Battambang day 2 and the circus

There is not enough sleep on this workcation. We did sleep in until the last possible breakfast call. Then decided to explore the city on foot. Kat has a friend that started a cafe as an NGO to train girls in baking and food prep. It is called the Green Mango. We walked over the river and found the restaurant and had lunch. They specialized in baked goods and kombucha. Thank goodness they were out it takes two weeks to brew and I may have had to try it. It’s Kat’s favorite. She has some growing at her house. It’s a disgusting fungus that you drink. It’s suppose to heal your gut.

We walked along the river and Kat got flashed, I missed it all and she says she is scarred for life. There are all types out there in every culture. We toured the local museum and saw lots and lots of Buddha’s. Every size, every age.  Some over 1000 years old. Lots of Buddha’s. We went back to the hotel and took as long as a nap as possible before our circus tickets at 7:00. This is another NGO of retired acrobats that have opened a school for kids, probably up through 18 starting at kindergarten. This is the practice school where they develop their skills before being admitted to the main circus in Siem Reap. They can study acrobatics or painting. Their art work is amazing. Kat said it was even more fun because they were so young and apprentices. The cool thing about it is that it was a Khmer market scene that really told the traditions on the culture. We learned how to wear the traditional Khmer Khrama scarf at least 5 ways. There were mistakes that even made them more endearing and they were such great showmen, you have thought it was part of the act!  We had popcorn at the performance because we were too tired to eat. The taxi comes tomorrow morning at 7 and we have a 6 hour drive. Imagine renting a taxi for a 6 hour trip for two people for $70! I spent more than that last month in Chicago when I left my computer at a dealer and had to take a cab 15 minutes each way!