LTO wrote:Phuket2006 wrote:love those old tee shirts
Over the years have spent more than a few hours talking with Sakeet about the old days as i always stay next door at the Hometown hotel,
she is a great lady BUT i thought she moved over from Lakeside years ago, never mentioned she was a cook.
I first met her at Bert's, before Last Home opened. Don't know if she was a cook or not. I think Bert's wife was, maybe her too. I also recall that when Last Home first opened it was some German guy and his young girlfriend, though I think Sakeet was connected somehow.
Another old t-shirt for you:
I recall one Bert's Books story related to the July factional fighting. It was early morning Saturday (July 5), the fighting had started out past the airport and could be heard in the distance but hadn't yet pressed fully into the city. Bert had one of the only two or three internet/email connections in town so I went there to send a 'don't worry' email to my parents.
Bert wasn't there at the time. Tourists were sitting around, eating, reading, like nothing special is going on. The computer was open so I just sat down, got online (which took like 15 or 20 minutes,) and started tapping out an email. As I wrote, Rockoff and a couple other photogs rushed in and sat at the table against the wall. They were strapped with cameras like ammo belts, clearly worked up, talking excitedly amongst themselves, Al's eye's big as saucers. They must have just come from the battle. I stopped typing and was trying to eavesdrop a bit, see if I could pick up any new info, when a backpacker stepped in front of me, blocking my view, and said "You look like you live here, yes? Can I ask you a question?" I figured it was about the fighting and nodded yes. To my surprise he asked "Which do you think is safer, should I take the boat to Siem Reap or fly?", one of the standard tourist questions of the time.
It caught me off-guard. He had no idea what was going on. I looked around the room at the people, almost all tourists, and it struck me - nobody knew what was going on. They were all sitting around planning their afternoon's touring activities. I didn't quite know what to say, and dribbled out a matter-of-fact "The fighting's started. I think the airport is cut off and planes and boats probably aren't running." He looked at me quizzically, like I was being unhelpful, and walked away. I don't think he got it, and I didn't really have the time for it anyway. I noticed the photogs bouncing around and reloading their cameras. I figured the tourists would get it soon enough, finished my email and headed home.