Let me tell you my experience with motos yesterday.
I was about to go home. A motodop stopped to pick me up. I negotiated my fare and rode with him when he agreed.
His motorbike broke down along the way. I felt pity for him. He would probably need to fork out at least a chunk out of his hard-earned money for parts and maybe labour in order to fix his bike. Since it wasn't very far from where I wanted to go, I chose to pay him the agreed fare and walk the rest of the way.
My motodop accepted the payment but he did not let me walk. (Hardly surprising - it is out of culture here to walk further then a few steps since motos abound and will take you most places quite cheaply). Instead he hailed another motodop for me. He kept half the fare, and gave the second motodop the other half, and asked him to take me the rest of the way.
I was happy to receive this service.
The second motodop took me the rest of the way, and then told me that he was not given enough money. He wanted double what he was given. I explained that I had paid that double to the first motodop, but he would not have that. He explained that he had taken me a long distance and deserved the full price; not half. I told him that I normally pay that price for travelling from a further point, but he still disagreed. In the end, we met half way.
I was not happy for the second motodop's insistance. Had I known he would say this, I would have chosen not to have ridden with him.
In the end, I shrug my shoulders and think "oh well". It wasn't a big sum of money anyway. It was the principle of honesty, keeping one's word, being civil (or otherwise) that was troubling, not the price.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Too long?
I read in the Cambodia Daily about a prison that is being built in a province. I have forgotten which province it is, I think it is Kampong Thom.
Anyhow, if my memory serves correctly, the story told of a prison that was built many years ago, to house 40 prisoners. Over the years, the prison has deteriorated due to lack of maintenance. Walls have started to crumble, and the roof has fallen in some places.
Over the years, the prison has also grown to house over 200 prisoners. These prisoners now fear for their safety in the midst of an overcrowded jail that could fall on them.
A new prison is in the process of construction. It is a more modern facility. However, it took a long time to get approvals and money, so it is about 10 years behind schedule.
I find it sad to read of conditions like this. I wonder how much of the country faces similar management issues? Ie. how much have deteriorated due to lack of maintenance, and how many projects fall behind schedule due to delays in fund-raising and approvals?
Anyhow, if my memory serves correctly, the story told of a prison that was built many years ago, to house 40 prisoners. Over the years, the prison has deteriorated due to lack of maintenance. Walls have started to crumble, and the roof has fallen in some places.
Over the years, the prison has also grown to house over 200 prisoners. These prisoners now fear for their safety in the midst of an overcrowded jail that could fall on them.
A new prison is in the process of construction. It is a more modern facility. However, it took a long time to get approvals and money, so it is about 10 years behind schedule.
I find it sad to read of conditions like this. I wonder how much of the country faces similar management issues? Ie. how much have deteriorated due to lack of maintenance, and how many projects fall behind schedule due to delays in fund-raising and approvals?
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Gambling
I wonder if gambling is legal in Cambodia?
The 2005 edition of "Culture Shock! Cambodia" says it isn't. It says that the reason there are many casinos near the Cambodia-Thai border is because gambling is illegal in Thailand but not Cambodia. So the Thais who want to gamble cross the border into Cambodia, and hence poor some of their money into this country.
Last Friday's edition of the "Phnom Penh Post" however, says something to the contrary. It mentions gambling as a past-time associated with the kick-boxing sport and other sporting past-times favoured by the Cambodians. It says that Prime Minister Hun Sen has outlawed gambling, but it continues.
Perhaps gambling was legal in the past, but no longer legal now. Perhaps certain types of gambling is illegal but not others. I wonder what the real scoop is.
Last Friday's edition of the "Phnom Penh Post" however, says something to the contrary. It mentions gambling as a past-time associated with the kick-boxing sport and other sporting past-times favoured by the Cambodians. It says that Prime Minister Hun Sen has outlawed gambling, but it continues.
Perhaps gambling was legal in the past, but no longer legal now. Perhaps certain types of gambling is illegal but not others. I wonder what the real scoop is.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Priority
It was a little embarrassing to see a couple of Buddhist monks trying to get ahead of the queue while boarding AirAsia last Sunday.
AirAsia has a system running where passengers may choose to pay extra for the privilege of choosing their seats and for boarding earlier than everybody else. It is not an unusual system on budget airlines.
These Buddhist monks did not pay for the privilege, but assumed that they would be given priority. I do not know why. Maybe they simply did not understand the announcement. A few other people (ie. not Buddhist monks) had also similarly misunderstood.
