Went to the beach at the seaside resort town of Sihanounkville last weekend. While sitting on the beach enjoying the sun, was attacked by three 10-year olds who stole my mobile phone. I only survived by pretending to be asleep for 2 hours.
Was forewarned about taking valuables to the beach as there is a lot of theft. Though immediate action by the Royal Cambodian Police Force has taken place ("I not speak English"), I doubt I shall see the return of my Samsung d-500 anytime soon.
IMPORTANT NOTE WITH NO HINT OF SARCASM
With the loss of the phone, I have lost all my numbers in particular from home. Anyone with any sort of emoptional connection to me please email me their number (tonycarr72@gmail.com), sms me to (+ 85 592 337 601) or leave a comment on this blog.
Thanks
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Postal Address
If you are unaware I have a local PO box for mail to be sent to. It is housed at the Main Post Office (in fact the only post office in Phnom Penh). Should you wish to send me a letter, postcard or a box of Arnotts Savoury Shapes please do to:
PO Box 1602
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Cheers
Phnom Penh Post Office
Further things I desire.....
Savoury Shapes
Vegemite
Carlton Draught
Saladas
Quarter Pounder
Cheezels
Collingwood Premiership
PO Box 1602
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Cheers
Phnom Penh Post Office
Further things I desire.....
Savoury Shapes
Vegemite
Carlton Draught
Saladas
Quarter Pounder
Cheezels
Collingwood Premiership
Saturday, 19 January 2008
Dave's Visit to the Lake - Part 2
The lake is very nice and the setting is very peaceful as it is off the beaten path of tourists. The photo of the lake is taken from the pontoon that you sit on where they serve your food. There are about 20 little pontoons and they are connected by an old rickety walkway. Beer or the deadly Khmer wine is served here at very cheap prices (beer .50c a can and a bottle of wine costs about .40c and a 2 day head-ache). One of the highlights is watching the locals wipe themselves with cheap booze and attempt to walk along these paths without falling over or in. The only thing better is watching a foreigner attempt to walk along these paths without falling over or in.
There are no table or chairs/cushions, just a mat on the floor and the utensils to eat. One of the few dishes I like is the fish (its called 'the fish', don't bother trying to find out what type it is - pointless). Comes out on a steaming dish and served with random grass cuttings. Once you pick off the grass it is quite tasty. Eating it gets very messy, but I think that has more to do with the intoxicated state of the patrons. Below is the state we left the pontoon in.
Any visit isn't complete (and I think it has been legislated by the Cambodian National Assembly) that at least one of the dinner party at any Cambodian dinner gets absolutely blotto and then proceeds to insult and abuse their fellow diners. Below is a shot of Annette (friend of Annie) in the aftermath of one of her tirades in which she:
1. threw a full bottle of wine
2. swore violently at all in attendance
3. collapsed into the aforementioned dish of 'the fish'.
I think Dave was ok with the outburst, but then again he has been friends of the Ryland brothers for too long to be concerned with graphic violence.
It was nice seeing you Sanch.
The end.
There are no table or chairs/cushions, just a mat on the floor and the utensils to eat. One of the few dishes I like is the fish (its called 'the fish', don't bother trying to find out what type it is - pointless). Comes out on a steaming dish and served with random grass cuttings. Once you pick off the grass it is quite tasty. Eating it gets very messy, but I think that has more to do with the intoxicated state of the patrons. Below is the state we left the pontoon in.
Any visit isn't complete (and I think it has been legislated by the Cambodian National Assembly) that at least one of the dinner party at any Cambodian dinner gets absolutely blotto and then proceeds to insult and abuse their fellow diners. Below is a shot of Annette (friend of Annie) in the aftermath of one of her tirades in which she:
1. threw a full bottle of wine
2. swore violently at all in attendance
3. collapsed into the aforementioned dish of 'the fish'.
I think Dave was ok with the outburst, but then again he has been friends of the Ryland brothers for too long to be concerned with graphic violence.
It was nice seeing you Sanch.
The end.
Friday, 18 January 2008
Sanch's Visit to the Lake
David (Macca, Dave or Sanch if you prefer) dropped by Phnom Penh a couple of weeks ago and as expected proceeded to help me in ruining further my bladder, kidneys and wallet. After 3 days of showing him the sights of PP (markets, Palace, Riverside in 10 minutes. Drinking at pubs and bars 71 hrs and 50 mins), decided to take him to one of the local resturants that are by the lake. In tow were Ryan, his missus Annie and a group of her friends.
