I can't believe it! I was denied a Myanmar (Burma) visa! They won't let me in! Some Americans can get a visa... some can't.... including me! I was in publishing but it was B2B & porn. I'm not an international journalist! Please! Besides, I lied & put "Marketing" on the application.

I was officially told to apply again next month... but the guy walked me outside & told me under his breath that there's a better chance at the embassy in Thailand... but right now, f*@k them entirely! Thank god I didn't buy a plane ticket~

Damn! Now I need a new set of plans...

There are a million things from home I miss... but most come as just a fleeting thought. Good Mexican food is biggie. And I think every American agrees. I even asked my parents to pick me up at the airport with a burrito after spending a year in Nepal. But I've found a great place here in Phnom Penh.

Also been missing Grey's Anatomy show but recently found a dodgy bootleg DVD of the current shows. So excited!!

But it gets better!! I got to take a bath for the first time in months... & months... At least once a week I used to take an hour, sometimes two hour long bath. I love baths! But more than that, I feel clean for the first time in months! My hotels don't always have hot water & the pressure always sucks. I've never felt really clean here. But yesterday... I just sat in that super hot bath... mesmerized by the dirt...I could actually see...floating off my body.

I know I've been way lack in posting... so here's a wrap up of my 6 weeks in Cambodia so far...

After fighting corrupt officials entering Cambodia, I headed south to Kratie to see some rare dolphins. Then kept heading south to the capital, Phnom Penh. Where after a week all I’d done is sloth around lots of the happy hour luring expat filled bars.

Next moved on to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat, the SE Asian mother of all attractions & largest religious structure in the world. The sheer scale of the place blows you away. There's 1, 3 or 7 day tickets – it could take 7 days to see the whole place! I opted for the 3 day pass (& it was well worth the $40 price). But honestly, by the last day, I'd had enough wondrous temples & exquisite stone carvings; not to mention vendors constantly screeching "Pineapple, lady?", "You want T-shirt?", "Buy cold drink?" Arrrggggghhhh!!!

Stuck around that town a few more days checking out the expensive shops, having 'happy' pizzas & hitting the 'Bar Street' with my 2 Brits & 4 news ones. I think I’m now fluent in both American & British English!

bamboo train

Then returned to the black hole that is Phnom Penh in time for Christmas. Went to a wonderful Christmas Eve party but then spent Christmas chained to the toilet with food poisoning! Yuck!! Recovered enough to swap presents & have a proper roast dinner the next night.

Very sadly, it was time to say goodbye to the Brits. Wish them the best in New Zealand & beyond! Also said goodbye to Phnom Penh again & headed to the beaches of Sihanoukville with an American & 2 Israelis I'd met in Laos. Had a good New Year's party on the beach complete with a million spectacular fireworks!

view from my bed

From there went home to Phnom Penh, where I know several expats, runaways, an Aussie pimp & a self-proclaimed sexpat from Seattle... & much to my own amazement, enjoy their company! But this time my company's status dramatically improved, the former Ambassador to Korea has been acting as my own personal tour guide! Just love this town! Random stuff like that happens here all the time... had a German jump off his moped to tell my friend, who he addressed as the 'Prince of Darkness', to stop following him... had a billionaire offer me any job wanted giving away his money (& found out he's legit!)... & even went roller skating & played at the arcade in the mall here!