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Cambodia has been too much focused on survival for the last half century, and discipline, order, and the rule of law sidelined. That is seen in the increasingly problematic traffic where there is no order. If you can do it, you have right of way.
For many years the mainstay of local transportation was walking. Then wheeled vehicles appeared on the scene. Some day I’ll do a spread on the stages of development in transportation in Cambodia, but today I want to show the most recent transport mode: What in India is called an autorickshaw or an autorick.
They first appeared in Cambodia three or four years ago. imported from India, and immediately became very popular. One reason is that most of them run on LPG (liquid propane gas), not gasoline, and LPG is about half the price of gasoline. What that meant is that everyone who used to ride on the back of a motorcycle taxi can now ride in a motor tuk-tuk with more comfort, protection from the sun and rain, and no need to carry a helmet.
The Bajaj brand tuk-tuk was probably the first to be imported from India and remains the most common model in use in Phnom Penh.
The TVS model may be the second-most popular one on the streets. The models are all basically the same.
Piaggio may be the next most commonly seen model of the three-wheelers. Notice the more elaborate tail lights.
The Atul is the fourth of the original brands seen on the streets. Notice there isn’t the great need, as in car models, to be different and distinctive.
These Dittmeier’s Own postings are a series of photos of places I frequent and utilize here in Cambodia.
I see that a large winter storm is threatening heavy snowfall over much of the United States in the next few days. Maybe a White Christmas? The weather service here has also been putting out some alerts: The headline above cautions that temperatures could possibly drop below 68ºF! Bundle up!
You could be forgiven for thinking that these sale items on display might be in a grocery store in the US but the photo is from a “supermarket” for foreigners here in Phnom Penh today. Kraft macaroni and cheese, Skippy peanut butter (both creamy and super chunk you’ll note), and Hormel Spam. That’s rather American! (The ketchup bottles at back left are from France.)