Maybe it is the culture in Cambodia, which gives honour and priority to Buddhist monks, Prime Ministers, and other people of privilege and seniority. Perhaps these monks were Cambodians who had enjoyed this privilege almost all their lives while in Cambodia, and simply did not think to behave differently while in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
I wonder if they were denied the privilege because they were in a different country? I mean, would they have been given this privilege at a Cambodian airport? Or does the culture of airports excempt them from the privilege they would have enjoyed in other parts of their home country?
Nevertheless, I do appreciate that it can be embarrassing, to have become so used to a particular culture, and be expected to behave differently while being in a different one.
These Buddhist monks did not pay for the privilege, but assumed that they would be given priority. I do not know why. Maybe they simply did not understand the announcement. A few other people (ie. not Buddhist monks) had also similarly misunderstood.
Maybe it is the culture in Cambodia, which gives honour and priority to Buddhist monks, Prime Ministers, and other people of privilege and seniority. Perhaps these monks were Cambodians who had enjoyed this privilege almost all their lives while in Cambodia, and simply did not think to behave differently while in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
I wonder if they were denied the privilege because they were in a different country? I mean, would they have been given this privilege at a Cambodian airport? Or does the culture of airports excempt them from the privilege they would have enjoyed in other parts of their home country?
Nevertheless, I do appreciate that it can be embarrassing, to have become so used to a particular culture, and be expected to behave differently while being in a different one.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Remembering the Dead
A school in Phnom Penh was converted to become a concentration camp when Pol Pot was in power. Many died at this concentration camp. This school has been converted to a museum to remind people of the atrocities of that era.
Tragic stories of the Khmer Rouge era are also recorded in text-books, tourist guides and other material. It is hard to visit Cambodia without hearing something of this past.
The Chinese tradition of remembering ancestors is observed here since many Cambodians have Chinese ancestors. This is why many visit the cemeteries during the April “Cheng Meng” season.
Some also have altars at their homes for worshipping their ancestors.
In the Khmer calendar, Pchum Ben in October is as important an event as Khmer New Year. During Pchum Ben, people would bring rice sacrifices and money to the temples to feed the monks and honour their ancestors.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Suppressed anger
Somebody once asked: "how could a man like Pol Pot be so cruel to his own people?"
After some reading and talking to some people, here is the answer I have come to understand.
The Cambodians are really very gentle people. The language, the culture, all leaves one to appear happy and peaceful. Any negative emotions like anger, frustration and rage are kept hidden - ie. not to be revealed to one's neighbours.
However, this suppressed anger has a nasty side when it is let out.
Cambodians are also highly into violence. Not in their everyday behaviour, mind you, but the television shows, dramas and comic books that they enjoy show their tendency towards this. Usually, it is just watching violence as a form of entertainment.
When the suppressed anger was released through a man corrupted with power with a tendancy towards violence back in the days of the Pol Pot regime, disaster ignited for the country.
Note: this is an opinion formed from recent understanding of the Cambodian mindset. I do not know how accurae my recent understanding is. Nor do I really know what went on inside the mind of Pol Pot.
After some reading and talking to some people, here is the answer I have come to understand.
The Cambodians are really very gentle people. The language, the culture, all leaves one to appear happy and peaceful. Any negative emotions like anger, frustration and rage are kept hidden - ie. not to be revealed to one's neighbours.
However, this suppressed anger has a nasty side when it is let out.
Cambodians are also highly into violence. Not in their everyday behaviour, mind you, but the television shows, dramas and comic books that they enjoy show their tendency towards this. Usually, it is just watching violence as a form of entertainment.
When the suppressed anger was released through a man corrupted with power with a tendancy towards violence back in the days of the Pol Pot regime, disaster ignited for the country.
Note: this is an opinion formed from recent understanding of the Cambodian mindset. I do not know how accurae my recent understanding is. Nor do I really know what went on inside the mind of Pol Pot.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
No faith in banks
I hear that many Cambodians do not trust banks.
Apparently, there was a time in the past when banks closed, and people were not able to withdraw their money before it happened. Many people lost their savings as a consequence.
Maybe the lack of faith also has roots during the Khmer Rouge era. When the red army took over the country, people did not have the chance to avail of their money or buy their way out before the persecution and hardship began.
However, many banks in the country today are foreign investments, and Cambodians need to use these banks as to facilitate business and trade among themselves and people in foreign lands. Banks are also a way to protect one's savings from robbers.