Despite the food, the location is very nice set on the lake north of the city. Very well placed too should you wish to take a slash, throw some rubbish or throw up (which invariably happens when you eat the food). Dave did his Ray Charles impression assisted by back up singers and some girl eating a snake (trust me that last part was not a dirty joke).
David was getting a bit randy as the night wore on and started to expose himself to his fellow guests. So unusually were his lily white nipples that one of the local girls mistook it for a rare albino nut beetle and attempted to retrieve it from his shirt in a bid too eat it.
Later that night Sanch (aka.MarkRead) was seen touring the bars of PP. Here he is a local fan of Choppers bookline keen to get an autograph. 
The food was local. (Please note I am increasingly making more Cambodian friends who are viewing this blog, so I have to be more diplomatic about what I say about their culture....but). Khmer food is crap. It is like very bad Thai food and despite how often I try I still haven't been able to adapt to eating it on a regular basis. Typical of what was served is shown in the picture below. Included (shit you not) is snake, spider, cockroaches and beetles of various quality (click on the photo below to get a better look).
Despite the food, the location is very nice set on the lake north of the city. Very well placed too should you wish to take a slash, throw some rubbish or throw up (which invariably happens when you eat the food). Dave did his Ray Charles impression assisted by back up singers and some girl eating a snake (trust me that last part was not a dirty joke).
David was getting a bit randy as the night wore on and started to expose himself to his fellow guests. So unusually were his lily white nipples that one of the local girls mistook it for a rare albino nut beetle and attempted to retrieve it from his shirt in a bid too eat it.
Later that night Sanch (aka.MarkRead) was seen touring the bars of PP. Here he is a local fan of Choppers bookline keen to get an autograph.
Saturday, 5 January 2008
New Years Eve 2007
This New Year's Eve was my first in Cambodia and decided to join some friends who had arranged a boat to cruise the Tonle Sap River which it the main river that runs through Phnom Penh. The boat held about 20-30 people and was planned for a 3 hour tour ("the weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed...."). The boat is no Queen Mary and was steered by a fella who looked suspiciously like a bloke who drives a motor-taxi around town. He steered the boat around in circles for the whole time with a steering/rudder type thing that was made out of Lego.
It was actually quite cool for Cambodia at this time of year and more so at night on the river. Most of the poor Khmers were freezing to death and wondering why they were bothering. New Year on the 1st of January is referred to here as International New Years as the country also celebrates Chinese New Year (3 day holiday) in February and Khmer New Year (4 day holiday) in April. The idea of only 1 day for a holiday is absurd to them. As you can tell by the photos below it was really going off on the boat.
Entertainment was provided by a friend of a friend who is an Australian guitar player and singer who did a lot of Johnny Cash. He was very good under the conditions and did a lot of other requested songs. No one really got up and danced, but it didn't stop one brave Khmer girl who took up the role of back-up dancer for the set's duration (I think it was his wife). Most of the revellers were more interested in drinking mainly to keep warm (20 Celsius is a blizzard in Cambodia). Most of the drinking was done around a small table that refused to remain level which confounded most of the locals as to why their drink kept tipping over ("Drink fall down. Pick drink up. Drink fall down again.")
Some noticeable celebrities that appeared at the party were (in order):
* Annie (girlfriend of house mate and fellow teacher Ryan) shown here indicating how many times her drink had fallen off the table.
* Me, Trea (terrified in the "Land of the Giants) and Ryan.
* Simon and Slek (fellow teacher and friend)
Highlight of the night was the firework display at midnight. Phnom Penh does put on a lot of firework displays for the generous amount of holidays the country has. They are always held on the river, so we had a good vantage point on the boat directly under the display. But quantity does not mean quality. The fireworks, in a word, are pissweak. By way of comparison, below is a picture of New Year's celebrations in Sydney on the water as shot by the photographer some kilometres away from the central display:
Below is a photo I took directly underneath the Phnom Penh display at the height of the explosions (the slightly less darker blur in the middle are the fireworks). Given the country's history involving ordinance and exploding things I expected somewhat better.
