Before Southeast Asia: OMG! There's a bug in my food. I can't eat this anymore!
After Southeast Asia: Hmm, there's two bugs floating in there. [removes bugs, resumes eating]

• The bugs in Cambodia seem extra vigilent about biting.
  
• Certain things seem cheaper in Cambodia (e.g. hotels thus far are about $5 - 8 a night, compared to $15 in Saigon), but food seems just a tad bit pricier for some reason. In Cambodia's defense, I did just have a hamburger (yes, a hamburger) for $1 and it was AMAZING!!! I might get another before I am to board my night bus to Siem Reap (checking out the Tomb Raider temple, y'all; yes, that is how I will be referring to it!).
• I had a decent time in Sihanouk Ville. It would have been better if the Universe weren't against me on this one. Win some, lose some, eh?
  
• It's been rainy here. Damn this wet season!
• I just got a massage for $8 ($6 + $2 tip). It was interesting. In a good way, I suppose. I'm too indifferent to know an excellent massage from a passable one.
  
• Sometimes I have existential out-of-body experiences because what I'm actively engaged in at the moment is too surreal and stupid to believe. For example, today, I rented a motorbike ($4) to cruise around the city. I'm driving pretty fast because, well, I'm in a hurry to nowhere-ville. And I'm in a hurry, apparently. So I'm driving on this highway'esque road to the airport when I realize that I don't want to go to the airport so I turn the motorbike around. BTW, this motorbike? The gauges are broken. It's always empty, and I have no idea what's the actual speed I'm driving at. Yay. So I turn around and I'm in the middle of effing nowhere when the bike stops itself because, hey hey hey, THERE'S NO MORE GAS. And so I'm pushing the motorbike up a little incline (d'oh!), and it starts to rain (double d'oh!). Luckily this guy stops over to help me out. He takes me to a nearby gas station and I get $2 worth of gasoline and get back to my motorbike. BTW - riding in the rain is SO PAINFUL. And at times like those, I need to detach from reality because it's just so ridiculous the things that I put myself through. D'oh!
• I've been thinking that there is not enough romance in the world, especially in terms of the grand romantic gesture. I've decided that I would like to make a grand romantic gesture (GRG) of my own, but I don't know the who, when, how, what, where of this GRG just yet. I think who is the most important, yes? So, we'll see about that. But in essence, I want to put myself out there and make a very strong, very silly, but also very genuine declaration of intention. And if I get rejected, so be it. But it'll be out there. And the world will be better for it because there can never be too much love. Never!

I want to take motorcycle lessons. I want to buy a motorcycle and go riding whenever I have the time. Go on hikes. Get my ass to Yosemite and do the Half Dome hike once and for all. See Death Valley. Maybe even start a bike gang - who knows.

My tennis skills will be immensely improved since I'll have a lot of time to play. It'll blow your mind!

I want to balance my life with work, play, but also a lot of downtime. I no longer feel the urge to be rushed. It's just not fun. Why are we always rushing? I want to take my sweet time to do things because life is a journey, and I don't need to be going at 150 MPH all the time until I'm exhausted.

That is all. For now.

• Got into Phnom Penh around 3PM today. Headed straight to Toul Sleng Genocide Museum. It was a high school, but in 1975, the Khmer Rouge turned it into a prison and torture chamber of sorts. It felt really eerie and spooky to be there. The exhibits came from people who worked there, a Swiss man who visited Cambodia during the regime and mistakenly supported it without knowing fully the extent of the situation, etc. - just all different perspectives. I learned so much in just one visit. I think I'll skip out on the Killing Fields, though. As much as I am a fan of learning more about human depravity, I think I got my fill. (Yes, I enjoy learning about human depravity because it actually makes enjoyment of human love and joy that much more genuine. You gotta know bad to know good, right?)
• The boat rides down the Mekong were quite the experience. We're talking hours at a time. I napped for some of it, but it was basically two days of nonstop traveling and I'm kind of tired. I don't know if I necessarily that journey for most people. Talk about roughin' it.... (: Still, quite an experience.
• I went to my hometown of Bien Hoa, Vietnam. But not having my aunt's address (duh) deterred me from visiting her. The thing is, though, I saw my hometown again. And realized that I grew up in the bible belt of Vietnam. Seriously. There were churches every 500 meters, it seemed. Nuts, eh? The bus ride to Bien Hoa was OK, but the bus ride back to Saigon was interesting. First, I sat right in front of this girl who either doesn't go on transportation much or is pregnant. Because she was puking very audibly for quite a bit of the trip. Again, I was sitting right in front of her and feared for splatter. Second, the guy sitting right in front of me was PASSED OUT. The dude who worked on the bus actually tried slapping him awake to no avail (don't worry - he moved, so he was alive). Finally, the guy wakes up and the bus employee asks him where he wants to get off. He says, "Thu Duc." Guy says, "Thu Duc is coming up soon, you better be ready!" He argues, "THIS IS NOT THU DUC! I'M NOT GETTING OFF!!!" Ten minutes later, he wakes up again and of course we're in another city altogether. He says, "Where are we!?! I needed to get off at Thu Duc!" Umm, yeah, seriously. This was around 5PM, so I don't know what he's drinking at so early an hour to be that wasted, but there you have it. [:
• Michael and I met up for dinner at Mitau, a Hue restaurant in Saigon. I love the proprietor. I really do. She's such an awesome lady. Co Oanh is truly one of a kind. She loves to travel by herself, loves to take photos, is an independent spirit, and OMG her cooking is phenomenal. I need to take up cooking!
• I need a new hat. Le sigh. My hat probably fell behind the bed in Saigon and I didn't pack it when I left. I'm a little sad because I really liked that hat, even though I got it for $3 at JC Penney. *audible sigh*
  

When it rains, it pours. Please let me indulge in a little self-pity here. After I finish typing this, I will be OK. So... I caught a little cold, which wouldn't be so bad except that I'm traveling on my own and, to make matters worse, I have back spasms from doing who knows what? SCUBA diving? Wearing uncomfortable shoes? The possibilities are limitless.

Anyway, that was it. I know I'll be OK in due time. Right now I'm still in Nha Trang and will be headed to the mineral mud bath thingie that they have. Supposedly it's good for you? I hate baths, mud or otherwise. But I need to slow things down and take it a little easy on my body so hanging out for a few hours and doing didley squat doesn't sound too bad. Maybe get a massage?

Tonight, a night bus to Saigon. I'm praying there are no creepy boys that I end up sitting next to. *keeping fingers crossed*

(Why the picture? Just 'cause. hehe)

See? I feel better already! /end bitchy whines/

I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tel me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too god, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in [me].