A pretty delicate balance in faith, I think, since foreign banks may feel the need to close suddenly if they are not profitable enough in this country. And with so many banks in business here, the competition for profit is pretty stiff. Or so I think, anyway.
Apparently, there was a time in the past when banks closed, and people were not able to withdraw their money before it happened. Many people lost their savings as a consequence.
Maybe the lack of faith also has roots during the Khmer Rouge era. When the red army took over the country, people did not have the chance to avail of their money or buy their way out before the persecution and hardship began.
However, many banks in the country today are foreign investments, and Cambodians need to use these banks as to facilitate business and trade among themselves and people in foreign lands. Banks are also a way to protect one's savings from robbers.
A pretty delicate balance in faith, I think, since foreign banks may feel the need to close suddenly if they are not profitable enough in this country. And with so many banks in business here, the competition for profit is pretty stiff. Or so I think, anyway.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Shipping to Cambodia
I came to realise that I did not post what I learnt about shipping personal belongings to Cambodia when somebody asked me some questions about my experience. Here is a snippet from our email conversation, sharing in case anybody else may also benefit from our experience:
> Thank you for your help. I will look them up on the internet.
>
> Were there any issues with customs or any surprise expenses?
>
> Blessings,
>
Inquirer wrote:
Thank you so much for the information. Paying just a bit extra is ok as long as the shipments are safe an clear customs. I just received and email from them and will wait again for their response.
Thank you again for being a blessing!
I wrote:
Thank you again for being a blessing!
I wrote:
I remember that one needs to have at least 3 cubic meters worth of personal effects to make shipping through Mission Movers or an equivalent group worthwhile. If what you have is less than this, then shipping through other methods could be safer than cheaper.
We got quotes from two such shippers before eventually settling on Mission Movers. We chose MM because of their good reputation and their previous experience helping Christian missionaries. I forgot if they were the cheaper of the two quotes or not.
After getting to Phnom Penh, we waited for a short time for the expected arrival date of our shipment. It makes sense to get to Cambodia before your goods for the customs clearance purposes. The Cambodian shipping agent that Mission Movers told us about met up with us to complete the paperwork on this end. The customs broker needs a couple of declarations signed and stamped by ourselves and our "employer". (The way it works over here is that official company documentation will have the company seal on a rubber stamp over the signer's signature.) He also needed photocopies of my passport and entry stamp.
Our goods cleared about a week or so after the expected date. The Cambodian agent organised the trucking and they brought everything to our doorstep. Almost everything was intact - we had a casserole broken, but that was it. We later learnt that the port is slow to clear goods because of the high volume that it needs to handle, but it concerned us a little initially, as we wondered why our stuff took a while to get to us, beyond the expected arrival time.
Inquirer wrote:
We got quotes from two such shippers before eventually settling on Mission Movers. We chose MM because of their good reputation and their previous experience helping Christian missionaries. I forgot if they were the cheaper of the two quotes or not.
After getting to Phnom Penh, we waited for a short time for the expected arrival date of our shipment. It makes sense to get to Cambodia before your goods for the customs clearance purposes. The Cambodian shipping agent that Mission Movers told us about met up with us to complete the paperwork on this end. The customs broker needs a couple of declarations signed and stamped by ourselves and our "employer". (The way it works over here is that official company documentation will have the company seal on a rubber stamp over the signer's signature.) He also needed photocopies of my passport and entry stamp.
Our goods cleared about a week or so after the expected date. The Cambodian agent organised the trucking and they brought everything to our doorstep. Almost everything was intact - we had a casserole broken, but that was it. We later learnt that the port is slow to clear goods because of the high volume that it needs to handle, but it concerned us a little initially, as we wondered why our stuff took a while to get to us, beyond the expected arrival time.
Inquirer wrote:
> Thank you for your help. I will look them up on the internet.
>
> Were there any issues with customs or any surprise expenses?
>
> Blessings,
>
I wrote:
>
> I was in service at
>
> Please feel welcome to ask me for more details about this experience or other things that I found in the process. God bless.
>
>
>
> I was in service at
>
> Please feel welcome to ask me for more details about this experience or other things that I found in the process. God bless.
>
>
>
Introducer wrote:
> >
> >
> > I am sending a copy of this message to a friend who just moved to Cambodia and who may be able to share some insights into moving personal belongings.
> >
> >
> > I am sending a copy of this message to a friend who just moved to Cambodia and who may be able to share some insights into moving personal belongings.
