Daily Life in Cambodia

Signs

2012

There are more than 500,000 motorcycles in Phnom Penh, most of them small 90-125cc motorbikes. They are the main mode of transportation for most of the populace and are quite an investment for the average family. For that reason, the families or owners tend to take care of them, at least to the extent of splurging on regular "car washes" that cost about 35¢ to 50¢. The motorbikes will not have headlights nor working taillights and the rearview mirrors are broken, but they are clean.

Moto washing is an equal-opportunity vocation and quite a few women and girls are involved in it. It's something they can set up in their homes with little effort.

The basic piece of equipment needed for this line of business is a high-pressure water hose to blast away the dirt and mud from Cambodia's unpaved roads.

Washing a moto doesn't take nearly as long as washing a car but still this woman provides a place for her customers to be seated while she beautifies their vehicle.

Another touch of the pros is having a plastic bag--usually an old rice sack--to put over the seat cushion while the pressure hose is used to blast the dirt away under the seat.

If a pressure pump is too big an initial investment, an entrepreneur can start with just several buckets, rags, soap, and some drying cloths and a lot of arm power.

The real professionals wear gloves.

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