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I ♥ Cambodia / I not ♥ Cambodia
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Now the time to leave is drawing near, I've been thinking about what I've liked and disliked about being here - thought I'd share it. I'm sure those of you living here or that have lived here in thepast could add some of your own gems. . . . . Likes • The open and honest smiles on (almost) everybody’s face • Cheap fruit shakes • The gorgeously adorable children • The easy going way someone will help out, just because they can see help is needed with no thought about what might be in it for them • Bespoke shoes for around $18 • The traditional fabric • The fact you can buy a big satisfying lunch for $2 • The way they tell you without any qualms that you have gotten fat and with absolutely no trace of malice • Good, cheap dentistry • Cheap cocktails • Mr Jim, our nighttime Tuk tuk driver who always gets us home safe at any hour of night/morning, fending off would-be muggers and making sure we're locked in behind our gate before driving off • Ability to get good, cheap massages and facials whenever you fancy it • That there are pubs where you can dance without having to pay a cover charge • The fact that there’s a dude with a compressor on every street corner to fix your flat tire and only charge you only 25c • The fact everyone feels comfortable enough to share updates on their bowel movements • Monk blessings • Knowing that if you smile at a stranger you will also get a big beaming smile in return • The general warmth of the people • The cheap tailors • The hearty laughter even when it’s not that funny and especially when its laughter at your own joke • Being told you speak very good Khmer when you’ve only said “hallo” • Being told you look beautiful and not because they want to have sex with you Dislikes • Poo Street (open sewer that runs the length of a street right across one end of Phnom Penh) • Obnoxious 4x4 drivers • Lack of the concept of traffic lanes • The machete welding angry people • The way that every Tuk Tuk driver in a street lined with them asks you if you want a Tuk Tuk, even though you’ve just walked past 20 of them saying no. Or you’re on your bicycle and they want to know if you want a Tuk Tuk?? • Chaffing and bra rash • Beer is served warm with ice • Spitting and peeing on the street • Your workmates peeing with the door open • Constantly having loose bowel movements • The fact that every meeting you attend is so disorganized that you waste half of your time waiting for it to start and the other half waiting for people to do work that should have been done before or after the meeting. • Being laughed at your feeble attempts to speak Khmer • Being stared at when you eat • Never ever getting everybody’s meals at the same time • Tuk tuk drivers always saying “yes” when asked if they know where somewhere is – even though they don’t • Corruption |
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