> >
Inquirer wrote:
> >>
> >> Does anyone know of an inexpensive, safe, and reliable shipper in Manila or close by? I need to ship my personal belongings to Cambodia. (Books, clothes, and a few small electronics) Thank you for your help.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
> >> Does anyone know of an inexpensive, safe, and reliable shipper in Manila or close by? I need to ship my personal belongings to Cambodia. (Books, clothes, and a few small electronics) Thank you for your help.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
Synagogue
Through the help of the internet, we found a synagogue in Phnom Penh and visited it. We learnt that:
- The rabbi was surprised to find a family of Gentiles looking for matzoh, so apparently, not many Gentiles use matzoh here;
- Matzoh is imported from Thailand;
- They will celebrate the Pesach here. They say that it is open to all, but what they really mean is that all Jews in Cambodia are welcome. If any of these Jews have foreign wives, then these wives are welcome also;
- The synagogue looks like a regular house on the outside. Ie. besides the identification from business cards and the Internet, one would not know that it is a synagogue.
Monday, February 15, 2010
The art of conversion
A letter was circulated by the Ministry of Communication at the beginning of the month. It warned broadcasters to watch what is said on air. Apparently, some people among the Buddhist community were offended when somebody spoke about Christians being blessed during last year's floods, such that they were able to bless others. Such things need to be said in a way that does not offend others.
I also hear that people should not be seen to have been coerced to change or give up on their religion. Media people should not openly tell people to become Christians, etc. It is okay for churches to do this, though, since people go to church willingly to hear such messages. It is just not okay to do it on the street.
Meanwhile, the number of Buddhist monks is decreasing.
I wonder where people are putting their religious faith these days. How does one share the love of Jesus in this society? The way Jesus loves is not religious, in m opinion. I see Jesus to be against religious practices. However, many people around the world do not seem to understand this.
I also hear that people should not be seen to have been coerced to change or give up on their religion. Media people should not openly tell people to become Christians, etc. It is okay for churches to do this, though, since people go to church willingly to hear such messages. It is just not okay to do it on the street.
Meanwhile, the number of Buddhist monks is decreasing.
I wonder where people are putting their religious faith these days. How does one share the love of Jesus in this society? The way Jesus loves is not religious, in m opinion. I see Jesus to be against religious practices. However, many people around the world do not seem to understand this.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Kromar
We had some Danish visitors today. A couple of our office staff explained the kromar to them.
The kromar is a rectangular-shaped piece of cloth. It is especially useful to Cambodian villagers, but can be used by anyone. That piece of cloth serves as:
The kromar is a rectangular-shaped piece of cloth. It is especially useful to Cambodian villagers, but can be used by anyone. That piece of cloth serves as:
- a head-band, especially for male farmers;
- a hat, especially for female farmers;
- a scarf, when it becomes cold;
- a towel;
- a sarong for clothing;
- a shawl;
- a blanket;
- padding if wanting to carry things on the head (like how Indians sometimes carry things),
- a way to carry a baby (wrap the kromar as a sling);
- as covering when one needs to hide toilet behind a coconut tree (a Dane offered this suggestion).
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Bills
The system of getting billed for our utilitis is interesting.
Garbage collection and electricity are lumped into the one bill. The rate is calculated depending on whether the resident of the home is a Cambodian or a foreigner. The bills come monthly. Foreigners pay more. Electricity bills need to be paid straight away. Electricity supply is cut off very quickly if the bill is not paid by the due date. However, it is also restored quite quickly once the bill is paid. The bills are dropped into our letterboxes at our street addresses.
Water bills come every other month. At our house, the water is metered separately for our neighbours upstairs than what it is for us. At some other houses, it is just one bill. Our neighbour is pays every odd month while we pay every even month. Our meters are read at different times to fit into this cycle, even though they are side by side. We should pay water bills on time, but apparently, the water company is not as strict on this point compared to electricity. Bills are also dropped into our letterboxes.
My internet bill is to be paid monthly. As I understand it, the bills get sent to me by SMS to my mobile phone. If I miss one month's payment, then I will get an overdue notice in my letterbox.
Cable TV - I don't have a bill for this yet, but as I understand it, my neighbour and I will split this bill. After all, the cable is split after entering our premises. I think the bills come twice a year.
Garbage collection and electricity are lumped into the one bill. The rate is calculated depending on whether the resident of the home is a Cambodian or a foreigner. The bills come monthly. Foreigners pay more. Electricity bills need to be paid straight away. Electricity supply is cut off very quickly if the bill is not paid by the due date. However, it is also restored quite quickly once the bill is paid. The bills are dropped into our letterboxes at our street addresses.
