My Exotic Surprise Birthday

DATELINE: August 22, 2013
Patricia E Lyon

We moved through our busy day of errands and classes gracefully. While in the 1991 Toyota, Mony was often on the phone. I did not think too much about it because some of it was about making arrangements and schedule changes. A large group of Koreans are visiting the Teacher’s Training College so our classes have been shortened in length. On Thursday, classes would be cancelled. As we exited through the iron gate of the school, 400 student teachers were in the open air auditorium wearing new pastel shirts of aqua, yellow and melon. Four were on the stage vying for two chairs. The students were having a blast.

As Bos Kralanh we offered the idea of a field trip for Thursday. I will write more about that later, then we went to the old market for more errands. Somewhere in the day, Mony asked me about the year I was born. I am born in the year of the chicken.

Deanna wanted to take me to the Elephant Bar at the Grand Hotel for my birthday. As Mony dropped us off, he broke down and told me that the staff was having a party for me at the hotel and we should hurry back!

The Grand Hotel is the oldest hotel in Siem Reap built during the French colonial period. We were met at the door by several staff members wearing various types of elegant uniforms, white suits and outfit I cannot describe except it was capped with a spiked helmet.

We considered the lengthy menu. Then we ordered breaded deep fried goat cheese and chicken satay with peanut dipping sauce. We were also surprised by fabulous fried banana chips seasoned with yummy black pepper. There were small clusters of crunchy rice flavored with turmeric. (Deanna thought.)

Then we meandered through the elegant and out of our price range gift shops. I bought an elegant bag made of strips of silk, Perhaps I can use it for a pattern for the sewists next trip, Then we grabbed a tuk tuk back to a more middle class neighborhood.