Once upon a time in Cambodia

Once upon a time, there were two backpackers, Ian and Peter, visiting the Temples of Angkor in Cambodia. They traveled via Tuk Tuk, and Ian made use of the Tuk Tuk’s underseat storage to take care of his valued belongings, including an i-pod, speakers, and a book, as they wandered the temples.

At the end of their tour, Ian forgot to retrieve his bag and soon realised he had no way to contact the driver. They had had forgotten to take down his name or phone number, and all hope was lost. But the boys didn’t give up that easily.

Luckily, Ian remembered the I.D. number on the Tuk Tuk, and Peter remembered the advertisement, so in to town they went to investigate.

They talked to all the other Tuk Tuk drivers in Siem Reap, asking about their driver and his possible contact or whereabouts. But no one knew him. They searched for the familiar Tuk Tuk but it wasn’t to be found.

Ahh the police! “You must visit the tourist office and talk to them” they told. Defying all sense, the Tourist office was not in town though, and was in fact a 25 min ride away. They bartered with a driver and off they went.

After 30min of explaining the story to 5 different tourist police, the boys battled to make their point. It was not a complaint as the driver had done nothing wrong, a contact is all they asked. “We have the Tuk Tuk’s I.D. can you not search this for us” Ian begged. But logic is defied here, and they do not hold the magic book of Driver’s details, they must wait till the other office opens tomorrow.

However the boys were leaving by bus to Bangkok the next morn, so speed was of the up-most importance. They argued and offered ideas, better than that of the police, to find their man, which were only met with anger. Reluctantly they left with no hope in ever hearing from them again, and without any paperwork to show their claim.

Budding detectives, they continued the hunt themselves, visiting the restaurant that was advertised, and while the staff were very helpful, he was not on their books.

Tired and angry, Ian surrendered and they retreated to the hostel. Peter tried to cheer Ian up with a fantastical story about the driver finding the bag and returning it to him just in time, but it Ian was having none of it.

As the sun rose, the boys left the hostel, leaving a note with the staff out of pure hope.

As they waited for the bus, Ian looked down. Minutes before it arrived, Peter turned to Ian and said “Holy F*ck he’s here!” Ian looks up and begins to say “Don’t tease you coc…” when he sees the driver!

No. Effing. Way!

The driver found the bag when cleaning his Tuk Tuk in the morning, and raced to the hostel to return it, where they told him to head to the bus stop, so he did!!!

Champion.

Ian gave him some cash as thanks but immediately wished he’d given him some more. The driver asked him to check everything, and Ian called the tourist police to tell them what happened.

Mate, you’re a f*cking legend. I dare say this wouldn’t have happened in Vietnam or even Thailand.

Way to leave Cambodia on a high note.

The end.

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