'SunSan' ( Henning Wessel) has passed away

[Visser]

Never met the man in person but he was by far one of most helpfull and friendly people I've ever met online, going out of his way to answer questions from someone he never met.
He invited me to have a couple of beers next time I was in Cambodia, shame that will now not happen

Rust zacht Henning.

[keeping_it_riel]

A few of us met especially and raised our glasses to Henning at Garage Bar in Phnom Penh tonight. As PB said, he socialized there so often, it seemed the most appropriate place to be as his funeral was happening back in the cold dark place that is Europe. And Jeff had found a lovely photo of Henning and his partner Mint for us to toast.

Auf Wiedersehen, Henning.

[Felgerkarb]

A few of us met especially and raised our glasses to Henning at Garage Bar in Phnom Penh tonight. As PB said, he socialized there so often, it seemed the most appropriate place to be as his funeral was happening back in the cold dark place that is Europe. And Jeff had found a lovely photo of Henning and his partner Mint for us to toast.

Auf Wiedersehen, Henning.

I also raise a glass from here to our friend...

[MoodyMac]

Dear Henning,

I've been bed ridden the last few days, and was very sad to read this thread. Like other posters who have never met you in person, I was taken by your humour, helpfulness and love of food. I had hoped that I would catch up with you at some stage for lunch and conversation, as you passed through my province from time to time.

My deepest condolences to your friends, family and loved ones. It seems you have touched the lives of many.

Fare thee well.

May the eternal river carry you, where it is you wish to go.

[erictheking]

Such a shame. The "what did you have for lunch?" thread won't be the same without pics of his mammoth breakfasts, lunches and dinners!

Wish I'd met him.

[zehner]

R.I.P. Henning

[chubacca]

Oh mate, this is very very sad news! You're a great man, touching those who you have met and those whom you have not, yet the impact is the same nonetheless!
I remember on the tunes thread that Sunsan mentioned one of his favorite bands was Grand Funk Railroad - so if it's ok and appropriate - I've chosen this one for the man! RIP

[Playboy]

Via Email:

I am so sorry to learn of Henning's death. I tried to contact him when I learned he was ill, but was unsuccessful. He was one of the best people I met in Cambodia, and while I knew him well enough to consider him a friend, our schedules always seemed to be just off enough to keep us from spending enough time together to be really close friends. He was a true gentleman, and one of the maybe half dozen expats I met in Cambodia that I truly liked AND respected. He almost never had a bad word to say about anyone, and on the rare times he did, you paid attention, because you knew they really deserved it. From what I read on another forum, he first started getting ill in April. This was when he was helping me find the best deal on a ticket back to the USA. He was out of the office sick when I came to actually buy the ticket but still made it a point to call me and make sure that it had been handled properly. He did not sound well, and he obviously wasn't, but he still made the effort to call. That is the kind of guy he was. I will truly miss him.

Walter

[Gasser]

I started reading his posts on the now lost to time Two Dragons forum. Last time I was in Cambodia we tried to meet up but he was heading into VN and came back when I had to leave, so alas, we never met.

Maybe it's not for me to suggest but I think such a notable figure should be memorialized somehow. At least in an annual food and drink fest where memories of times with him can be told. I feel like there ought to be an award to the poster who most exemplifies his friendly, helpful nature. Maybe next flood someone takes up his banner.

I like to think maybe, just MAYBE ppl will attempt to carry on his "work". Who is the foremost knowledgeable on all things Khmer person in the group now? He was always helpful to me when I messaged him about some question and I'm going to remember that and try and do so in the future if I can. I encourage everyone to take more food pics and share them.

[vladimir]

Maybe it's not for me to suggest but I think such a notable figure should be memorialized somehow. I feel like there ought to be an award to the poster who most exemplifies his friendly, helpful nature. Maybe next flood someone takes up his banner.

