Mat Musings

Seemingly unique to Cambodia are these brightly coloured hand woven mats made from soft fabric off-cuts. I never saw them in Thailand.

Bicycle street vendors sell them alongside their brushes, brooms and other home-wares. They are perfect for Cambodian houses that are tiled throughout.

Costing US 50 cents two years ago, the urge to extract more from a foreigner sets the current rate at US $1.



My landlord, noticing me negotiate US 75 cents, (in my newly learned Cambodian) suggested to the vendor that 75 cents was still way too expensive and he had to sell for US 60 cents apiece. He protested and repeatedly pointed saying 'Anglais, Anglais!' This is French, but also the Cambodian word for 'English'.

Deal done! However, on turning to leave I noticed his despondent face and I felt a little mean. Next time I know the price will be one dollar.

Banana Tree

Bang in a few nails, string up some bananas and you are open for business on this busy Phnom Penh street. I can't imagine  that this vendor is raking in the cash but overheads are surely low- no rent or electricity to pay and perhaps just a few dollars a week to keep the local coppers happy.

Street pollution from Phnom Penh's clogged street would be a problem but closing the store must be a breeze!

Going Up, Going Down, Going Shopping

The Sorya Centre in Phnom Penh is famous for its Cambodian first; the nation's first escalator was installed here. When the centre opened Cambodians flocked to be among the first to have a ride, and in 2006 I remember well going there with one of the girls from the centre. She was nervous, awed and excited all at the same time as she climbed onto the moving stairs.

Those numbers of adventurers have fallen now although you still see some first-timers taking rides up and down the floors. But Sorya has another attraction; the Lucky Supermarket on the ground floor. With shiny floors and spacious aisles crammed with amounts of food almost unimaginable to many rural Cambodians, a trip to Phnom Penh's 'Lucky' must be an adventure. Afterall the difference between a modern supermarket and a traditional market is stark.

In fact today there was an extended family there, taking in the sights, eyes agog as they slowly walked the store. And the sight of foreigners with bulging trolleys of groceries also caught the attention. For a while they just stopped and stared, carefully surveying the contents of our cart; pointing, talking, smiling and for a brief moment wheeling our trolley away!

I don't think that they bought anything though. And if they'd seen our bulging trolley and our final grocery bill, I'm sure that their eyes would have bulged some more!

A Sticky Beak Gets Her Photo

1st Floor - shoes; 2nd Floor - dresses; 3rd Floor - accessories; and 4th Floor - custom made clothes.

Proudly rising out of the dry, dusty street, this gleaming, new shopping complex demanded a photo.

But, the photo wasn't to be. At least not at first. A guard quickly appeared from behind a car and shouted "No...no...you cannot!". Weird!  I'm not sure why he wouldn't let me take a photo of this large and very public building. But he was insistent.

Nevermind, a mere security guard wasn't going to stop this gal from getting her shot; I persisted, continued up the street, then double-backed and sneaked a photo.

It reminded me of Laos, although this was far less scary, when heavily armed guards pointed their weapons  and grabbed me to stop my filming of a concrete statue. They had assumed I was taking a shot of the American Embassy opposite.