Cornfields and Rice Paddies

Having lived in Iowa for most of my life, I have constantly heard about the dangers of getting lost in a cornfield.  I once vividly remember scoffing at the very idea, only to have my father remind me that once you get far into a cornfield, it's hard to realize which way is the way out.  The stalks are all incredibly tall and hardly seem to be in their straight little rows once you get in there.  Because of this advice, I have never just wandered aimlessly into a cornfield...but that didn't stop me from getting lost in a rice paddy today.

This morning I was informed of a wonderfully hidden road that leads to a mountain located a few towns over.  I frequently bike there on my way to my provincial town or to visit my friend who teaches at the high school there.  The idea of getting off the beaten path was especially appetizing since the main road I usually travel on is currently rife with slow-paced construction.

Taking the instructions I thought were given to me, I started on my merry way.  As I kept biking, the road turned into more of a path, which seemed pretty impassable, at times (but of course, that didn't stop me).   I kept thinking, "Why would they tell me to go this way on my bike?".  I kept going, walking my bike through the muddy areas and consequently enveloping my feet in mud-made clogs.  When I tried to wash them off in a nearby creek, I (of course) slipped and also covered my hands in a nice layer of mud.  Through lots of practice, I've become rather good at falling and was able to spare most of my clothing, but nonetheless, I was quite a mess.

A few moments later, I heard some voices yelling at me from a rice paddy.  It was some friends of my host family and the conversation went something like this:
Rice Paddy Friends: "Kelly, what are you doing out here?"
Me:  "I'm going to that mountain!"
(laughter ensues amongst Rice Paddy Friends)
RPF: "No you're not, you're just in the rice fields.  You forgot to turn left at the Wat!"
Me: "Yes, yes I did."

So I turned around to go home.  However, at this point, I was surrounded by rice paddies and couldn't quite tell which direction I was going anymore.  I seemed to have missed some sort of fork in the road and was passing by unrecognizable rice paddies left and right.  I started to wonder what the record for being lost in a rice paddy was, and feeling that I might just surpass that record today.  However, a few more friendly Cambodians planting their rice yelled out at the poor American who was so obviously not where she wanted to be, and I managed to find my way out of the rice paddies and onto the main road.

I'm sure it's good for everyone back home to hear that I can still get lost in my own town.  My sense of direction has certainly not changed.  However, the scenery has, and I must say, wandering aimlessly for a few hours in the rice paddies was definitely worth this photo.