The NASA recruitment programe
A new wave of recruits are set to hit the outer reaches of the earth’s atmosphere and explore in greater detail the surface of the moon, if my experience in Cambodia is anything to go by…
I believe I have found what looks to be NASA’s latest recruit program. Specifically, they are training men to use moon buggies like the ones from Armstrongs day. They do this by using moon buggy simulators (taxis) - clapped out 1998 toyota camrys with little or no suspension, and minimal tyre tread, and driving foreigners on the crater-like road between Poipet (the Thai/Cambodia border) and Siem Reap. This is a harrowing journey, and only attempted by the fittest and hardiest Cambodian astronaught cadets.
Our driver (trained in fluent indecipherable english) exhibited precision control while performing deftly manoveures such as dodging a family of cows in the middle of the road, passing numerous vehicles on blind corners-the true definition of blind corners due to the copius amounts of dust kicked up by the cars infront. But his best driving stunt was talking on his cellphone and steering with his knew while honking his horn at cyclists, motorbikes, trucks, and other cars as we flew by them at a great rate of knots. I gave his performance a solid 10/10 for technical skill and would have no hesitation in putting him forward for position of NASA moon buggy driver should one come up!
At one point I prayed for our car to have Jesus wheels, and I think it worked as it was only a miracle our tyres didn’t pop hitting some of the ditches on that road! (I think using ‘pothole’ to describe them is a little too kind). Alana was pretty terrified during the whole experience, but did well to keep it in check
Four hours later we arrived in Siem Reap, and to be honest for someone who never gets car/sea sick, I felt a little queasy - it was that bad. At least we arrived in one peice, if a little bruised and battered. The guest house we stayed at - Jasmine - was great, and they organised our tours of the temples for the next day.
Coming up: Exploring the temples in Siem Reap
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