On Sunday before Cambodian New Year, Bill had a student from Phnom Penh come to spend a few days here in Sen Monorom. Her name is Lakeana (Lake-a-na, not sure of the actual spelling) and she works at a hotel in PP and still takes classes at the university (she is working on her second bachelor's degree).
Bill tells me she will arrive on the express van around 530pm and invites me to join them for dinner at the restaurant at my guesthouse. I go downstairs at 630 and see them at a table over near the bar. Lakeana is a beautiful woman around 25 years old who speaks excellent English. This is the first time she has been to Sen Monorom or Mondulkiri province! Bill has also brought Mey Mong, his pet monkey.
Bill never leaves Mey alone at home. If there is nobody at Bill's house - he will throw a little diaper (really he just wraps a long strip of cloth around his legs several times) on Mey and bring him wherever he goes. Bill says he has brought him to Phnom Penh, on buses, vans, etc. - problem is Mey doesn't like crowds or loud noise.
So the three of us sit talking at the table for a while. Seems the others ordered before I got there and the restaurant is packed tonight. I order a plate of fried veggies and a mango shake. Lakeana tells us about her family, her job, her university studies, etc. Eventually Bill and Lakeana's food comes - here in Cambodia they just make stuff and send it out - NEVER does the food all come out together. No use waiting or your food will get cold. Mey seems incredibly agitated and Bill often has to hold him close to his chest to stop him from squirming around.
Bill will offer food from his plate to Mey and Mey seems to eat anything. Bill says he eats all fruits, most veggies, chicken, clams, ice cream - whatever people put in front of him! But on this night Bill is having a hard time controlling him. Mey has a harness and leash on and Bill is hugging him tightly to his chest but Mey doesn't want to be there. Mey starts biting Bill's arm. Bill has a towel he throws over him to immobilize his arms. Lakeana has met Mey before but the look on her face is priceless - she can hardly believe she is sitting at a table eating dinner with a monkey!
After about 30 minutes, Bill says he is going home. Just as he says that a large bug flies by Mey's head and you guessed it, Mey reaches out his hand, grabs the bug and swallows it! Lakeana and I burst out laughing! Bill finally takes Mey home.
After an hour (not exaggerating) my simple meal finally arrives. Lakeana even seems surprised at the slow service and says something to the waitress. We talk about Cambodia while I eat my dinner. When I am done and ask for the bill (Bill and Lakeana already paid earlier) the waitress actually brings over a plate of sliced bananas - obviously they realize the service was particularly bad - even by Cambodian standards. Actually Cambodian service is a running joke here - it really means no service. You can order a coffee somewhere and then after you get the coffee nobody will check up on you for hours unless you flag the wait staff down.
Either way, this was one of the most bizarre dinners I have ever had. A beautiful woman, my friend Bill, and a very agitated monkey!!!
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