Author: Charles Dittmeier

Progress….but a bit slow

Back in October I took this picture of construction of a foundation pillar for an elevated walkway crossing two major streets at an intersection by a large school. I’m sure the ABA bank wasn’t too happy with the obstruction even though their sign says they’re open.
Nine weeks later this is what it looks like with the construction fencing removed. It’s still a long way from completion but now the construction has moved to two of the other corners. A pedestrian overpass is a big deal here. There’s only one other in the kingdom. When it opens, people will crowd on to it to take pictures. And the government will probably give it a name like they have for the three vehicle overpasses they have put up.

When you need a drink,…

When Cambodians want something to quench their thirst, their go-to drink is a fresh coconut. It’s refreshing, not overly sweet, and really healthy–and cheap. Not long ago I posted a photo of a man selling coconuts from his cart. There you can see the big, thick husks of the coconuts as they come from the trees. The one above has been chopped with a machete to remove most of the husk and then rounded off with an electric grinder to make it even more attractive and easier to drink. Not a bad deal!

Prepare the…Christmas celebrations

In the past week or two, church workers at St. Joseph Church where we have our English mass have been putting up platforms and other structures in preparation for Christmas.
Now the platform on the right is ready and will be the site first of a Christmas liturgy and then later a Christmas party for the neighborhood.

Strip Market

In the United States, strip malls are not uncommon–a long line of individual businesses set side-by-side along a block of busy street or highway, with room for parking left between the street and the stores.

Cambodia doesn’t have strip malls, but we have strip markets. Here is one section of street along the wall of a Buddhist wat (pagoda). It’s a narrow street and there is no sidewalk, but fruit and vegetable sellers managed to squeeze in boxes of their wares.

Service Area

You know those service areas on the Interstate highways in the United States, the areas where you can get gas, get something to eat, take a break? Well, right here in Phnom Penh….look at this–gasoline in soft drink bottles on the left, rice and some topping in the pan on the right. No bathroom, though….

Do Not Enter

In the first officially recorded community transmission of the COVID-19 virus in Cambodia, 40 infected persons have been identified by contact tracing. Two or three new infections are discovered every day during the past two weeks, and that has frightened Phnom Penh-ers. More people are wearing masks now and more shops have blocked access to their establishments.

Monks in Cambodia

Monk with begging bowl

One of the permanent features of Cambodia life and society is the presence of the Buddhist monks on the street, on the ferry boats, wherever. Every morning they make their rounds begging food and money for the people they care for and for their own meals. Click here to see some of the monks of the streets….