this. Somewhere to sleep and eat for six weeks to be able to set up a base of operations and organise anything from there on out. 

Last week was Sihanoukville where it rained and that was about it. The other volunteers went out in the club next door whilst I managed to sit and watch my first World Cup match which was Uruguay-Costa Rica I think. Then we left the next day. I didn't really like Sihanoukville but perhaps it was because of the rain, hotel and only being there one day. Phnom Penh has a lot more going on. Then again Phnom Penh doesn't have a beach! Whilst I was wandering down the beach, I did manage to snap this shot whilst sat on a coconut. 

Coconut Shot

Then it was back to Phnom Penh on a funny mini bus ride with the other volunteers who had to shoot back to the Orphanage, whilst the rest of us, sat and chilled. Me knowing the next day I was back at the place that I really enjoy. Somewhere I got excited to be at. Somewhere where I was getting fulfilled. Somewhere where I can muck around and learn whilst these kids learn from me. Whilst chilling I was getting worried because I was running out of things for my students to learn. We managed to scrap through this short week (Public holiday on Wednesday) however next week will be tougher. I'm sure I'll think of something. This week I did get them doing postcards. So I had to find somewhere where they sold them for a cheap price. I hadn't seen any apart from the professional ones that cost $1 a shot and I needed 27! In the search I accidentally came across Cambodia's equivalent of Iceland though. It was a huge supermarket at the back of a shopping mall and everyone working was so uninterested, shelves half stacked, other places empty and sticky and workers just sat chatting. After that life experience I did find some old dusty ones in the back of a shop that I managed to get for $10. Sorted. So the next day I explained and they were all very excited!...As you can imagine they had the enthusiasm of a lethargic giraffe to write English to someone they didn't know ( My kids aren't excited about writing only talking it, same with me and khmer so I can understand), I think there was a bit of lost in translation but I eventually got across I was going to send these home and then they were more excited about it. Finally! So I got them to do it. A lot were very similar to each other, as they copy all the time. Same as me at school with German to be honest. Here they just shout 'Lok Pa! Lok Pa! He/she look!' They have just started to call me 'Lok Pa'  Lok is a respect thing similar to Mr. and Mrs. Whilst Pa is father. So it's nice to know they do really like me. Anyway they were a written and will hopefully be sent home this weekend. So have fun with that Mum when 27 postcards turn up on your doorstep! 

My morning class

My afternoon class

The night before the public holiday was a volunteer teacher's birthday. So we went on a boat and drank which ended up being fairly messy and ended up at karaoke which is a great night out for Cambodians as I found out. Sorry Ma! However then on the public holiday me and another volunteer-Mel decided we would go to Russian Market and have a wander. We did some shopping but it was very hot and stuffy. I bought two Khmer phrase books, so it's starting to get serious my language learning! After that it was two more great days teaching. This weekend it's saying goodbye to some volunteers and general oddjobs such as rewriting my cv to focus on the English teaching. Eek! 

Russian Market-Food section 

Link this week: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g3Cs-bZ2YX0

English tutor in Phnom Penh http://www.gregprestontutoring.com/

2 down 4 to go

Well, what can I tell you? These past two weeks have gone rather quickly. By Monday I'll be half way through already! That's mad. Time really just goes. Do it now before it's too late. As I have gotton to learn about these kids, from their names, to aspirations, to hobbies, to homes. They really have begun to affect me. I think when this is all over, tears will be shed. 

Day to day I'm teaching a general overview of the English language, in fact I'm running out of simple things to teach. My class has the biggest discrepancy of levels. Some kids are very good, others have a small grasp of the language. Therefore trying to cater to all levels makes life fairly difficult but who doesn't love a challenge. Trying to keep them all engaged within my lessons is the hardest part. 

Every Friday they have a test. Which is a general revision of the weeks work, so it writes itself essentially. Then they have a simpler lesson after which is mostly games. However yesterday after the test I got them teaching me Khmer as a table turner. They loved it! Engaging them on a different level as they became the teacher and me the student. Being a teacher means they get respect. Lots of bowing and a different attitude to learning to the one in England as the teacher is to be respected here. Which is good as I wouldn't quite know how to deal with a khmer kid mouthing off. 