After the fireworks, one of the passengers aboard had a birthday (1 Jan) and a cake was brought out to celebrate (the lighting of the candles was more of a dazzling display then the previous fireworks). Cambodians love birthday cakes, but not so much for eating. The average Khmer think cakes tastes too sweet, but are perfect for use in hand to hand combat. After the candles and cutting comes the smearing of icing of anyone unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity. Below is a photo of the contestant considered the most successful in avoiding the cake standing next the person considered the least successful.
It was actually quite cool for Cambodia at this time of year and more so at night on the river. Most of the poor Khmers were freezing to death and wondering why they were bothering. New Year on the 1st of January is referred to here as International New Years as the country also celebrates Chinese New Year (3 day holiday) in February and Khmer New Year (4 day holiday) in April. The idea of only 1 day for a holiday is absurd to them. As you can tell by the photos below it was really going off on the boat.
Entertainment was provided by a friend of a friend who is an Australian guitar player and singer who did a lot of Johnny Cash. He was very good under the conditions and did a lot of other requested songs. No one really got up and danced, but it didn't stop one brave Khmer girl who took up the role of back-up dancer for the set's duration (I think it was his wife). Most of the revellers were more interested in drinking mainly to keep warm (20 Celsius is a blizzard in Cambodia). Most of the drinking was done around a small table that refused to remain level which confounded most of the locals as to why their drink kept tipping over ("Drink fall down. Pick drink up. Drink fall down again.")
Some noticeable celebrities that appeared at the party were (in order):
* Annie (girlfriend of house mate and fellow teacher Ryan) shown here indicating how many times her drink had fallen off the table.
* Me, Trea (terrified in the "Land of the Giants) and Ryan.
* Simon and Slek (fellow teacher and friend)
Highlight of the night was the firework display at midnight. Phnom Penh does put on a lot of firework displays for the generous amount of holidays the country has. They are always held on the river, so we had a good vantage point on the boat directly under the display. But quantity does not mean quality. The fireworks, in a word, are pissweak. By way of comparison, below is a picture of New Year's celebrations in Sydney on the water as shot by the photographer some kilometres away from the central display:
Below is a photo I took directly underneath the Phnom Penh display at the height of the explosions (the slightly less darker blur in the middle are the fireworks). Given the country's history involving ordinance and exploding things I expected somewhat better.
After the fireworks, one of the passengers aboard had a birthday (1 Jan) and a cake was brought out to celebrate (the lighting of the candles was more of a dazzling display then the previous fireworks). Cambodians love birthday cakes, but not so much for eating. The average Khmer think cakes tastes too sweet, but are perfect for use in hand to hand combat. After the candles and cutting comes the smearing of icing of anyone unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity. Below is a photo of the contestant considered the most successful in avoiding the cake standing next the person considered the least successful.
We offloaded back on the riverside at 1.00pm where further celebrations where neither recorded or remembered.
The end.
Monday, 24 December 2007
Christmas Party
PUC, the school I teach at, is a very socially responsible place. Puthy, a Khmer teacher I’ve met here, works in the Scholarship Department that provides a number of scholarships to financially disadvantaged kids in the country. She also plays a big part in the running of an orphanage in Phnom Penh that is sponsored by the university and some of the teaching staff volunteer their time towards. Puthy, thinking I have some sort of social conscience, asked me to come along and visit the orphanage to say hello to the kids. Maybe because it was the Christmas season or the guilt of being away from my family I agreed and went along.
The orphanage is over the river (meaning it is in a rougher part of town) away from the usual haunts of foreigners or visitors to Phnom Penh. There is nothing too flash about this place, a collection of roughly built buildings that pass for a school and home. The place is very dusty and doesn’t look too inviting but the kids seem to be very happy. They range from 3 to about 16 years of age. They learn the basic education stuff as well as English, but the older kids also study vocational courses such as photography and I.T. It was very odd when I arrived to what appeared to be a very disadvantaged place to be met by a group of kids each with their own digital camera. The idea is that hopefully these kids will go on and make a career or get a job in the growing tourism industry in Cambodia by using these practical skills.
The day I visited was like a graduation plus Christmas celebration (though it seems strange that a 95% Buddhist country would hold a Xmas Party). A number of the kids were presented with certificates for completion of their course. An American, Dean, who provides a lot of financial support for the orphanage through his NGO presented certificates and provided for a party for the kids afterwards (candy/lollies that were consumed within .0256 seconds of them being placed down). Below is a picture of Dean and Puthy at the presentation ceremony shortly before they disappeared in the rush for candy.
