Mom and Sew Hun meeting us at the AirportAfter picking us up at the airport, we dropped off our bags and took off to check out Phsat Tmei. Wow, I think I just completely butchered the spelling on that and I'm definitely not going to check out how to properly spell it on the internet because the connection here is sllooowww. Apologies for those that are offended. Phsat Tmei translates to 'New Market' and is basically any flea market lovers dream. Set in an old historical building, the market is chock full of $2 t-shirts, beautiful flowers, amazing street vendor food, copy cat designer bags and second hand designer shoes and luggage. Oh and it's also filled with this:
yum. We bought a bag of crickets and ate some but after the novelty wore off, gave away the rest of the bag to some friends. Fried crickets taste kinda like a cross between fried prawn heads and shrimp chips. Delicious but really rich.
Another thing that markets are great for is people watching. I couldn't help but notice subtle changes since the last time I've been here, which was two years ago. I noticed the differences in the handbag designs that they were selling (not too crazy), that the market was full of trendy clothing that I could find in the US (mildy crazy because Cambodia has never been on the cutting edge of fashion trends) and that there was a complete absence of land mine victims that were begging for money (this is totally crazy).
I've been thinking a lot about changes. Before leaving on this trip, I found an old journal that I had started writing in during my first trip to Cambodia, back from 2000. I know it doesn't sound that long ago but for a 25 year old, seven years ago is a long time ago, especially when you consider the fact that I was definitely in a different developmental stage and life style time than I am now. But beyond just the changes that I've been thinking about of myself, I've been really noticing and theorizing about the changes that I've observed in Cambodia.
I'm not talking about stupid Louis V bags or hip fashion trends, I'm talking about the noticeable decrease in visibility of really really poor kids everywhere, the growing amount of heavier women and children and the crazy amount of construction that is going on. At one point, I was afraid that we'd turn a corner to find a McDonald's. Oh FYI there's no McDonald's here (yet).
Are these changes due to some systematic change that has happened? Are NGO's doing really great work? Are there more economic opportunities because of the urban development that's being funded by foreign money? Is it because Cambodia is really starting to move on and rebuild after the shock, obliteration and complete devastation from the Khmer Rouge? Or is it something completely lame like me just noticing things more because I don't have my head up my ass anymore?
Ah! Only 2 weeks left here! So many questions!
I'll have to investigate a bit further and ask some questions with people that I'll be meeting with. But until then, toodles, I've got a swarm of mosquitoes feasting on my flesh and some really good homemade fish curry and veggies waiting at my mom's house with my name on it.
Another thing that markets are great for is people watching. I couldn't help but notice subtle changes since the last time I've been here, which was two years ago. I noticed the differences in the handbag designs that they were selling (not too crazy), that the market was full of trendy clothing that I could find in the US (mildy crazy because Cambodia has never been on the cutting edge of fashion trends) and that there was a complete absence of land mine victims that were begging for money (this is totally crazy).
I've been thinking a lot about changes. Before leaving on this trip, I found an old journal that I had started writing in during my first trip to Cambodia, back from 2000. I know it doesn't sound that long ago but for a 25 year old, seven years ago is a long time ago, especially when you consider the fact that I was definitely in a different developmental stage and life style time than I am now. But beyond just the changes that I've been thinking about of myself, I've been really noticing and theorizing about the changes that I've observed in Cambodia.
I'm not talking about stupid Louis V bags or hip fashion trends, I'm talking about the noticeable decrease in visibility of really really poor kids everywhere, the growing amount of heavier women and children and the crazy amount of construction that is going on. At one point, I was afraid that we'd turn a corner to find a McDonald's. Oh FYI there's no McDonald's here (yet).
Are these changes due to some systematic change that has happened? Are NGO's doing really great work? Are there more economic opportunities because of the urban development that's being funded by foreign money? Is it because Cambodia is really starting to move on and rebuild after the shock, obliteration and complete devastation from the Khmer Rouge? Or is it something completely lame like me just noticing things more because I don't have my head up my ass anymore?
Ah! Only 2 weeks left here! So many questions!
I'll have to investigate a bit further and ask some questions with people that I'll be meeting with. But until then, toodles, I've got a swarm of mosquitoes feasting on my flesh and some really good homemade fish curry and veggies waiting at my mom's house with my name on it.
1 comment:
Post more pictures (or send me some) please! I don't want to see pics of nasty fried bugs, I want to see you, hottie!
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