At break times I get to go out and play with the kids. Whether that's 'chose bi chun' (kick the shoe) a game which is similar to bowls or curling but you use your shoe haven't quite fathomed it yet; or football shuttle cock which I think I managed to somehow bet a $1000 on with my small bit of khmer. All a bit of fun but the kids love it and so do I. Some of the very young ones are completely gobsmacked when I speak khmer. They just stare, mouths agape. 

Apart from that what's been happening? Generally football with some expats and then football with some locals on the riverside. Most of my money is spent on delicious food. This consists of fish (yes mum, fish of many types, some I don't even know) cakes, apples, mango and many others. I then was robbed last night by a monk! I always tell people don't shake hands or out your hands out as people will put stuff on them and you are expected to pay. What do I do? Shake hands with the friendly monk, 5 minutes later a massive shark tooth necklace and two bracelets I'm $5 down. God dammit. Never mind at least i have been blessed. I think. After dinner and a chat with a very drunk American bloke who eventually ended up having a fight nearly with the hotel owner as he took his money away to get him to stop buying alcohol. I went for a walk. Everything being offered as per usual 'tuk tuk' 'lady' 'marijuana' one of these moments I was distracted, uneven floor and a tripped and my flip flop broke. Flip! I was walking along trying to fix this and again I was offered a tuk tuk right next to my hotel.

 'No' 

'What happened '

'Broken'

He takes it from me and fixes it. After a joke of me nicking his flip flops, he says sit down. So we talk in Khmer! It was slow but I got my ideas across and understood his. Eventually after a while of this he says 'Yeung Chang baan kumpong' which translates to 'we would like beer' I fathomed out what he was saying and managed to get out of there not in a harsh way it's just the culture here of drinking. I also wasn't going to buy beer for people I'd just met and not drink any of it. 

Then it was bedtime. I was fairly tired quite early as I read that you can solve toilet problems by not drinking caffeine and I had been drinking a tonne of coke. I was also up early to catch a bus to the beach town of Sihanoukville. 

Which I'm now on as I write this. Watching Khmer dubbed 'Avengers' I just hope it's nice on the coast!

Link this time: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rbNP5yqg7hc

Poverty and teaching

Well after a couple of days doing nothing and playing football I got ill. I have had toilet problems of all types. Slept many hours, slept few hours. Now it's gone to my head and throat. Just as I start teaching I lose my voice completely! Never in my entire life have I lost my voice in it's entirety. Maybe a bit, after shouting it raw at a match, but never like this. So yesterday I went to school and observed these lovely kids being taught then in the afternoon I taught... We'll get to that later. 

However for now we'll talk about Cambodia's poverty. Obviously here, in Phnom Penh it is unbelievable. They will raise up debts trying to save their sick mothers or fathers and then have to sell their rural farms and so come to the Capital to find work. With that as you walk down the street you see so many people bedding down for the night on the pavement or under a bench or a group of families together on a corner. It is saddening but I have been dealt the cards that have allowed me to not have to deal with that. So I dealt some cards of my own...

In Phnom Penh there is a particular restaurant many tuk tuks will take you as they get food for it. So I asked to go there deliberately, food for one person achieved. Food for me next. At this restaurant they will sit you near the front so the beggars can come and try to sell to you. I didn't want to be hassled as I was already starting to feel ill. So asked 'Can I be sat further back please?'

'No understand, sorry, sit here' This person then went on to take my order...

Never mind. Maybe it's too hot for the sellers. I was wrong. One, two, three came by. 'Book?' 'Bracelet?' 'Scarf?' 

Then a fourth kid came by. He started playing these games with me. Rock, paper, scissors to get you to lose (I didn't) so you have to buy something. Arm wrestling. All sorts. None of which I lost. I can proudly say I'm stronger than a malnourished 15 year old kid. So instead of sending him away I thought of sticking two fingers up at the establishment. 

'Have you eaten?'

'Me?'

'Yes'

'No I need 2000 riel' 

'Okay' 'You want to eat now?' 

