« Pnews from Phnom | Main | Albino Camel wins Glen Dimplex »

October 29, 2006

Amazed at Angkor Wat

On Thursday Charlie and I went to look round the temples at Angkor. After an enchanting walk round the Bayon, we stopped at a road-side stall for a coconut. A small girl came up to us to sell us souvenirs and initiated the following conversation:

Girl (proferring tiny bronze elephant): Would you like to buy my elephant?

Me: No, thank you.

Girl: Where are you from?

Charlie: England.

Girl: If I tell you the capital of England, will you buy my elephant.

Me: No, thank you.

Girl (disappointed): London.

Charlie: If you can tell us the capital of Burkina Faso, we will buy your elephant.

Girl (deadpan and immediate): Ouagadougou.

After a few minutes gasping for air, we bought her elephant, her cow-bell and her Khmer pipes.

Angkor was utterly amazing in so many ways, but nothing quite topped that.

Posted by sahelsteve at October 29, 2006 10:02 AM