The parasite diet

I need to start this post with an Editor's Note: In my previous post about Cambodia, I mentioned something about the Mekong River. Phnom Penh is not, in fact, located on the Mekong River. It is located somewhat near the Mekong, but not on it. It is, in fact, located on the Tonle Sap River. My apologies. Sometimes I wonder how they let me out of fifth grade.

Anyway......

I have recently found myself incredibly busy with: a very nice social life (yay! I finally have one here! And it only took seven months!), setting up my condo, obsessing over all things preschool, planninXg my trip to Cambodia, preparing for my best friend and her husband to come visit (double yay!), eating vegetarian curry, drinking green tea after every meal, buying pashminas, and sleeping soundly on my memory foam pad.

Without regaling you with the details, I will also say that I had another bout of the tummy issues with which I have been afflicted since almost the first day that I set my little, unassuming, Midwestern foot in Southeast Asia. It's nothing serious. It just means that another pesky five pounds melts away with very little effort, unless you consider "being doubled over in extreme pain and moaning repeatedly" to constitute a rigorous workout regime. The fact that one does tend to lose weight quickly and easily in this part of the world inspired my friend H. to wonder aloud the other night: in the weight-obsessed world of Hollywood, why don't more people do "the parasite diet?" Under the supervision of a doctor, an actor or actress could come to Asia (I think the parasites in India are the strongest and most brutal), pick up some giardia, and lose 20 pounds in the blink of an eye. Side effects may include dehydration, lactose intolerance, and decreased WILL TO LIVE, but hey, it's safer than, say, meth.

I, for one, do not recommend this diet. I also fully intend to gain back whatever weight I lose (or try, at any rate). In the meantime, though, all I can do is shrug my shoulders and just tell myself that it's all part of my adventure.

SO....as you can see, I have been very busy recently. I'm also off to Cambodia today. I will resume regular posts (and new taxi stories!) when I return. Until then, be well, don't drink the tap water, and I highly recommend the green tea.