Category: Daily Life in Cambodia

Different cultures certainly have different standards when it comes to appreciating what is right and what is wrong; what is permitted and what is not; what is beautiful and what is not; what is music and what is noise; etc.  This man spray painting metal hose reels on a public sidewalk would be arrested in many countries.  In Cambodia it doesn’t rate a notice.  And if someone challenged the idea, the probable response would be “Floors/sidewalks are SUPPOSED to be dirty/messy/etc.” so what is the problem?

You probably can’t get fresh roasted corn on many streets in the United States!

Until very recently a sign like this one would have been unthinkable in Cambodia where credit cards are not very common.  Within the last five years or so, there were only one or two high-end hotels that would accept Visa and MasterCard and American Express.  And even as a few other establishments began to accept cards, they did so with a 3% to 5% surcharge for their graciousness in allowing you to use your plastic.  Today you will see more foreigners using credit cards, but for the most part they seem to be using them to make money withdrawals from their home bank accounts so they can then pay their bills here with cash.

Many eateries in Phnom Penh are little mom-and-pop operations right on the street with the barest of utensils, furniture, and hygiene.  And then there are a few places like this–it’s almost on the street; I’m sitting on the back of a motorcycle–that are part of the city decor but do it with a sense of style.

When you really can’t get away to Saks 5th Avenue or to Marks & Spencer, the clothes wagon can come to you!

It’s not quite Home Depot, but there’s a good chance this shop will have what you want if you’re looking for tools and parts.

This family has just about reached the limit of how many they can squeeze on to one motorbike.  The little boy has a pillow to lean on in the plastic bag but I can’t imagine he enjoys these trips much.  The little girl doesn’t get to see much of the world either.

This was the longest stretch of cool weather that I have experienced in seventeen years in Cambodia.  Each night for four days the temperature dropped another degree or two celsius.  Granted here in Phnom Penh it was only down to the low 70ºs F but for Cambodia that’s COLD!  And the locals felt it.  I felt it, too, taking a shower in the morning with no hot water.