SEDUCED BY SIHU

Yesterday in Phnom Penh was easier walking due to many kamikaze drivers having the New Year's holiday. Buddhist shrines or capitalist towers? Monkey business on the sidewalk. A noodle meal instead of rice!

But today we moved on with a 4-hour bus ride south to the #1 beach town in Cambodia --- Sihanouk Ville. It's still Christmas holidays, so we got the last room in town (find the Golden Lion Hotel in the picture?). AC and wifi but no window, $14 a night. We felt we had come to the wrong place ---- sticky heat, indifferent tuk-tuks, and no buzz. Right away we checked the onward bus schedule. But there had to be crowds somewhere: it's a beach town and no vacancy! Hmm.

Yup, just around the corner and down the hill was the best beach backpacker scene since Columbus discovered tequila at Cancun. A beautiful crescent of sand, warm seas, green hills and a mix of ages, languages, tatoos, flipflops, and capacity for many thousands on comfie chairs not towels. $2 meals and 50 cent draft beer. Like going from a morgue to a house party(when the parents are away).
 

Outboard motors made from old car engines and wicked 10-foot prop shafts. Sand burials. Locals taking over at sunset. And something new to me --- a flying zodiac! I'm going to like this place...