'Yes 2000 riele'

'No, you can eat with me'

I give him the menu. So for once in this kids life. He was going to get a full meal of whatever he wanted with no backchat from me (I did have a panic attack when he said he jokingly said he wanted a $24 steak) and he wasn't going to pay a penny. He was going to be able to order these staff around who usually shout at him if he overstays his welcome. The waiters and waitresses didn't like me very much after that...I asked about him a bit. He was 15 and had been selling things for 10 years earning less than a dollar most days or nothing. As the items he sells aren't his so he pays most money to the book shop owner. So I'm glad I gave him something he himself could have. He gets up at 5 to play football before school and then goes to school at 7. Leaves at 11. Then comes to the Riverside and starts selling for the rest of the day. Then plays football maybe at 5-6. Then back to selling till maybe 10 later if it's a weekend. For ten years he has done that. For ten years he has worked 9 hour days. Just think about that for second. There are people my age who still haven't worked a 9 hour day. They certainly wouldn't work for 9 hours for less than 60p. Incredible. Then again in England he'd be credited with a 'great work ethic' to write on his cv. Then not be hired because he has no office experience. It's just so messed up. I'm glad I gave him something. He remembered me as well when I saw him a few days later. Hopefully because he saw me as a good person not as $$$. I want to be able to say I have a positive influence on people and that's the start. 

Well anyway enough of me reenacting 'My Fair Lady'  Another thing I saw the other day as an example of poverty is the kids will share football boots. They will find enough money to buy a pair then have a boot and a sock each to kick a ball about. You just can't believe it. The culture here is a lot more open though. The complete opposite to England. In England the culture is if you go out for a meal you pay for your bit or you split it by however many people. Here, there's none of that. They pay by however much they have. The best way to describe it is if there are two tuk tuk drivers, one has a good day, the other has a bad day. Tuk1 makes $10 and Tuk2 makes $5 both need $3 for fuel tomorrow. They need food so what do they do? Tuk1 pays maybe $5 and Tuk2 pays $1 just because that's all he can. They have no issues with it. It doesn't arise next time of 'remember that time I paid more?' They just let it go. That is the culture here. If you have nothing and I have slightly more than that I'll give you half of it. We're fairly greedy as a populace in England and isolated. Go on the underground, hear how deathly silent it is. Here a tuk tuk driver will take you somewhere then won't say 'I'm going back because I don't want to talk to these people' They make friends immediately and chat. It's fantastic. 

As for teaching? Well... I tell you what I was terrified as I met other volunteers all of whom were doing everything other than teaching. Then learning about the teaching project itself. Having to lesson plan. Am I doing it right? Will the principal get annoyed? As I left I to go to the school I couldn't be more scared. Emails were drafted to the project manager seeing if I could get it shortened to less than 6 weeks. As we drew closer. Screw it! I could walk to England from here. They would never know. As we pulled up hearing children chant in the classroom, I could just faint right now and they would have to take me somewhere else. Anywhere but here. As I walk in. I meet the other volunteer who was there, calming down a bit. Children running out for break... Aren't they gorgeous? All smiling laughing and above all no grotty little children not wanting to learn. I observed in the morning and in the afternoon I taught. It flew. I'm just annoyed I have had to have a day off because I have no voice. I can tell these six weeks will fly now I have broken it in. All worries washed away. Ready for it all now. 

My link today is: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj1AesMfIf8

That's where I was going to end this blog but today I saw something very saddening. 

At my project we teach less than fortunate children which is more than often than not, the norm. But today I saw how bad some of them have it. My school is great. It's free. They give out free rice to the families of the children to replace the work hands lost. As the children go to school instead of helping to farm. They help with paying for the public school uniform, they can't go to public school without it. So I was invited out today to take some pictures of where these kids live. I don't think I said a word apart from a happy hello to the gleeful children at seeing foreign visitors. These children who will know no better. My school is in a bit of suburb. Imagine an Uxbridge to a London that's the distance I travel everyday. These little towns exist all over and this is what they live in...

Dank, smelly and overcrowded

Kids walk on this bare foot. 

A Tuk Tuk driver, he will drive 35 minutes into Phnom Penh to work for 9/10/11 hours and come back. Today he has not gone out. So no money...

