Tag Archives: society
Phnom Penh Street Stories: Part 2
A little further down Sothearos is ‘The White Building’. Not so far as it is from the PM’s house, the Royal Palace and Sofitel, it epitomizes for me the ‘us and them’ situation in Cambodia. Below is an interesting you-tube…
Phnom Penh Street Stories: Part One
For the past 3 years I have enjoyed cycling, strolling, relaxing in a tuk-tuk or riding pillion around the streets of Phnom Penh, gorging myself on the visual feast that surrounds me. Of course I am a little less wide-eyed…
Jumping the Line in Cambodia
Cambodia is larded with queuejumpers and they are never the source of much merriment amongst the expat community: white knuckles, clenched fists and gritted teeth are my usual response as the local man, and it’s always a man, muscles his…
Memoirs of a Grizzled Expat 8: The Dilemma of Helping Vulnerable Street Kids
Last time I began to discuss my intention to provide an education to the deserving Riverside street-children selling books and flowers to tourists. Despite my background in establishing schools for streetkids in India and Nepal, I found Cambodia to throw…
It Takes A Village… Ritchy and Phil Build Their Own Musical Home
Wherever you go, there they are. One week they’re at Bouchon Wine Bar in Phnom Penh. The next it’s the Sailing Club in Kep. Then it’s Siem Reap’s Sofitel , followed closely by the FCC, Red Apron, and Raffles Hotel….
In for a penny…
Tales of woe and need. They’re almost as common as poverty in Cambodia. Every expat hears them, often with a request for assistance (i.e. money.) To help or not to help is the question. And if ‘to help’ is the…
Memoirs of a Grizzled Expat (4)
photo courtesy of Stickman Bangkok Some weeks the ‘plot’ will move on; other weeks it will go deeper. This week’s article reproduces further notes I took during my first week in Phnom Penh. It is my reflections on some of…
Memoirs of a Grizzled Expat (1)
I’ve lived in Cambodia for seven years now. I’m settled here – I have a good wife, good job, property and prospects. And yet, as with many expats living in fairly fortunate circumstances, I’m aware that I sometimes see my…
Poll: Should Embassy Personnel in Phnom Penh Receive Hardship Pay?
Our last poll about embassy personnel in Cambodia dealt with the thorny question of whether embassy dudes should hang out in hostess bars. An overwhelming 62% percent of you voted no. Unfortunately, no one really listens to Khmer440 readers. So…
Memoirs of a Grizzled Expat 9: Volunteering
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Last time I explained the obstacles I was facing trying to get street children an education, and how I couldn’t support the activities of the NGOs I’d come across in those early days. I soon, however, began to uncover some…