Fashion Mania

One of the teachers at Learning Jungle is a radio DJ in the evenings and often MC's events around Phnom Penh.  She was MC-ing for a fashion show at the Plantation and generously invited all of us other teachers to join in the event on their final closing night.  All of us girls got dressed up in our best attire for the occasion knowing it would be on the posher side of the Cambodian lifestyle.  All six of us piled into one tiny tuk tuk and hit the town running with some karaoke on the drive over.  We definitely turned some heads belting out the one and only Spice Girls "If you wanna be my lover" but it was well worth it as it started us off for a fun filled evening of firsts.  Once we arrived we soon realized that even in our nice clothes we could have been mistaken for the homeless compared to those around us.  It was so odd to be surrounded by the rich and famous in a Country that is so deprived of every day commodities.  As ironic as it was that didn't stop us from indulging in the free wine or jumping in photos with the models!  Not to mention the clothes were amazing!  I would have bought most of it if it weren't above my pay raise.  I'm pretty sure my rent is less than the cheapest item on the runway.
After the show we were able to mingle with Buffy (our Teacher/MC friend) and some of her friends.  We went to dinner at a little local restaurant and then hit the town for my first official night out and about.....I'm getting too old to party (its loud and I like being in bed before 10) so its not something I'd normally take part in but when in Cambodia do as the Cambodians would do!  First stop on the agenda was the famous lip-sync show where only the best ladyboys perform.  Boy what a show! They seriously blew me away!  Then we were off to the club, Heart of Darkness, well the music hurt my heart as it pounded through my entire body, and it was dark, so it lived up to its name. Overall one of the funnest nights thus far but not something I could do on a regular occurrence.

 Smile for a selfie

 Sharon clearly caught off guard

 And so it begins...

 Not my favourite

 ...And here comes the rain...

 Whats that on Christine's feet? Her dirty grey sandals you say?! Yup, when everyone else is in heels and shoes so shiny you could see them from the moon

 literally poured rain on the girls but we were covered under the overhang

Cambodian Lady Gaga, he looks better than the real Lady Gaga  (apparently he's also famous here..)