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01/11/2007: "Hello Paparazzi"
The PEPY team last year dubbed the hello yellers, who seem to be able to sense approaching foreigners on bikes even before we are in sight distance, the Hello Paparazzi. Aptly named, these youngins (and sometimes older ones too) lurk around every corner, and just when you least expect it and your guard is down, BAM! HELLO! You have to swerve to avoid them at times, or maybe that's just the cows, but I'm sure Madonna would agree, you just can't seem to get away from the paparazzi..... not that you would want to.
For me, riding these roads for the second, and for some parts, the third time, I was worried that it would get routine. For the stretches of Paparazzi-less rice fields, it did a bit. But every time we hit a group of houses and we are once again turned into bike-stars, the celebrity status revives the team and the kilometers seem to go by much faster.
On our last day into Phnom Penh (from Kompong Chhnang), we took a 20k detour off the main road. Those of us who chose this path were delighted to find serene roads and a quite spot where people were washing their cows, clothing, and children and filling up their drinking water while men were harvesting the root of the bright purple lotus flower amid fields of bright green plants. Most of the areas we had visited were further from the flood zone, and as the dry season is now underway, the fields further out are already brown and dry. Here on this dirt road, just a few kilometers from the Tonle Sap lake, the ground is still wet and the rice is only just starting to grow giving the flat lands a bright green glow we had yet to see on this trip.
The other highlight of this trip for me has been having Lucky - our amazing bike guide - along with us. Everyone has enjoyed learning about Cambodian culture and bike maintenance from the man whose smile literally takes up 3 faces. When Lucky smiles or laughs, we can't help but do the same.
Despite some sick stomachs, the team is strong and very very fast. On to the beach!!!!!!!!!!!!!
