Own cup not allowed in American Airlines!

Before the trip, when I was packing things in my luggage at home, I was thinking whether to bring a little thermos along. I don’t like using disposable utensils, because they create unnecessary trash for the earth.
The thermos did not get to travel with me finally. I didn’t take it.
在那旅行未出門前，我在家打點装行李時，我考慮是否要帶保温水罐。我不喜歡用丟棄的餐具，理由是要减少地球垃圾。
不過最終，保温水罐沒與我同行。

I regretted I didn’t have it when I saw a westerner guy hand his cup to the flight attendant in the Cathay Pacific plane. The flight attendants always have good manners and smile.
While staying in my friend’s house in Penang, she was so kind to give me one cup from set of 4 Tupperware cups. I filled it with water and it went out with me everyday.
I emptied it for the airport’s security.
當我看到有一洋男士挮他的水罐給國泰航空的空姐時，我後侮了。這些空姐都很禮貌臉帶微笑。
我在檳城期間，是住在朋友家，她剛買了一套四個水罐Tupperware，她送我一個。每天我装水帶着出去。
只在機場時沒装水。

The day we travelled back home, I almost forget I had a cup in my carry-on bag until we were in the American Airlines flight from Dallas to St. Louis.
I handed my cup to the assistant: “I would like to have coffee in my cup.”
“No, we are not allowed to do that. We use only our cups.” She sounded loud and didn’t even say it in a polite way or smile. She passed me a foam cup of coffee, and I was unhappy to take it.
After a while, she came back and said; “I hope you understand, some people bring their big containers and ask us to fill them.”
“This foam is not good for hot drinks.” I don’t know why I said this, instead of saying I didn’t ask to fill full my cup.
She said again: “That’s what they told us.”
What kind of service? Does American Airlines worry and are afraid of customers trying to ask much more than a cup of coffee? Please care about peoples’ health and the environment!
回美國的行程，我已幾乎忘了我有水罐在包里帶着至到最後的America航空機，從Dallas到St. Louis。
我挮我的水罐給空姐: “請用我的水罐給我咖啡。”
“不能，我們不會如此做，只能用我們的杯。” 她有些大聲而且也不禮貌臉不帶微笑，她挮一保麗龍杯的咖啡，我很不情願的接了。
一會，她來對我說: “我希望你明白，有些人拿很大的罐装。”
“這保麗龍對熱飲不好。” 我不知為何回應她這句，而不是說我沒要求装整罐。
她再說: “他們是這麽跟我們講。”
什麼樣的服務呀？American航空担心計較在意顧客多要一些咖啡？請關心人的健康或環境吧！

Do you think I can sue American Airlines or sue her for rejecting me using my own cup on the airplane?
Steve said no, they don’t have to provide you drinks!
I think Steve prefers to argue with me rather than others.
你認為我可以控訴 American航空或控訴空姐拒絕我用自己的水罐嗎？
Steve說不能，他們可以不提供飲品！
我想Steve是要跟我爭論多過跟別人爭論吧。

Cambodia - Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia, but the city is a little bad compared to the cleanliness of Siem Reap.

Phnom Penh是柬埔寨的首都，但比起Siem Reap的清潔度，這城市有點差。

It doesn’t have tourist crowds like in Siem Reap, which has the attraction of Angkor Wat.
不及Siem Reap有Angkor Wat吸引眾多遊客。

However, most Cambodians are friendly.


雖然如此，大多柬埔寨人都很友善。

Chinese-Cambodians speak Chinese.
柬埔寨華人會說華語。

It is weird. The same thing happened at the last night in the hotel in Siem Reap.
What thing? If you read my post about the last night we stayed in the hotel in Japan about the light turning on at night time. http://lktansinee.blogspot.com/2010/05/impressions-of-japan.html
The same thing happened. Steve went to bed before me, I switched off all the lights and got in the bed. I did not sleep very well that night. When I realized outside of my eyelids was bright, I was sure that a light was on. I opened my eyes a little, and a stand light was on! I was annoyed and I pushed Steve to turn off the light, but he didn’t want to get up. He said the switch is on my bedside table. I tried to ignore it and hoped I could sleep, but couldn’t. Ah… I had to turn it off finally!
很奇怪的事又發生了，相同的在酒店最后一晚。
什麼事？如你有讀我寫關於在我們住日本最后一晚酒店的夜晚燈亮事。 http://lktansinee.blogspot.com/2010/05/impressions-of-japan.html
一樣的，Steve先上床睡了，我關了所有燈，就躺下。這晚却不大能睡。不知何時我威覺到眼皮外亮亮，我知一定是燈光。我睜開眼一點點，一站燈亮著！我很不自在，推Steve要他關燈，但他不肯起來，他說燈制在我床邊桌枱。我試不理，希望能睡，但不能。啊…最終我還是得關它！