Shortly after the ceremony I was asked by some of the Khmer teachers if I knew the Christmas Story (the Jesus, Mary and Joseph one, not Santa). Having 12 years of a Catholic education I advised I did indeed. My admission meant that I had volunteered to retell the story for the benefit of the kids via a Khmer translator. Puthy told me that not many foreigners of any type get to the place and the kids are always interested in hearing about other places. I told the Jesus story but could see that the kids (despite the best efforts of the translator) were not really getting a kick out of my telling of The Greatest Story Ever Told. I therefore moved on to what most Cambodians know about Christmas and that is Santa Claus. I don’t blame them, the story about a bloke in a red suit (Khmer Rouge) traveling at night (guerilla night tactics) to climb down the chimney (home invasion) to leave a present (bribery) seems much more relevant to the Cambodians recent life experience. The kids were most interested though in what Australians typically had for dinner as talking about leg ham and fresh prawns seemed to get the biggest ohhhs and ahhhhs.
The kids then put on a display of traditional Khmer dancing for the small group of foreigners in attendance. Khmer dancing has a lot of meaning and is performed to strict rules. My own personal rule is that I fall asleep when it is performed. But these kids put a lot of effort into the performance and looked so happy doing it that I actually enjoyed it. Plus it went for only 20 minutes rather then a usual 5 hour-effort.
After the dancing, a number of gifts were presented to the kids by the visitors and staff from PUC. I wasn’t required to buy anything but I gave to the orphanage a new soccer ball and volleyball (Attention: Nephews and Nieces - Please note the reason I did not send you any presents this year was because in the above gifts were donated in your names. I am sure that you will agree with me that this gift is better then any Xbox 360 or $100 gift voucher). 
The orphanage is over the river (meaning it is in a rougher part of town) away from the usual haunts of foreigners or visitors to Phnom Penh. There is nothing too flash about this place, a collection of roughly built buildings that pass for a school and home. The place is very dusty and doesn’t look too inviting but the kids seem to be very happy. They range from 3 to about 16 years of age. They learn the basic education stuff as well as English, but the older kids also study vocational courses such as photography and I.T. It was very odd when I arrived to what appeared to be a very disadvantaged place to be met by a group of kids each with their own digital camera. The idea is that hopefully these kids will go on and make a career or get a job in the growing tourism industry in Cambodia by using these practical skills.
The day I visited was like a graduation plus Christmas celebration (though it seems strange that a 95% Buddhist country would hold a Xmas Party). A number of the kids were presented with certificates for completion of their course. An American, Dean, who provides a lot of financial support for the orphanage through his NGO presented certificates and provided for a party for the kids afterwards (candy/lollies that were consumed within .0256 seconds of them being placed down). Below is a picture of Dean and Puthy at the presentation ceremony shortly before they disappeared in the rush for candy.
Shortly after the ceremony I was asked by some of the Khmer teachers if I knew the Christmas Story (the Jesus, Mary and Joseph one, not Santa). Having 12 years of a Catholic education I advised I did indeed. My admission meant that I had volunteered to retell the story for the benefit of the kids via a Khmer translator. Puthy told me that not many foreigners of any type get to the place and the kids are always interested in hearing about other places. I told the Jesus story but could see that the kids (despite the best efforts of the translator) were not really getting a kick out of my telling of The Greatest Story Ever Told. I therefore moved on to what most Cambodians know about Christmas and that is Santa Claus. I don’t blame them, the story about a bloke in a red suit (Khmer Rouge) traveling at night (guerilla night tactics) to climb down the chimney (home invasion) to leave a present (bribery) seems much more relevant to the Cambodians recent life experience. The kids were most interested though in what Australians typically had for dinner as talking about leg ham and fresh prawns seemed to get the biggest ohhhs and ahhhhs.
The kids then put on a display of traditional Khmer dancing for the small group of foreigners in attendance. Khmer dancing has a lot of meaning and is performed to strict rules. My own personal rule is that I fall asleep when it is performed. But these kids put a lot of effort into the performance and looked so happy doing it that I actually enjoyed it. Plus it went for only 20 minutes rather then a usual 5 hour-effort.