An absolutely EXCELLENT idea. Lonestar has pictures of Paul and Russell up on the wall, does anyone have a decent picture? Perhaps his family would be willing?

[nightmare.believer]

I’ve been coming to Cambodia two to three times a year since 2004. Besides my landlady, he is the only person in the kingdom who knows my name. A long time ago, he and I and Andy made plans to meet up one weekend late afternoon. I met Andy on the corner of St.104 and the riverside, where we waited several minutes for Henning to pull up in his car. Henning drove us out by Toul Kork, where we had BBQ and beer towers on the table. It was a Khmers-usually-only kind of place. The kind of place that most tourists would never see. Playboy and his GF showed up as well.
Henning was an instantly likeable person; the kind of person that everyone likes. He used to lean in towards you like he was telling an inside joke, with a smile on his face and say something amusing or relevant to the conversation.
We drove around to a few places drinking…ending up at Cheerleaders. It was an epic evening.
The next time I was in Phnom Penh, many months later, the hotel that I used to stay at near the Garage Bar was full, so with big backpack I walked past Garage Bar (which I had never been to before) when a voice called out my name. It was Henning. He was seated outside the bar with a couple of friends. I was surprised, and impressed, that he remembered me. He bid me sit down and have a drink, but I was tired from the flight, sweaty, and didn’t want to go out looking for a hotel half-drunk, so I declined.
We subsequently met several times to drink together at Garage Bar. Henning was a great conversationalist and someone that you wanted to drink with. Last year in August, I stayed in Phnom Penh for a few months whilst recovering from a nasty broken leg. We had beers together at Garage Bar and he insisted on giving me a ride home. I agreed. When I walked next door to the minimart to buy some Beer Lao to drink at the apartment, he ran out of the bar to stop me, maybe thinking I was pissed and going to walk home. It was this kind of great consideration for other people that I will remember him most for.
Plus he had great hair.
The world is darker without you, Henning. God bless your soul.

[Willem]

Sorry to hear it. His posts were always great value.
rip

[andyinasia]

I remember that evening very well J
To a poster above: I don't think anyone can really take up Henning's bat - he was such a phenomenal mine of information; sure he was uniquely generous with it, but I've never met anyone else with half of his knowledge of travel.

Sorry for the hiatus - I've been moving today and am without internet for a couple of days. Just found a wifi place. I have an update re. Henning's 'wife', Mint.

My wife called her earlier (as an aside, I'm astonished how fluently my wife speaks Thai - never been to Thailand, never had a lesson - picked it all up off the TV!). She's actually not in a great situation. Whilst Henning's family have been calling and offering valuable emotional support, and his work colleagues have been doing the same, she has no money. It seems there's no insurance to be had, they had to spend the savings treating Henning and getting him to Europe, and the car belonged to the company; there's nothing else she can easily sell to support herself. The company tried to negotiate with the landlord so she could retrieve the deposit but the landlord insisted the contract was broken. She actually only has just enough money to get a bus back to Bangkok. Since she's lived in Phnom Penh she's never made any friends so is really quite alone.

[violet]

Andy,
You know that I have already offered to chip in to help Mint with her finances right now. If others are interested in doing the same, those of us out of the country would need to know how to get the money to her.

Is anyone willing to help coordinate this and provide details? The sooner the better. A person does not need to be stressing over finances while dealing with a loss.


Could something be done utilising Choice's paypal details (if they are in agreement)? Or is that an inappropriate use of a charity's resources? I've no clue. Just want to find a solution.

Edited: If she is going to base herself in Bangkok, then money needs to get to her in Thailand, so Choice is of no use. I have friends in Phuket, but no one in Bangkok I can get money to. Anyone able to provide a solution please?

[andyinasia]

I'm prepared to collect donations and get them to her if people out of the country want to send to my bank account. Mint's leaving for Bangkok on the 2nd of next month.

Sorry, got to log off - restaurant's closing. Will be online tomorrow eve or Thursday.