CAMBODIA STYLE

JULY 30 - It's easier getting an extended visa these days. Until a couple years ago, I could only get it by going to Phnom Penh. Now a few tourism agencies in Siem Reap Town can do this for me in the same amount of time it would take me to do it myself in Phnom Penh. Today, I stopped by Tourex Asia, who did this for me last year. They can arrange a 1-month, 3-month or 6-month extended visa. But to qualify for an extended visa you have to know that your original visa cannot be a $20US 30-day tourist visa. Your original visa must be a $25 30-day business visa. (I learned this the hard way and it cost me a lot of red tape and delay in Phnom Penh one year.) Within 10 minutes I was on my way. I had left my passport and paid $47US for a 1-month visa extension. No forms to fill out. My passport with extended visa will be ready for me to pick up in 3 days. Yes, Sunday...businesses have regular hours 7 days a week except government offices, banks, schools and some nongovernmental aid-humanitarian-development organizations which are closed on Sundays.

When I awoke this morning I was eye-to-eye with a gecko on my pillow. I'm not sure what attracted the little fellow to this spot. Must be a "toddler" stretching his horizons and hasn't learned the rules...stick to the walls, ceilings and windows!

Music outside this morning. Hmmm, not funeral music...not wedding music. Does not sound like the music for the pagoda candle ceremony...

A storm galed through town...first rain in days. I happened to be back in my room at the guest house after afternoon classes to shower and eat when I heart a whomp! against the building. I looked outside at the bent trees and black clouds. A few minutes later it was raining cats and dogs! We do need the rain. A gentle rain would be helpful so as not to swell the Siem Reap River too quickly and flood houses along its banks. It rained most of the night...next morning, water everywhere and flooded houses on east bank of Siem Reap River.