After the dancing, a number of gifts were presented to the kids by the visitors and staff from PUC. I wasn’t required to buy anything but I gave to the orphanage a new soccer ball and volleyball (Attention: Nephews and Nieces - Please note the reason I did not send you any presents this year was because in the above gifts were donated in your names. I am sure that you will agree with me that this gift is better then any Xbox 360 or $100 gift voucher).
Presents you will never see
I presented this to the kids in a very formal hand over much like I was handing over the Grand Final trophy, a bit over the top but the kids liked the chance to take photos.
Recreation of handover
I spoke to a number of the older kids who could speak English and they were all very bright, positive kids who really value the opportunity that the oprhange had given them and are hoping for big things in the future. I hope that it is possible for them to do so in what is a difficult country for people without family to support them.
I spoke to a number of the older kids who could speak English and they were all very bright, positive kids who really value the opportunity that the oprhange had given them and are hoping for big things in the future. I hope that it is possible for them to do so in what is a difficult country for people without family to support them.
The end.
Monday, 3 December 2007
Chantevy Birthday
Most people have been asking me what having I been doing with my social life, more to the point do I have a girl friend. No girlfirend but i cetainly havent been sitting at home twiddling my thumbs. Not a lot to do in Phnom Penh at night other then drink and drink. One notable night was a birthday party for Chantevy.
(The next paragraph is for the benefit of my sisters and girls I used to work with. Anyone else will find it boring.) When I first came to Cambodia and did my TESOL course, Chantrea was the office girl and general help-with-anything girl. Chantrea (or Trea) is engaged to Steve, An Irish teacher here. Trea's sister, Annie, also goes out with Ryan an American teacher who did the same TESOL course as me here (who also lives in the flat under me). Annie works at a resturant/bar called Howies (no it's not that sort of place). A number of her friends/cousins called Chanthea, Chantevy, Chanritha and Chankunty (and for some reason) Annette also work at Howies. None of whom are my girlfirend (Are we clear?)
Anyway......
Chantevy (or Tevy) had a birthday on the lakeside at a Khmer pontoon resturant. These are local places that are set on pontoons by the side of lake where you can eat and drink. Sounds nice but it is a insect haven and I dont know who ate more; the insects or me. To make up for it they also sell Khmer wine. It takes like cough medicene and is brewed for hours in empty bear stubbies. The following photos are the product of too many wines and mozzie bites.
Jake (another Yank teacher), Steve, Tevy and Trea
Tia and Annie (girlfriend of Ryan)
Tevy's parents (looking worried)
Yanks conversing
Me, Dara (long time taxi driver) and Jake.
(The next paragraph is for the benefit of my sisters and girls I used to work with. Anyone else will find it boring.) When I first came to Cambodia and did my TESOL course, Chantrea was the office girl and general help-with-anything girl. Chantrea (or Trea) is engaged to Steve, An Irish teacher here. Trea's sister, Annie, also goes out with Ryan an American teacher who did the same TESOL course as me here (who also lives in the flat under me). Annie works at a resturant/bar called Howies (no it's not that sort of place). A number of her friends/cousins called Chanthea, Chantevy, Chanritha and Chankunty (and for some reason) Annette also work at Howies. None of whom are my girlfirend (Are we clear?)
Anyway......
Chantevy (or Tevy) had a birthday on the lakeside at a Khmer pontoon resturant. These are local places that are set on pontoons by the side of lake where you can eat and drink. Sounds nice but it is a insect haven and I dont know who ate more; the insects or me. To make up for it they also sell Khmer wine. It takes like cough medicene and is brewed for hours in empty bear stubbies. The following photos are the product of too many wines and mozzie bites.
Jake (another Yank teacher), Steve, Tevy and Trea
Tia and Annie (girlfriend of Ryan)
Jake and Tevy (Birthday Girl)
Howie girls (V for Victory)
Ryan (boyfriend of Annie) and yours truley
Trea and Steve (engaged)
Annette (drunk), Me, Tevy and Jake
Anetter (drunker), Steve and a girl they all call Black Girl (she is dark)
Steve (reason for worry)
Trea (further worried)
Birthday cake cutting
Birthday cake eating
Birthday cake eating
Some dirty old man
Yanks conversing
Me, Dara (long time taxi driver) and Jake.
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