Fruit to Go

This woman is taking home a load of sugar cane. The stalks get scraped clean with a machete, taking the thin bark off, and then the stalks are run through a wringer-like machine that squeezes out the sweet sugar juice that is a staple drink for Cambodians.
Right down the street this woman is paring pineapples, scoring them and removing the little dots or eyes. She also removes the cores and then offers them as an oh-so-fresh treat on the street!

Querida Amazonia 3

Pope Francis has published his apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia. I will post some of the highlights from the document in which Pope Francis focuses on four dreams.

Social Dream

I dream of an Amazon region that fights for the rights of the poor, the original peoples and the least of our brothers and sisters, where their voices can be heard and their dignity advanced. (7)

3. “The businesses, national or international, which harm the Amazon and fail to respect the right of the original peoples to the land and its boundaries, and to self-determination and prior consent, should be called for what they are: injustice and crime.”(14)


An Insecure Man Always Comparing…

Say What?

“If we hadn’t reversed the failed economic policies of the previous administration, the world would not now be witnessing this great economic success.”
— Trump

6.6 million
— number of new jobs created in first 36 months of Trump administration

8.1 million
— number of new jobs created in last 36 months of Obama administration

From Doonesbury in the Washington Post

Street Scenes

Street scenes from the Tuol Tum Poung area. (Clockwise from upper left:) 1. Two identically dressed women selling small clams from the Mekong River. 2. Maybe the smallest market in the world, a three-foot strip of land outside a wat. 3. A little girl being reassured at the appearance of a monk on his daily begging rounds. 4. A motordupe (motorcycle taxi) driver waiting for a hire at a fruit stall.

Querida Amazonia 2

Pope Francis has published his apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia. I will post some of the highlights from the document in which Pope Francis focuses on four dreams.

Social Dream

I dream of an Amazon region that fights for the rights of the poor, the original peoples and the least of our brothers and sisters, where their voices can be heard and their dignity advanced. (7)

2. “The Amazon region has been presented as an enormous empty space to be filled, a source of raw resources to be developed, a wild expanse to be domesticated. None of this recognizes the rights of the original peoples; it simply ignores them as if they did not exist, or acts as if the lands on which they live do not belong to them.” (12)


Valentine’s Day in Phnom Penh

Valentine’s Day is another of the western celebrations adopted by Cambodian culture. Often known as “sex day” among Cambodian youth, the government has decried its popularity and even toyed with the idea of introducing a Buddhist celebration to compete with Valentine’s Day.
Coming home after early morning mass yesterday, I was surprised to see only these two outlets selling Valentine’s Day-themed merchandise. Usually there are many more, so maybe the government’s disapproval is having an effect. The one place was selling flowers on the curb, and for those who wanted to go over the top with their gift, this shop was selling any size teddy bear that would suit your fancy.

Querida Amazonia 1

Pope Francis has published his apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia. I will post some of the highlights from the document in which Pope Francis focuses on four dreams.

Social Dream

I dream of an Amazon region that fights for the rights of the poor, the original peoples and the least of our brothers and sisters, where their voices can be heard and their dignity advanced. (7)

1. “We do not need an environmentalism ‘that is concerned for the biome but ignores the Amazonian peoples.’” (8)


How would you call it?

Notice the headline: “Hun Sen” is the actor. It’s not the Ministry of Health or the government or port officials that let the passengers disembark from the cruise ship MS Westerdam in the Sihanoukville harbor after it was denied docking rights in other countries because of fears of the COVID-19 virus. It’s Hun Sen, Cambodia’s prime minister, who claims credit. He makes the decision and the Post dutifully applauds him as a good government newspaper should. Isn’t that one of the marks of a certain governance style that centers on one all-powerful person?

Cool Hand Luke?

Anyone watching might have wondered whom this man was talking to if they observed him waiting with his motorcycle-pulled ice wagon on the street near World Vision. Closer inspection, though, might reveal the head of the three or four-year old son who is hunkered down in cool comfort next to the blocks of ice in the wagon. Maybe he’s his father’s helping hand? Or more likely, he probably has to ride with his father all day because they don’t have money for day care.