Water bills come every other month. At our house, the water is metered separately for our neighbours upstairs than what it is for us. At some other houses, it is just one bill. Our neighbour is pays every odd month while we pay every even month. Our meters are read at different times to fit into this cycle, even though they are side by side. We should pay water bills on time, but apparently, the water company is not as strict on this point compared to electricity. Bills are also dropped into our letterboxes.
My internet bill is to be paid monthly. As I understand it, the bills get sent to me by SMS to my mobile phone. If I miss one month's payment, then I will get an overdue notice in my letterbox.
Cable TV - I don't have a bill for this yet, but as I understand it, my neighbour and I will split this bill. After all, the cable is split after entering our premises. I think the bills come twice a year.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
FAQ & movies
I found this FAQ on Travelfish this afternoon. I wish I had read it before coming to Cambodia. It would have been helpful. My recent experience here confirms that its contents are either completely or mostly true.
My neighbour and I talked about movies this morning. His reading and mine said that there are no cinemas in this country, other than those showing Khmer movies. A few of this kind have sprung up to a slowly growing market. I read of a little movie house a few weeks ago in a paper. It could be an emerging phenomenon to see these. I googled it to help my neighbour. Either "the flicks" is the place I read about, or there is now more than one of these.
I thought to take my daughter ice-skating, but have yet to find a rink. It is possible to go roller-skating, but no ice-skating yet, it seems.
My neighbour and I talked about movies this morning. His reading and mine said that there are no cinemas in this country, other than those showing Khmer movies. A few of this kind have sprung up to a slowly growing market. I read of a little movie house a few weeks ago in a paper. It could be an emerging phenomenon to see these. I googled it to help my neighbour. Either "the flicks" is the place I read about, or there is now more than one of these.
I thought to take my daughter ice-skating, but have yet to find a rink. It is possible to go roller-skating, but no ice-skating yet, it seems.
2001 blog
The blog http://www.parish-without-borders.net/cditt/cambodia/dailylifekh01.htm is rather old. Nevertheless, I think it describes the culture of present day Cambodia quite well.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Dying languages
It was interesting to hear a story about dying languages in Cambodia. Apparently, many find it more necessary to know language of the Khmer majority rather than the language of their forefathers. I understand that languages change over time anyway.
Apparently, a part of this is because of the school system. The Khmer tongue is the medium of instruction for Cambodian children. They are taught to read and write the script from Year 5. English has some appeal because it is the most used language among the foreigners. However, there is not as much necessity to speak one's own language when one belongs to a minority people group, especially if one does not live among one's own people and ones own people group has few people in it.
Apparently, a part of this is because of the school system. The Khmer tongue is the medium of instruction for Cambodian children. They are taught to read and write the script from Year 5. English has some appeal because it is the most used language among the foreigners. However, there is not as much necessity to speak one's own language when one belongs to a minority people group, especially if one does not live among one's own people and ones own people group has few people in it.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
People in Cambodia
- Vietnamese, approximately 1,000,000 people
- Han Chinese, approximately 523,000 people
- Western Cham, approximately 503,000 people
- Lao, approximately 29,000 people
- Jarai, approximately 20,000 people
- Malay, approximately 17,000 people
- Thai, approximately 11,000 people
- Tamil, approximately 1,400 people
- Saoch, Suoy, Samre, approximately 250 of each people
Citizens of other nations also reside in this country. Many do so because of business or their work with NGO mission and charity organisations.
All people need the Lord Jesus.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Cost doubled
I heard today that the annual road tax they charge here is set to double. I haven't verified this rumour, but it set me to think about whether to own a vehicle here or no.
If the doubling is from 600 Riels to 1,200 Riels /year, then I guess I can afford it. However, doubling from $600 to $1200 will not be so affordable to me. How much is typical road tax for a car or a motorbike over here? Can I safely assume that push-bikes are excempted from such tax?
Will there be a flow-on effect of this tax into the cost of riding tuk-tuks and motos? How will the average Cambodian citizen afford it?
If the doubling is from 600 Riels to 1,200 Riels /year, then I guess I can afford it. However, doubling from $600 to $1200 will not be so affordable to me. How much is typical road tax for a car or a motorbike over here? Can I safely assume that push-bikes are excempted from such tax?
Will there be a flow-on effect of this tax into the cost of riding tuk-tuks and motos? How will the average Cambodian citizen afford it?
