Can you hear me?

Maryknoll Cambodia has been looking for another office. One shophouse we checked out today had this audio room on the second floor. All Cambodian buildings in the cities are made of concrete and terrazzo floors, and the noise level and echoes are terrible. Apparently a previous audiophile occupant of this house fitted out this small room with carpeting (unheard of in Cambodia) and padded walls to create a quiet listening environment for a discerning ear. First time I’ve seen anything like that in Cambodia.

Our new home?

Maryknoll Cambodia (the official name of our Maryknoll presence in Cambodia) is considering a move to a new, smaller office.

We have identified 25+ shophouses that are available in our area but most are not the right size or the right price. One especially promising one we visited this morning. Up on the third floor it had this strange open place at the rear, next to the stairs going to the open roof area. Since most Cambodian houses are built without closets, this flat space is probably a storage area.

I don’t worry….

This motorcycle driver is a good illustration of the casual approach to driving here. He has no helmet. His bike has no rearview mirrors. His taillight is broken. His bike has no license plate. Does anyone worry? No. Could he get stopped by the police? He could, especially if the officer feels the need for a little extra money. Is it likely? No.