Cambodia

I just arrived back in Singapore after spending the week in Siem Reap province in Cambodia. I have never seen anything like the beautiful people, the language, the heat, the ancient history, and the recent genocide's aftermath. I am posting 2 pictures (I'll post more later), one of a boy from a village off of Tonle Sap Lake, (ironically meaning sweet fresh water) and the other of the Anghor Wat Temple that I took from the back of an elephant as we ascended a mountain. The contrast is ridiculously appropriate.

Up and...walking

I'm sitting at Mike and mom's desk and I'm torn as to which way to look: the computer (a new mac, with, as Mike calls it "brushed aluminum") I look to my right and out over the balcony and straight to the water. Right to a massive game of battle ship. There are about 100 long cargo ships in sight hovering out in some of the bluest water I have ever seen. Or I could look in to the apartment. Beige marble tiles span the office, living room, and bathroom. The ceilings must be 12 feet high, there are 3 balconies, one of which stretches out of my room (high class living!). It is so humid and already pretty toasty, but I've managed to wake up at a reasonable hour. Mike is showing me all of the things he acquired on his last trip of "bargaining" (I've seen his skills before and its quite a show.) he's wearing an "it's better in the bay, bay st. louis shirt" and drinking coffee to kick himself into gear after a long trip. I'll post some pictures tomorrow. I wish you could all see this. It is too beautiful to describe and so cool to see where my mom has made her home.

I Arrive

Just got to momma's house. Alive, well, with swollen legs, and greasy hair. Ewww. Nice visuals.

Tokyo

In Tokyo. So. Tired. I have a five hour layover and then an 8 hour flight to Singapore. All these efficient short people everywhere. What to do for the tall American? Assimilate obviously. I'm already fluent in Japanese.

In the land of the giant.

Surprise, surprise, I'm in the Atlanta airport. It is, I'm afraid, my home away from home. But I'm checked in, through security, coffeed up, prepped for duty-free, and ready to rock. And roll. And sit in a tiny space for 14 hours. Yeah. Gotta get revved up. Well, to all of you that love the sound of my voice, I'll call when I get settled. And to those of you who don't like my voice, you're either not reading this or I don't like you anyways.

Auntie A. And Avah.

Here are a few pictures of me and the ol' niece.

Atl. How I love to hate thee.

In a traditional spurt of standby luck, I caught the second to last seat on a tiny airplane determined to weather the...weather. I flew out of Baton Rouge where I was staying with my dad and prepping for my asian adventure. Picture Bill Murray wandering eyes glowing with the shimmer of Tokyo lights, looking up at the skyscrapers and around at all of those short people. That will be me so soon I can hardly stand it. To Tokyo tomorrow morning, Singapore the following day and then Cambodia with madre and crew. I'm now sitting in the main atrium of the airport, charging up and waiting for my lazy brother to pull himself out of bed to entertain his sister. Oh, Atlanta. You are near and dear to my heart.