Getting Wired

The Ministry of Mines and Energy announced that by the end of this year, 88% of villages and 75% of households nation-wide will have access to electricity.  The lack of available, cheap electricity has been a major drag on the country’s development and industrialization.  The ultimate goal is for 100% electrification by 2020, with the power coming from hydropower plants, coal-fired plants, and some biomass-fired plants and solar farms.  It’s an ambitious goal but a vitally important one.

A bit cramped….

A majority of the urban population live in what are called shophouses, buildings one room wide and three to five stories tall.  The ground floor is open to the street, closed just by a shutter or gate, and is alternatively a business, a living room, or a garage–or a combination of those.  Maybe only in Phnom Penh can you speak of a two-car living room.

Below is a shophouse that is the locus of the bicycle shop that I frequent.  I had to go over there today to get new brakes put on my bicycle.  (Cost me $3 for four brake pads on the front and back.)

While waiting I took some pictures of the ground floor.  I couldn’t see clearly the rear of the room; there may have been some living room furniture there but it was so jammed with bicycles and parts that I suspect the family actually lives upstairs.   Do notice the car parked way at the rear of the ground floor room.  Do you think they drive it much?

Eat your vegetables!

In many areas of Phnom Penh, shops selling the same kind of item (e.g., electrical tools, medical equipment, shoes) are grouped together.  It’s convenient for the shoppers.  Yesterday, though, I went through an intersection that had wagon loads of cabbage(?) in every direction I looked.  I’ve never seen anything quite like it–or so much cabbage in one place.  Maybe it’s a daily occurrence?

Unfavorable Conditions…

Yesterday I was returning from Bangkok to Phnom Penh and ended up on the last flight out of Bangkok.  I got in really late and then found my e-mail folder was corrupted.  The meetings were good but the rest of the day sure didn’t go my way.  Today, though, I’m back with a repeat of a too-sad posting.

Still Aachh…..

I’m still having lots of trouble getting connected to the Internet at the Bangkok Christian Guest House.  It’s a nice facility with lots of positive features but Internet access isn’t one of them.  I’ll be back in Phnom Penh tomorrow evening but until then here is a picture from the sidewalk-food-stall scene along many of the major footpaths in the city.

Aachh!!!

I’m on the road again, this time in Bangkok for a Maryknoll meeting, and the guest house we use has a very weak wi-fi system.  There was no possibility of getting on last night but I hope to update things Tuesday night Bangkok time.