No Monkey Business, Just Amazing Sunrises

The sunrises in Asia are amazing! This morning was no exception, I woke up at 4:30 and after my morning devotions saw a bright golden-orange sun surrounded by a halo of orange clouds rise over the Phnom Penh horizon; it was splendidly beautiful. Later in the morning (at 6:30) I was riding my moto en route to play tennis with a couple of friends. On street 2004 I saw literally hundreds of people walking down the street and congregating at a building just off to my left. I believe that they are people who have walked from Cambodian provinces to participate in the large human rights demonstration planned for this Tuesday, a national holiday in Cambodia. After tennis I went for a bike ride ("gee cong") and since it was nearing 2:00 I decided to swing by Wat Phnom to see if I could see the monkeys again. I rode around and around Wat Phnom a half dozen times always slowing down in the spot where I had last seen the monkeys. I checked the clock on my bike computer and it was now 10 minutes past 2:00 - the time that the monkeys are reputed to come out to feed. No monkeys. So, I rode my bike onto the grounds of the Cambodia Development office. This is a huge property covered with tall trees and palms. I once saw two monkeys scamper across the street and climb the wall onto this property and the last time I saw the monkeys they came out from that property. As soon as I rode onto the property I was greeted by a guard. I indicated that I was interested in seeing the monkeys and that made him smile. He told me (at least I think this is what he said) that the monkeys only eat every other day and so today they wouldn't come out to eat, but to come back tomorrow. I told him that I saw them come out for food from his building a week ago and he said that they live in the trees on the property. He let me ride around the property, which I did slowly and all the while looking up into the trees, but I saw no monkeys. There was, however, a tall tree in one corner of this property that had hundreds of bats hanging from the limbs - from a distance appearing like large dead leaves. Yikes! I think I have animal prejudice. I love dogs and monkeys, but you can keep the snakes and bats.