February 8, 2007
Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Arieh here. Tricked you (sort of)!!! The title was supposed to catch you. Instead I had to change it slightly because I think it is causing problems here in Vietnam accessing the blog for me and some others. If you figure out the right word, then it refers to an actual quote from my cousin Phil quoting his wife, Corrine, about one of the rumoured side effects of Malarone. More on that later, if you have the patience to keep reading. First some comments on my "westernerness" and take note that this story is only about me and not anyone else. I am definitely in need of some innovation "re-training".
We were in Phnom Penh last week and Val and I and our two new Cambodian-American friends were walking along the river walkway in the late evening. We were approached by one "moto" driver (small motorcycle) and asked if we needed transport. (This is not an uncommon question nor unexpected). We were clearly a group of 4 people and he was clearly one driver with space for one passenger. This is where the "re-training" statment comes in. I held up my hand and "answered" with 4 fingers indicating we are 4 people. To him, this was obviously not a problem and he IMMEDIATELY suggested in Khmer that he would go get ONE more "moto" driver. From his point of view, his motorcycle not only had room for one passenger, it actually had room for TWO. Hence, his innovative solution to my answer was one more motorcycle and four people could then be transported and he and his buddy could earn some money. I, being well-off and complacent, didn't think of that solution and he, being less well-off, immediately thought of a way to overcome my "objections" to his original offer. The moto drivers solution to my problem is just one example of how motorcycles are used here in Cambodia and all of S.E. Asia. They are used by themselves to move people. I have seen up to 5 on one small motocycle (admittedly, one of the 5 was a babe-in-arms). They are used to transport goods--either on the back with a filled basket or the goods are simply strapped to the back. I even saw a LIVE pig being taken to market on the back of a moto! Upside down and frozen with fear. I have seen smallish study desks lashed to the back of a motorcycle. "Motos" are also used to pull things--usually by some attachment that is not permanent. There are wheeled attachments that are used to carry good (such as big and long pieces of wood or coal--see picture) and there are 2-wheeled attachments that are used to carry peope (as we used in Siem Reap). The people mover motos are then called "tuk tuk"s (in Cambodia) or a "kechuk" (in Java). They can hold up to 2 people (in Java) or up to 4 (in Cambodia).
The moto drivers solution to my problem is just one example of how motorcycles are used here in Cambodia and all of S.E. Asia. They are used by themselves to move people. I have seen up to 5 on one small motocycle (admittedly, one of the 5 was a babe-in-arms). They are used to transport goods--either on the back with a filled basket or the goods are simply strapped to the back. I even saw a LIVE pig being taken to market on the back of a moto! Upside down and frozen with fear. I have seen smallish study desks lashed to the back of a motorcycle. "Motos" are also used to pull things--usually by some attachment that is not permanent.
So you want to know about "sounds like contextual" dreams? Well there have not been any. However, as I mentioned, there is a rumour that Malarone cause wild dreams and I had one. So all you experts on dreams can now tell me what the following meant (and please write to the e-mail address you all have). One fine night I awoke with a start. The end of the dream (and I cannot recollect any other part) was when I took a swipe at a tiny dragon that was chewing at my leg and knocked it off. That's it. Let me know if it is the Malarone.
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