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Lessons learnt recently from church speakers
The following list could actually be a few posts, but I shall choose to summarise them as one. Here are a few things I got to learn from a few ministers of the gospel I have heard recently:
- It is expected that a church minister would have a car. After all, many of the Khmer congregation he ministers to have cars also ... even if their cars are left parked at home most of the time and only used when attending weddings.
(From my own observation, it seems that the Khmer people vary greatly in their economic disposition. Many own motorcycles, and many ride with the public motor-dops or tuk-tuks. Some own Lexus cars. A few ride bicycles. Fewer walk.)
- Many of my initial reading told me that the Khmer people are rather homogenous in the sense that almost everybody comes from the same racial background and speak the same language. However, a visiting preacher last Sunday told me of a number of minority people groups out there waiting to hear the Gospel. Ie. this country, by and large, seems to have not heard about Jesus: most of Phnom Penh's have not thought beyond the culture of Cambodian/Sri Lankan Buddhism; neither have many of their provincial cousins or other minority people groups.
- There is persecution towards many of those who forsake their ethnic culture and Buddhist heritage to follow Jesus. A lot of this is through peer pressure and through family relations. Family members would force Christian converts to marry partners who are strongly convicted into the Cambodian cultural roots or Buddhist roots; hence upsetting the married lives of the converts.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Cost of living
I came to realise that many Cambodians earn something in the order of $100 - $500 /month as salary.
My family and I live in Toul Kork, which is noted on the map as the cheapest area to live in Phnom Penh. (I think this is because it is not in the area of the riverside, the commercial areas or the area where many public offices are located.) I see that it costs something between $250 - $700 /month to lease accomodation in this area. There are more places available that are in the order of $400 - $500 /month than there are those in the order of those between $250 and $350. Landlords want $650 or higher for the newer apartments, I am sure the bigger houses would be even more expensive.
Ie. I wonder how the Cambodians afford to live in their capital city? The cost of accomodation is almost higher than what people earn, and people need to add the cost of food, electricity, transport, etc. to their living costs. Ie. accomodation costs is not all there is to living.
I see that many people live with their extended families. This is one way to reduce the cost. I am sure, though, there are families who are unable to do this.
My family and I live in Toul Kork, which is noted on the map as the cheapest area to live in Phnom Penh. (I think this is because it is not in the area of the riverside, the commercial areas or the area where many public offices are located.) I see that it costs something between $250 - $700 /month to lease accomodation in this area. There are more places available that are in the order of $400 - $500 /month than there are those in the order of those between $250 and $350. Landlords want $650 or higher for the newer apartments, I am sure the bigger houses would be even more expensive.
Ie. I wonder how the Cambodians afford to live in their capital city? The cost of accomodation is almost higher than what people earn, and people need to add the cost of food, electricity, transport, etc. to their living costs. Ie. accomodation costs is not all there is to living.
I see that many people live with their extended families. This is one way to reduce the cost. I am sure, though, there are families who are unable to do this.
The calendars align
I just checked the 2010 calendar online. Easter, is on 04-Apr this year, regardless of whether you follow the Western church calendar or the Eastern orthodox one. Wow! I think this is the first time this happens since the time I came to know that the two groups usually use different dates.
Not only that, but the church's calendar also aligns with the Jewish one this year! Usually, Easter needs to align with the beginning of spring in order fit in with the date chosen for the pagan festivals. The church does not often remember the victorious resurrection of Jesus at Passover time the way history is recorded in the Bible. We will this year, though.
Wow! Is this a sign of the times? I am sure our Lord will return soon.
By the way, does anyone know where one can buy matzoh in Cambodia?
Not only that, but the church's calendar also aligns with the Jewish one this year! Usually, Easter needs to align with the beginning of spring in order fit in with the date chosen for the pagan festivals. The church does not often remember the victorious resurrection of Jesus at Passover time the way history is recorded in the Bible. We will this year, though.
Wow! Is this a sign of the times? I am sure our Lord will return soon.
By the way, does anyone know where one can buy matzoh in Cambodia?
Monday, January 4, 2010
Communication facilities
I found this page to be a good guide about what is available. http://www.tourismcambodia.com/TripPlanner/essentialinfo/?PID=communication
The page does not say it, but I also found mailing through TNT's regular mail service is a lot cheaper howbeit potentially slower. I imagine DHL and other courier companies offer competing deals, but I have not explored these.
The page does not say it, but I also found mailing through TNT's regular mail service is a lot cheaper howbeit potentially slower. I imagine DHL and other courier companies offer competing deals, but I have not explored these.
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