The next morning, I tried to turn on that stand light but it didn’t work. Weird huh, why could it automatically turn on in the middle of the night?
早晨，我試開那站燈，但却不能亮，我記得前幾晚我們都沒開亮過那站燈。奇怪哦，為甚麼它半夜自动亮呢？

Cambodia - Tonle Sap Lake

We took a private boat tour of the floating village at Tonle Sap Lake - the boat was for us only. Running the boat was a young captain and a young boy for a first mate.
我們乘船去看Tonle Sap湖的水上人家，船只載我們倆私人團而已，年青的舵手及小男孩助手。

Floating church

The captain was like a tour guide also, introducing the floating village… and a floating school. He said we can get some food in a store to donate to the students. A little store has some stationery, like note books, pencils… and food like candy, snacks, instant noodles… A box of instant noodles is $22. What a price! “$22! We don’t have enough money.” We did not buy anything (we really didn’t have enough money!), but I thought to make a small donation to the school instead.
舵手也充當導遊，介紹水上人家… 有一間水上學校，他說我們去買一些食物然後去給學生。一間小店售賣一點的文具如練習簿、鉛筆… 和食物如糖果、零食、快熟麵… 問之下一盒快熟麵22美元。“$22！我們沒帶足夠的錢。” 我們沒買東西，但我想不如捐一點錢。

When I stepped in the school, I saw a man with the kids and I assumed he was a teacher. I handed money to him: “This is my little donation.” He smiled and received it.
當我踏上學校，我見到一男士與孩子們，我猜他是老師，我把錢給他並說﹕“這是我的小小捐款。” 他笑容滿面收下。

I turned around and saw a donation box. He saw me point to the box, but he ignored what I meant. Hmm… as I tell you this story I realize I have attachment to my donation. Let it go.
我一轉身，看到樂捐箱，他看我指着樂捐箱，但不理我的意思。嗯…我告訴你這件事，顯然我執著我捐獻。由它吧！

A crocodile farm

This trip is not a pleasant boat tour for me, seeing the parents with kids row their boats up to the tour boats, and having the kids approach you to sell drinks.
這次船遊参觀，不算有好見識。看到大人划船讓小孩到來賣飲料。

I am so sad seeing the moms carry their babies to beg for money.
令我心酸的是，當母親的抱着幼嬰向我要錢。

Poor is not a sin, but sacrificing the childhood the kids deserve, would that make them (self-esteem) poorer?
窮不是罪過，但犧牲孩子應得的，更加讓他們（尊嚴）更窮？

I am wishing them well.
我由衷祝他們生活好。

Cambodia - Siem Reap

Photo taken in 2002

This was my second time visiting Siem Reap, Cambodia - Angkor Wat.
這是我第二次到柬埔寨，Siem Reap城的Angkor Wat. 這次是與Steve。

Photo taken in 2002

Because of Steve, I was glad and came to see ‘you’ again, nine years later. I like your amazing smile, but aging not only on me, also on you. I wish your smile will last forever; however, I know all these are impermanent...
我很高興再來看您，我喜歡您的微笑。九年後的歲月，不僅令我的生理漸老，您的容顏也漸頹。我希望您的微笑能常存，但是，我知道都是無常呀...

The month of May is the low season for tourism.

五月天，是旅遊淡季。


The hawkers try their best to sell you something; they will lower the price to get your attention...

They will surround you, especially the westerners like Steve.

做生意的使盡所能賣你東西，他們會自行減很低的價錢讓你興趣...


他們會緊圍遊客，尤其像Steve是西方人。


However, it seems they have their boundary, once you pass that, you will be released.

不過，他們似乎有界限，你走過那範圍，你就鬆懈了。

我覺得很不是常態，怎麼那麽多小孩叫賣，他們不上學嗎？


I do not feel comfortable as there are a lot of young kids selling things. Why are they not in school?

A boy speaks fluent English, and he follows us and tries to be our tour guide. When he knew I wanted to take a photo of Steve, he ran and sat there. I was laughing, but he pretended to slide his body away.
一男孩說流利的英語跟着，要做我們的導遊‧當他知道我要為Steve拍照，他跑去坐着，我覺得好笑，他不好意思假装傾斜開身體。


Later, Steve told me he asked for 1 dollar.
過後，Steve告訴我他要一美元。