Monday, February 11, 2008

Chinese New Year Holiday

2 day trip to Kompong Som during this year Chinese New Year has gone and left me and my friends a fun and awful memory.

We couldn’t wait to go to Kompong Som in the early morning and the journey began with joy and laugh from all of us. It was not until I carelessly pump the water in the car water’s tank and forgot to tape back the cap. After driving 150km away , I realized something was wrong with the car and I glanced at the attention table and saw the temperature was at the highest level. I quickly drove to the side and checked out the problem. I found it – water tank’s cap was missing. Oh shit!! The smell was very strong from the engine and water was vaporized. That was the beginning of the horrible story. We were working together to fill in the water inside the car. We stopped for awhile and on the engine. After many repeating off and on the engine, ultimately the engine started running and we moved forward. However, we couldn’t go far because the temperature kept on rising. Until we found a car mechanic workshop, we can keep the water tank cap closed. I thought that was the end of the story but I was totally wrong. God wanted to play around with me. After that we moved on around 10 km , the same problem happened . We kept on doing the same work again and again and again until I was so fed up but no choice I had to do.

At 1:30pm , we reached Kompong Som after almost 8 hours drive from Phnom Penh. My friend’s friend brought me to a car mechanic shop and got the car repaired. While I was waiting hungrily, my friend went down to find hotel. Price was rocket and all hotels and guesthouses were full house and left only 1 room which cost 40 USD per day stay. 7 of us had no choice but got to squeeze together in that room. In the evening , the car was fixed and we were very happy and enjoyed our dinner at the beach. People from every corner of the country and oversea made a big crowd and the beach very happening. It was my first time seeing such a big crowd at the beach in the evening. Lighting, decorating and the laugh and smile of the people made the place such a pleasant tourist location. Many people fired the firework and created a “boom, boom “sound everywhere. We sang , we screamed , we played game. We had so much fun.

Tomorrow morning, we went to visit Koh Pos Island. I must give it a wow. It was such a beautiful, calm, and attractive nature. The scenery was amazing. I love it. We built sand castle , we played games and relaxed at the beach.

Until afternoon , we had our lunch and ready to go back home. I thought the car problem was fixed and we wouldn’t have that problem again. Who know? God still wanted play around with us. I drove for 50km , the temperature meter again move to the high level. Damn it!!! It was so irritating. I was so disappointed and felt no appetite to give a word. I knew, some of my friends felt very sick of it also. We went to see a car mechanic shop nearby and asked them to do check up. The mechanic said ‘ the problem is most likely because of the choking of the water tank and it requires an hour more to clean up , otherwise you need to fill the water in every time the temperature jump to high level” I decided not to get it fixed because of the timing is inappropriate. Then , we moved forward with a very slow speed. After 10km drive , temperature jumped high again. I felt so bad. After filling the water , we moved forward again. This time I could smile again because I can drive 23km before the temperature jumped high. We kept on moving until Yeay Mao then stopped to ask for a safe trip going home. Magically, temperature was at the normal level until we get back to Phnom Penh.

This trip was full of fun and troubles. Though many troubles we were experiencing but I felt happy because I could understand more about my friends and to some I felt less distant for friendship.

My Apartment