Packed in like sardines

Water running next to the path. Stagnant and smelly. Imagine cutting your foot on a rock and then stepping in that. 

Not all bad though. Huge sense of community and still time for volleyball!

These are little houses set up by an NGO, fairly recently. They get these for two years and pay 30,000 (£4.44, not a lot to us but it is to them) riel in utilities. How you get one of these I don't know; but the ones that do feel very lucky. They are all on stilts to keep insects away I think I was told last year. 

So all in all a very eye-opening experience and a very hot one at that, 37 degrees walking around taking these pictures. Those blokes were playing volleyball in it! 

I hope the ones that get to go to school and study, become something, so they can get out of this. 

We are so lucky. 

After that I don't think 'Here Comes The Sun' is an appropriate link but I don't want to link to a new one down here because nothing can convey the sadness I felt for the children and the families in these squalid conditions. 

The beauty of Cambodia

After a dreadful border crossing. Well not dreadful as it was quick and easy to get through when you know how to not get conned. Through and done in 30 minutes. The dreadful part was the other side waiting for a bus. Got to the bus station at 12 didn't leave it till 5. I paid extra to get on a minibus at 3 because I didn't want to wait any longer. Got on it then told we had to wait for three more people. Okay no worries. Fell asleep thinking by the time I wake up we will be on the road. At 4.30 woke up to an open revolt to the people who didn't want to pay the extra 100 baht (£2) to get on the minibus. I paid because I knew this free big bus was never gonna turn up. Or if it would then it would only leave when the border closed at 10. Then it would be 5 hours till I'd get to siam reap. So no bother, 100 baht I'm not using it in Cambodia. People got angry, very angry.  French people screaming, drunk Australians, swearing Cambodians. Not a great introduction to Cambodia for people who had never been here before. I hope they realise it wasn't there fault just the Thai people who took us to the border saying the big bus leaves at 2:30 then proceeding to scam most people  so everyone was very wary of paying extra. The heat didn't help. 

I also want these people to realise that Cambodia is a beautiful country. There smiles just light up their whole face and they are all just lovely. For example today whilst writing this I am on a bus going to Phnom Penh and we just stopped off at a restaurant for a break. Fairly expensive $4 for a burger. So I wasn't buying anything just stood inside cooling off. Then this guy has these weird berry type things. Intrigued I take a look and he says do you want some? Never a person to be a fussy git. I took the plunge. Salty and juicy very...okay. Bit like blueberries but less refreshing and more salty with a big seed inside it. I had a fair few but they were completely happy to share in their own restaurant. Never asked for money, all smiles. It's things like that which is why I love Cambodia. Just genuine happiness and a what's mine is yours mentality. 

I've been in Phnom Penh for a few days now just relaxing mostly and playing football. Most is as I remember and do you know what? I love it. I really do. I had second thoughts when I was leaving that it was all just the holiday Greg thinking that it was brilliant. However it wasn't (thankfully) it truly was my heart that loved Cambodia. Whether after I start my volunteer work it will be as lovely from the stress of teaching. Although I think it'll be even better, as I'll start to become a part of a community and I won't be spending as much money!

My link today is: http://youtu.be/1vrEljMfXYo The better version of this is the United chant but that might make things confusing

Sa wat tii Kha Thailand, Sous-Day Cambodia

Well that's it. I've left Thailand to go onto Cambodia. After a couple further days of seeing roundabouts and playing futsal in Bangkok. I thought it was time to move on. 

'Seeing roundabouts?'I hear you ask. I had one last full day in Bangkok so rather than waste it by suntanning. I thought let's go see something. I looked on a Thailand phone app and saw this thing called a 'giant swing' wow! Let's go see that! Taxi! With the way it was described it seemed as though it was rather special. We get there and the driver says 'Giant swing-look look.' This giant swing, this thing, described on the app as a 'tourist attraction' was anything but. Two tin poles painted red with a crossbar at the top. They were upside down rugby posts. Who knew the Thais were the first to play rugby eh? Anyway so because we couldn't stop as it was literally on a roundabout as well. I quickly searched my app for something else called the 'Erawan shrine.' Off we went. Past some behemoth shopping malls. 

