OMB! We’re in Cambodia (Day 1-2, Phnom Penh)

When greeting for the first time, Cambodians will ask 1) What is your name, 2) How are you doing? 3) How old are you? They greet with prayer hands and a bow. Bows toward the elderly have hands held slightly higher. 

Dirk and his beautiful wife, Krystal, are the youngest among us. Yesterday morning Dirk said The Husband and I “look good for our age”.  I want to like him. I do. But he’s young and he says shit like that so it’s hard. 

The Husband and I took a morning walk and a security guard stood and removed his hat when he saw us coming. That was nice of him to honor The Husband in that way. 

The afternoon tour was heart-wrenching as we visited the Killing Fields of Pol Pot (Political Potential) and then the school turned prison during his reign of terror.

Pol Pot’s goal was to annihilate the Smooth Palm People—the educated. Our new guide, Sokun, says it is the way of Buddhists to forgive even if the past story is bitter. This sweet survivor was there; one of only two remaining who were held at this prison. 

Today was a happy day at a temple where we were blessed en masse by two Buddhist monks.

We were told not to flinch when they tossed flowers and water at us or else risk missing the blessing. As Sokun says, “Oh my Buddha!” I might have missed my blessing. 

AK offered to take our photo with the monks:

After the blessing, The Husband and I decided to take the active tour with Goat, Mikey, Beela and Malibu.  We walked to the top of a grand hill to another temple of 2,000 Buddhas. 

Sokun, The Husband and Goat released birds for good karma:

By anyone’s account it was a hike but worth it. 

We felt young—Age IS just a number! Then at the bottom of the hill, this little girl, Silpa, bowed to us with her hands held high.