May 19th (2020)

 

May 19th
65 days here

I am awake at 5am. It is now 06.11am and I am still thinking about getting up and having breakfast. I will go out for lunch.

VOA Cambodia reports the dearth of tourists in Siem Reap, the closure of Pub Street and the sad plight of the tuk tuk drivers with no customers. All of which I have mentioned, here, before.

Some expat owners have drifted back, notably The Little Red Fox and The Village Cafe have reopened, and I understand that the art gallery Tribe has also slung its doors more than ajar. However with few foreigners around it all seems a little premature.

The Khmer Times reports that flights to Thailand may resume in July. There are minimal flights to South Korea and China, currently operating but none to Malaysia. Malaysia remains closed to tourists. One travel agency suggests that Malaysia….

"has extended the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) until 9 June, while lifting some restrictions. All tourists remain banned from entering Malaysia.,"

More news from the Khmer Times indicates that…..

"Cambodia expects Chinese tourists to drive its tourism growth after COVID-19 outbreak."

I say, as in Aesop's fables, be careful what you wish for

Lunch is thrice thwarted.

Curry Walla has no lunch special. No board outside, and half the restaurant is closed. There is no staff outside to welcome customers  either. It's as if they have given up.. So I walk by and on to KFC, which has no Cheezilla. That special isn't special any longer and I have no reason to go back there. So, disappointed I opt for a beef burger at Burger King.

There, I am told that Burger King has no beef. I end up taking a tuk tuk from Asia Market (remind me never to go there again, the prices are too high) to Common Grounds. I order a Chicken Fried Steak (don't ask) and a large Flat White which, all things considered, are quite good.

There is something about the quiet of Common Grounds which tickles my poetry button. So my moving digit, having poked the phone, moves on.

I miss you
In Common Grounds
Where
the grounds
Grind
Commonly
without
you

I miss you
In tuk tuks
Where I no longer
Fight
For the
legroom
But shift my feet
Anyway.

I miss you
In the Gallery
Where
I argue with myself
Saying righteously blue
Is in fact green.
When I know
That it is really
blue

I miss you
In your Angelina Jolly
Tomb Raider
Wat
Walking
Boots,
Your
Hair and T shirt
Provocatively
Damp
In the Khmer
Heat
While
You
Remain
So cool.

I miss you
When
The
Bed
Creaks,
And it's just me
Turning over,
Lonely
Under
The duvet.

I miss you
For there is
No
Sunshine
Without you
Only
Daylight
And a sad
wistfulness
In the
Cambodian 
air.

Is it my imagination, or is there less activity on Facebook these days? It's not as though Facebook is slow, just that there seems to be less traffic. How bizarre.

Oh well on to the next Eve Dallas novel.

Today’s spend..
Common Grounds…$7.10
Asia Market...Dasari Water; Emborg Full Cream Milk; Emborg American Cheese Slices; Beab Sprouts; Cereal Bread and Myojo Chicken Abalone….$11.10