It only cost me 80 baht (£1.10) to get there on this long winded journey after the swing incident. However I only had a 1000 baht note. As you can imagine the driver didn't have change. So we went to this ridiculously posh hotel. For me to change the note. Someone said I'll do it for you. Brilliant! 1000 baht quickly whipped from my hand. 'Can I come with you?' I ask

'No,you stay.' Is the reply. 

Now here's where I should have said no I'll go somewhere else. But a big posh hotel with security guards stood right by me. They wouldn't let me get robbed... After 1 minute I was okay, 2 minutes, 4 minutes doubt creeps in. 

'What's he doing?' I ask the security guard

'Just wait please'

Dammit! Just lost £20! How stupid of me. I'll wait just a bit longer, if he's not back in a couple of minutes I'm not listening to the guard. I'm going after him. 

10 minutes later...right I'm going in. Just as I take two steps forward he comes back smiling. 

'Here you are, sir'

My heart went back down my throat, rather than sitting in my mouth. Panic over. Settled my debts with the taxi. 

Then went to see this shrine. It was very busy. I was only one of three westerners there. Girls in traditional attire dancing and singing, with blind people playing music as a further gimmick. This shrine is only about 40 years old. So it's a bit ridiculous to have these people here as if trying to replicate what it was 100's of years ago. I sat and drunk in the atmosphere. I can understand why people like this particular shrine because with the music, the singular flames, the gold, the incense and the flowers there was something to it. It was completely different from the exhaust fume filled streets of Bangkok. That were only 20 yards away but this shrine had something else to it. However it did start to rain which killed it a bit so my religious experience was finished.

Shrine

Dancing girls to the left. I would have had to pay to take their photo properly.

Other side of the shrine.

I decided to get out the rain by going into one of these huge shopping malls. Nothing particularly interesting. Just western shops. Went over the road to another one. Was very out of place. Everyone in suits and opening doors for me whilst I'm in some flip flops, a stretched vest and gaudy swimming shorts. In this shopping mall there was Patek Phillipe, Rolex, Calvin Klein, Gucci. Just ridiculous stuff. 

So I left that one as I was embarrassed to be there bringing the average IQ of the place down by ten points. I mean I do that to any place I go to but here it was obvious. Still raining outside. Eurgh. Look at that shopping mall! Even bigger than the last one. So big in fact I actually got lost. I had no damn idea where I was. I went in to it at about 12 thinking I'll get some lunch at the same time. I didn't manage to find any lunch until 2. It was just huge. It then took me an hour to work out how to get out to the same place I came in at. Motorbike back to the hotel because there was a stupid amount of traffic. Sorry mum! They're just quicker and usually as cheap as a taxi. Not as safe but it's fine! 

This huge shopping mall. It doesn't show the true extent of this place. As it bends round a corner in a L shape. 

Good effort. If you can't read from the light being in the way there is also a massive ice skating rink in here. 

Anyway not very many particularly interesting things happened in Bangkok. I could tell you about the futsal but I'm sure that make a ton of you switch off and go back to Facebook! 

But onwards and eastwards to Cambodia and the border crossing. 

The link today is:http://youtu.be/9Cyokaj3BJU 'Sweet Home Cambodia'

Phnom Penh English tutoring http://www.gregprestontutoring.com/

The tragedy of Pattaya

For all it's beautiful beaches, great restaurants, beachside cafés and cheap shopping, Pattaya has a much darker side to it. The town and to an extent, the country, is in such poverty that beautiful women who to survive have to let old westerners be with them. 

The poverty, we as tourists do not see. All we see are the shops and the huge high rise eye sores going up. These women who will unfortunately never see any better in their lifetimes. I mean Pattaya's big attraction is the 'Walking Street' which is another word for strip clubs and cheap beer. Old westerners flock here to try and relive their youth. They all coming crawling out at night when everything starts up. I was on the beach earlier chillaxing and relaxing all cool but I was the only one there. As it's too hot for these people to come out. All they do is sit in an air-conditioned bar and drink. Then look gobsmacked as I walk past whether that's because I'm young,white or alone I don't know. It's such a shame but if I was in the same situation? I don't know what I'd do. If I was a women, in this culture, you'd probably be brought up to do it, to survive, get nice things and money. It is depressing when you hear these old men say 'shut up and look pretty.' That's in public! I can't imagine what may go on in private. Then again I suppose that at least they talked to each other. Most don't have a grasp on the English language so just sit in silence drinking or both parties talk to their own nationalities. 

