fresh off the boat~
I got into a huge argument (almost physical ~ but I was pretty
sure I could take him) with a Tuk-Tuk driver over the fare. He
wanted an outrageous amount of money ($8) for a round-trip
ride because I was a foreigner he felt like I didn't know better.
I gave him what I knew it should have been
($5 ~ and I literally did not have anymore money on me).
wanted an outrageous amount of money ($8) for a round-trip
ride because I was a foreigner he felt like I didn't know better.
I gave him what I knew it should have been
($5 ~ and I literally did not have anymore money on me).
 |
| Are you my |
He wouldn't take my money so finally after 3 minutes of going
back and forth I put the money behind him on the Tuk-Tuk ledge
and walked off. He ran after me and grabbed my arm (I had
just reached our security gate), I turned around and swatted his
hand off me and then the yelling began. He put his finger a
centimeter away from my face and said (yelled) some choice words
(I am assuming) and he really did look a little evil and crazed
(Billy thinks he probably had been drinking). I asked him (yelled),
"Do you want to fight, do you want to fight me?". He kept yelling
and pointing but also glancing behind me over my shoulder
(but I didn't dare turn around to see what he was looking at).
back and forth I put the money behind him on the Tuk-Tuk ledge
and walked off. He ran after me and grabbed my arm (I had
just reached our security gate), I turned around and swatted his
hand off me and then the yelling began. He put his finger a
centimeter away from my face and said (yelled) some choice words
(I am assuming) and he really did look a little evil and crazed
(Billy thinks he probably had been drinking). I asked him (yelled),
"Do you want to fight, do you want to fight me?". He kept yelling
and pointing but also glancing behind me over my shoulder
(but I didn't dare turn around to see what he was looking at).
 |
| Too Young? |
 |
| Not the right color Tuk-Tuk |
Finally, I backed away from
him (on the other side of the gate, which he could not come
into) and turned around. There,
behind me, was a Scandinavian
man and woman (both 6ft tall)
and I quickly walked over to
them. It was them who he was
glancing at and they were my
little (tall) guardian angels!! I
talked with them for a moment
and they commiserated with
me. I then went upstairs (still
shaking just a bit) to the
haven of my home.
him (on the other side of the gate, which he could not come
into) and turned around. There,
behind me, was a Scandinavian
man and woman (both 6ft tall)
and I quickly walked over to
them. It was them who he was
glancing at and they were my
little (tall) guardian angels!! I
talked with them for a moment
and they commiserated with
me. I then went upstairs (still
shaking just a bit) to the
haven of my home.
 |
| Tuk-Tuk Gang |
When Billy came home I told the story to him and he told me I
had to be more careful as the guy could have pulled a knife on me -
oops, hadn't thought of that. So I stayed in our apartment for the
next 2 days so the evil Tuk-Tuk driver (and his gang) would give
up stalking me (just kidding, it isn't that dangerous).
had to be more careful as the guy could have pulled a knife on me -
oops, hadn't thought of that. So I stayed in our apartment for the
next 2 days so the evil Tuk-Tuk driver (and his gang) would give
up stalking me (just kidding, it isn't that dangerous).
 |
| I Made His Day |
Then on Sunday I put on my "bug" glasses and my helmet and got on my
scooter and eased out - I had a fiver in my pocket and had decided to find
Mr Tuk-Tuk and give it to him because I really don't want to be the one that
causes someone else to have an angry heart (even if I didn't think I was wrong).
Hindsight, I wish I could have told him to wait until Bill got home and paid him
at least $1 more (or maybe more) but the communication barrier works against
me and my brain wasn't quit there either. Anyhoooo, I saw someone who
looked like him and went over and touched my heart with my hand, said I was
sorry and gave him $5 (I didn't have any ones and didn't think I could ask for
change!). Well, I am pretty sure this guy was NOT the same Tuk-Tuk driver
(but I certainly made that guys day and he could now take the rest of the day off).
 |
| Wrong Country |
Now I just always carry $3 in my pocket in case I see him
(or someone else that looks like him), that way I will always
be prepared to give it to him. I've also decided to never wear
my cute pink headband ever again (or my bright pink top),
while in Cambodia, since that was what I was wearing that
fateful night (just in case he sees me first and comes after me)!
It is interesting too as the next week there was a security truck
in front of our building so maybe that has scared him off as well.
(or someone else that looks like him), that way I will always
be prepared to give it to him. I've also decided to never wear
my cute pink headband ever again (or my bright pink top),
while in Cambodia, since that was what I was wearing that
fateful night (just in case he sees me first and comes after me)!
It is interesting too as the next week there was a security truck
in front of our building so maybe that has scared him off as well.
 |
| It's not You, it's Me |
It was a good lesson for me in so many ways - first off, I
used to get a little crazy (mad) while driving on my scooter.
used to get a little crazy (mad) while driving on my scooter.
I thought, "These people are INSANE drivers".
But after this incident (and Billy telling me the story about
how one of Kenny's friends pounded on a car hood of a driver
that was cutting him off [been there, done that] and the driver got
out of his car and punched Kenny's friend in the eye), I decided
that this is their country and the way they drive works for them.
So I’ve adopted the motto "if you can't beat em, join em"!!
So now I understand the rhyme to their reason and I don't
get angry anymore while driving! I just expect everyone
to drive crazy and I just go with the flow!!! It has made
me have a happy loving heart (and is the last step of my
"12 step driving program in Cambodia").
how one of Kenny's friends pounded on a car hood of a driver
that was cutting him off [been there, done that] and the driver got
out of his car and punched Kenny's friend in the eye), I decided
that this is their country and the way they drive works for them.
So I’ve adopted the motto "if you can't beat em, join em"!!
So now I understand the rhyme to their reason and I don't
get angry anymore while driving! I just expect everyone
to drive crazy and I just go with the flow!!! It has made
me have a happy loving heart (and is the last step of my
"12 step driving program in Cambodia").
