bavet nights and questionable life choices

woke up at 4am with a headache and a craving for something cold. not sure if it was the 31-degree heat or my life choices at fault. checked the weather and it’s still like this-a hot, sticky blanket of sweat and regret. i guess that’s the vibe here. the neighbors? if you’re brave, the border towns are a cab ride away. some say they’re more alive than bavet. i haven’t checked yet.

so i’m out here wandering, feeling like a consultant who’s finally escaped the boardroom. still not sure if this was a good idea. maybe the heat is a metaphor? probably not. i’m here because some map app led me here. also, i was thirsty.

i heard that the local street food is a gamble. someone at the hostel said it’s either the best or a dare. i’m thinking maybe both. one guy at a bar said the mango salad is life-changing. another said it’s just fermented regret. either way, i tried it. turned out okay. i guess.

the reviews are all over the place. one yelp listed the nightlife as ‘vibrant but sketchy,’ which is just a way of saying ‘don’t trust anyone past 10pm.’ another person on tripadvisor claimed the market has the freshest mangoes in southeast asia. i’m not sure if that’s true or if they’ve been there too long. either way, i’m carrying a bag of old mango peels now. questionable life choices, right?

here’s a map if you’re following along:

i snapped three pics of the chaos. one of a thermometer reading 31 degrees, another of a vendor selling questionable kebabs, and a third that’s just a blurry shot of my reflection in a mirror. images are usually more exciting, but today they’re just proof i’m alive.

tripadvisor says the weather here is ‘consistently hot.’ yelp has a thread about the worst hotel bathroom in bavet. localboards warns that the tavern at sunset is ‘haunted by group chats.’ probably not true, but who needs sleep anyway?

pro-tips? if you’re here, stay hydrated. the sea levels are 1011, which is just a way of saying ‘it’s humid.’ if you get bored, [cambodia] is a short drive away. the jungles are louder and cheaper than this city. i’m probably gonna try that tomorrow. maybe.

p.s. the coffee here is terrible. i’m a coffee snob in spirit. i’m just pretending to like it because the view is nice. or maybe i’m just tired and lower my standards. either way, i’m still here.