However, as things do in Cambodia, everything got screwed up. The minivan never showed up, and when I went to ask the ticket agent about it, they stuck me on a public bus anyway, with no refund of course. Irritated, I curled up in a ball on two seats while silently daring anyone to say anything to me. Just try it! I will raise my voice - in public - and unleash this loud, crabby American upon everyone.
The ride wasn't 5 hours. It was 5 1/2 hours. The bus driver stopped three times, so could stand around and chain smoke. Then, the bus got a flat tire. Finally, we reached the airport where I got out, weary and exhausted, and began searching for a guesthouse. By this time it was 9 p.m. I was tired, and just wanted to sleep for a few hours before heading to the airport at 6 a.m. for my flight. The first guesthouse was $15.00. I tried bargaining, explaining that it was late, and I would only be there for 9 hours. Plus, the place was almost completely empty. It got me nowhere. They held firm. I spouted, "Well, I'm just going to find a cheaper one!" and left in kind of a huff. I checked out a couple more guesthouses which turned out to be even more expensive. Damn! I really didn't want to have to return to the first guesthouse with my tail between my legs. My big, fat, cheap ego had been hurt, but I had to suck it up. I went crawling back to the first place and overpaid. True to their polite Cambodian nature, they acted like nothing had happened, and I hadn't just been totally rude. I really should learn a thing or two about being pleasant to people, even when someone is a jerk, like me.
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