He Made His Own Bed

As you can see from this photo, snapped mid-plunge down a 20-foot sand dune, Himself is fond of adventure. (Our offspring seem to take after him in this regard, whereas BEM is the one reading a book in the shade while her gang queues up for the funfair's latest, tallest, scariest new rollercoaster.) Himself has the heart of Richard Branson mixed with Paul Theroux trapped inside the business suit of a workaholic management consultant.

So no one who knows him registered surprise at his decision to devote a week of his three-week downtime between Evil Old Job and Shiny Happy New Job not by relaxing on a beach, but by exploring Cambodia beyond the tourist-friendly spots of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. He planned to rent a motorcycle and follow where the pot-holed roads took him, in search of villages and ruins rarely visited by outsiders.

It sounds like the admirable sort of journey I love to read about but, being a wuss, am too exhausted these days ever to undertake myself. I can't wait to hear about Himself's experiences and to see the photos. Last Tuesday he left with my pleas to stay on somewhat beaten paths (to avoid landmines), while he theoretically goes off the beaten path, still ringing in his ears.

We've communicated daily by sms. Until this morning all of his messages have sounded enthusiastic and brimming with clues as to the tales he'll share upon his return. Actually I hadn't heard from him since Friday night but chalked it up to his staying in a remote area. Then the poor bloke replied to my message this morning ("Having panqueques per usual wknd fare. We miss u" etc.) with the following: "I'm stuck in a Camry with 6 other people on a 10hr journey... 2 of the people have been tossing chunks every hour...lovely...I made my own bed..."

Oh, dear. What happened to the motosai? How can seven people squeeze comfortably into a Camry? (Himself is not small. He is 6'4". If the car's a two-door, he's particularly bad off!) He'd already anticipated bad nights due to sleeping on dodgy pallets on floors and the odd rooster crowing for "dawn" at 3am (and 4am, and 5am). But for his transport by day, he was picturing more like the idyllic highway scenes in Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". Hours of gliding past rice paddies and stretches of jungle, hours filled with meditations on life, family, work, who invented liquid soap, and why?

He probably has enjoyed some rides like that along the way...until the motosai broke down, which is what I'm imagining happened before the Camry clown car stuffed itself full of passengers. I'm sure Himself has no regrets about taking the road less traveled. Being bedraggled is a corollary of true adventure travel. He has probably seen and done things, and met people, the likes of which while growing up in Lakewood, Ohio, he never dreamed he'd be able to.

That said, I'd bet a proper shower, hot meal and cold beer would suit him perfectly right now. Wherever you are, dearest Pedro, I hope you are relishing your week of no neckties!

Comments

[TY]

This entry and picture reminded me of what many of us--his friends-- like most about him. It's rare to see people who go out and tangle with the world as much as PJW.
Thanks for sharing it, and it's great to see the adventures continuing.

[Elemmaciltur]

Well, as long as he can enjoy himself, that's fine. Although I have to say that I'd be freaked out to take such trips. :p

[Lyle]

you said it, elemmaciltur! :)

the return of T!
you are ALIVE!
i've missed you. thanks for commenting so often in the beginning of my young little blog. and thanks for commenting this time! boy, are you right about our beloved pedro. nothing stops the kid. you know it more than most people, considering you've known him since he was still wet behind the ears (i.e. uni).
dude, come back to thailand and pedro will join you on another adventure -- maybe get his diving certificate or whatever's your fancy! me, i'll wave to you guys from my perch in the shade.

[Heather]

That picture is absolutely precious!

[Margaret Leigh]

Wow, Pete. You sure know how to have a good time...

[Pedro]

Thanks, BEM, for your mention...not sure I can handle all this press!

Thanks for comments from others. The trip was fantastic, and I already have another Cambodia trip in mind for another time. Something about being out in the stix that I miss in a place like Bangkok. Northeastern Cambodia is full of beautiful landscapes and smiling faces..who can tire of that?

Great book for anyone interested - Adventure Cambodia by Matt Jacobson...excellent writeups and detailed directions and mileage indicators - even GPS readings!

Pics from my trip forthcoming...

Pedro