Culture – Welcome to Cambodia, and…..

Who you gonna call?

This is a ting mong or scarecrow-like figure erected by Cambodian villagers to scare away disease and evil. Read the article in the Phnom Penh Post to get an idea of some of the beliefs of less educated people in rural areas where proper medical services have been lacking.

Topics: Traffic Lanes

One of many anomalies in the Kingdom of Wonder is why drivers do not drive in the center of a traffic lane but instead straddle the lines marking the lanes. Click here for more.

Is it worth it?

It’s always hot in Cambodia but the past few days have been especially hot, with temperatures as high as 108ºF (42ºC). We don’t have air conditioning at DDP so it makes it really difficult to work–especially since the electricity is off a half day every day now because of a lack of electricity caused by the incompetence of the government—which means we don’t even have fans. Would any of that deter the young women who still cover up every inch of exposed skin as much as possible in order to not get–gasp!—tanned? No-o-o-o-o….it wouldn’t stop them at all as seen in this young woman driver on her moto.

Khmer New Year 2019

The Khmer New Year was April 14-17 this year. Click here for some photos of the celebrations.

Uhh, I think not…

I tend to avoid the eateries where they prepare the food and wash the dishes on the ground.

Topics: Culture

Street Signs

U.S. street sign telling you you have reached St. 105A

Street signs in Cambodia are erected and used in a different way here than they are in other countries. Click here for some samples of Phnom Penh street signs.

Lunar New Year

Today is New Year’s Eve and all Chinese should be home with their families for the reunion dinner. If you were out and about, however, and needed a few last things for the dinner, you may have encountered this crowd at Lucky Market.

Lunar New Year

Tomorrow (Monday) is New Year’s Eve, one of the most important dates in the Chinese calendar, the re-union dinner when all the family MUST be home. Today, Sunday, gave people a little time to prepare for tomorrow.

Another load of peachtree branches made its way into Phnom Penh this morning.

A good number of customers seeking peachtree branches visited this sidewalk vendor.

This pharmacy took a minimalist approach to decoration,
just a couple pots of chrysanthemums.

This is an office building soon to open after renovation (it used to be a KFC outlet) and the owner seems to want to impress the neighbors with lots of chrysanthemums.

This French colonial building wants to light up the neighborhood with Chinese lanterns.

Lunar New Year

Another essential element for the proper celebration of the Lunar New Year is chrysanthemums. And they are out in full force on the streets now, ready to decorate every house with any Chinese heritage.

The chrysanthemums come into town on a wagon pulled by a motorcycle.

Then they are displayed for sale on streets and sidewalks
and wherever a vendor can set up shop.

This woman has her flowers but also the traditional peach tree branches
which are just starting to bud.

Lunar New Year

More signs of the approaching lunar new year are appearing. Today I passed a woman on the street who was washing traditional Chinese figures and symbols used to celebrate the New Year. They were probably stored away in a box all year and very dusty.

After washing the figures, the woman dried each one with a yellow towel. As I saw her handling them, I was wondering if she has a favorite figure just like some of us had favorite Christmas tree ornaments that we would look forward to displaying each year.