Many of the women I see are far too good for the men. Today I saw what looked like 20 year old girl with at least a 60 year old, if not older, man. It is appalling. I have been offered to go with multiple of these types of women or maybe lady boys...some are too hard to distinguish the difference between! I just smile and say no because it creates laziness in these people if everything is offered why should they get educated or get a job. That is the only solution I can think of to rectify this awful situation. On the other hand English is a hard language, not enough money to pay for school, can't then learn English, no English no job etc...it's a vicious circle. One that is hard to get out of. 

It's not all bad though Pattaya really is lovely. Last night I went looking for somewhere to eat that was cheap. It's still only £5 most of the time but it all adds up, so I wanted it to be a bit cheaper than that. So I went for some local knowledge. A taxi driver. These guys usually will take you somewhere where they get to eat for free for bringing a customer. So thought I was helping out. I said to the fella 'need eat somewhere, no money' trying to get across that I wanted it to be cheap. After he had a conversation with his mate in clicks and smacks with me interjecting multiple times 'no money, need food.' They then stopped talking for a while, I thought I had been forgotton. All of a sudden he says '20 baht' (their currency) 'go to 7/11' and proceeds to give me 20 baht. I couldn't believe it! These guys who work all day for a pittance wanted to give me money! I said no and tried to use more difficult language this time. 

'Need eat, small money, cheap' 

'ahhhh' they say 

'Left,5 minutes, cheap food in big shop.' 

Sorted. Ended up having this...

Felt like I was in Indiana Jones with the spots of red and floating things in the soup. Wasn't particularly nice to be honest. Well I know what I won't be having next time...moral of the story:don't eat that and people who don't have much are still willing to give more. 

Anyway these lovely, compassionate and beautiful people deserve better but until they or Thailand somehow fixes itself this will continue. Only time will tell. Then again if they are happy and in love who am I to judge? But by the looks on a lot of the Thai girls faces they aren't very happy to be honest. I am sure there are possibly some that are genuinely happy and to those particular relationships I shall not judge them. 

After the beach relaxation and swimming in the 18 degree water to cool off. Funny to think just a couple of days ago that was t-shirt and shorts weather in England! Are you jealous yet?
I went to some temples and a viewpoint. Not one westerner to be seen at the temples. Too far, too hot and not enough bars to get drunk in. Only saw a few at the viewpoint. As I walked upto the point i got my photo taken, presumably security. Checking who has come in and out. The view was astounding. Pictures taken here and there. As I walked out after admiring the scenery, the guard, who took my photo, stopped me. Here we go, asking for money, I thought. Turns out the photo of me walking in looking gormless as I looked at the view mouth agape catchin' flies, sweating heavily had gone onto a commemorative plate. A plate. What am I meant to do with that? 'You can hang it up' the guard says. Why would I want to hang up a picture sorry, plate of me looking like an absolute numpty? Most photos have that covered anyway! Then went on my longest journey yet on a moto to these temples. My moto driver was good except for the moments when he crossed his heart randomly and then taking his phone out of his pocket to answer a call. Anyhow as you can see went around these beautiful structures with little to nobody to around. As no one sees Pattaya as having anything of cultural importance. Well to be technically correct it doesn't because the temples were about 30 minutes away. That was long nut burstin' journey on the bumpy roads. However I did look like a badass with my ray bans, retro helmet and gripping on to the bike for dear life...

 This was done for the Kings 50th anniversary of his coronation. Can't see that happening on the white cliffs of Dover. 

Incredible structure

Buddha- aptly named big Buddha 

Pattaya viewpoint

Not a bad day to go with it. 

My music link to go with this is:  http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VK_Mrpjppwk