Working in Cambodia: Week 4
When arriving in Sihanoukville, I was warned that it was rainy season, and therefore low season, so the number of tourists in town has been dramatically reduced. I believed it my first week, as our parties were small. However, with every party, we bring in more and more people, and this last week has held some of the mother of all parties! I have my boss concinced that I am a good luck charm, and he has been trying to convince me to stick around for longer.
Thursday night was a crazy one at Utopia. We had loads of people there early for the 8:00 pm BBQ, and they all stayed while more kept coming. Around midnight, a huge unexpected thunderstorm blew through, and we had over one-hundred soaking wet people dancing around the bar and even outside in the rain. The bartops were slippery, but that did not stop the people from getting on top of them. Finally, the rain tapered off, and the party kept going. At one busy point in the evening, a highly-intoxicated English guy jumped behind the bar and began swinging on one of the rafters. I warned him numerous times to get down as I was making drinks, and the next thing I heard was a loud crash as he came falling to the ground, smashing his head on the bar. We bartenders took one glance at him on the floor, and with mutters of "Serves him right!" and "That's what he gets!" along with the cheers of all the bar patrons, we kept working, and the guy sheepishly left. I witnessed a few other fantastic falls that night, but fortunately no one was seriously injured.
Around 5:00 am, the almost-full moon began to set, and it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life. It looked just like the sun setting, with its radiating colors of red against the black sky. I stared at it in awe for ages until finally closing up the bar and heading to bed.
Saturday night was our big Full Moon Party. I was expecting the crazy mayhem of Thursday night, but the people were definitely more chilled out this evening. However, we were extremely busy with over two hundred people in our small bar and on the beach. Shawn, Pat, Cooper, and I worked our butts off the entire evening without stopping, and I managed to cut my foot on glass for the second time since working at Utopia, this time by accidentally kicking a broken beer mug, slicing open the top of my foot. I was so busy, I did not even have time for any first aid other than a splash of vodka. We finally closed things down around 6:00 am, Shawn made us some noodles, and he and Pat went out for a sunrise skimboarding session while I counted the money.
Last night Cooper and I decided to get away from the Utopia "compound" by going to another bar in town. We have some friends that work at Monkey Republic, and they were hosting a "Traffic Light Night"...it's basically a cheezy singles party, but we had fun in our little "locals" corner, doing our best to be antisocial with the travelers. It is so easy to be like that while working here!
Thursday night was a crazy one at Utopia. We had loads of people there early for the 8:00 pm BBQ, and they all stayed while more kept coming. Around midnight, a huge unexpected thunderstorm blew through, and we had over one-hundred soaking wet people dancing around the bar and even outside in the rain. The bartops were slippery, but that did not stop the people from getting on top of them. Finally, the rain tapered off, and the party kept going. At one busy point in the evening, a highly-intoxicated English guy jumped behind the bar and began swinging on one of the rafters. I warned him numerous times to get down as I was making drinks, and the next thing I heard was a loud crash as he came falling to the ground, smashing his head on the bar. We bartenders took one glance at him on the floor, and with mutters of "Serves him right!" and "That's what he gets!" along with the cheers of all the bar patrons, we kept working, and the guy sheepishly left. I witnessed a few other fantastic falls that night, but fortunately no one was seriously injured.
Around 5:00 am, the almost-full moon began to set, and it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life. It looked just like the sun setting, with its radiating colors of red against the black sky. I stared at it in awe for ages until finally closing up the bar and heading to bed.
Saturday night was our big Full Moon Party. I was expecting the crazy mayhem of Thursday night, but the people were definitely more chilled out this evening. However, we were extremely busy with over two hundred people in our small bar and on the beach. Shawn, Pat, Cooper, and I worked our butts off the entire evening without stopping, and I managed to cut my foot on glass for the second time since working at Utopia, this time by accidentally kicking a broken beer mug, slicing open the top of my foot. I was so busy, I did not even have time for any first aid other than a splash of vodka. We finally closed things down around 6:00 am, Shawn made us some noodles, and he and Pat went out for a sunrise skimboarding session while I counted the money.
Last night Cooper and I decided to get away from the Utopia "compound" by going to another bar in town. We have some friends that work at Monkey Republic, and they were hosting a "Traffic Light Night"...it's basically a cheezy singles party, but we had fun in our little "locals" corner, doing our best to be antisocial with the travelers. It is so easy to be like that while working here!
Well, on a sad note, tonight is my last party before I must leave for Thailand on Thursday!
posted by Tiffany Joiner at 1:58 AM
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