Mar 2006

This is a "back log" of my trip to South East Asia. It was really a business trip but I tried to squeeze in some leisure time. The business part is boring and shall not be included here. So, I rather touch up on the leisure time.

Before heading out for my next meetings in Saigon (a.k.a Ho Chi Minh City), I had a couple of weekend days to relax. Waking up to a rather hot and humid morning in Phnom Penh, I thought it would be a good idea to checked out the beaches in Sihanoukville. So, off to the beach I went. I got on taxi and headed south. The two-lane main highway (Hwy 4) leading to Sihanoukville was in good shape but the driver was a bit too enthusiastic with his driving skill, especially when he appeared to bowl down the kids playing along the edge of the road.

After a four-hour ride, I was dropped off at my hotel in Sihanoukville late in morning. My hotel room had an ocean view. The combination of cool breeze, warm sand, and the sound of the ocean made it a perfect condition for a nap. And that's exactly what I did... for several hours.

Sihaoukville beach, a view from my hotel room.

Waking up to the sound of kids playing on the beach and the sight of coconuts laying around, I felt hungry. Fresh coconuts beat the frozen ones any time! That was my pre-appetizers. Now off to the main course. For that, I went to town prospecting a decent meal. Since my tummy had not been indoctrinated with the local culture, I decided to avoid items that may be unfriendly to my stomach, especially raw stuff. I had steamed fish and rice with fish sauce. The meal was good and the price was much more reasonable than that at the hotel.

Not often I get to enjoy real fresh cocounts right at the beach.

After the meal I took a stroll around the town. At the time I found it to be not that interesting. May be my opinion would change if I spend more time. Beside, I preferred peace and quiet by the ocean.

Back at the hotel, I had some coffee at the bar and made small talks with a couple of locals. The social structure of Cambodia is pretty much like that of a third-world country: a small population of very wealth folks and a large population of very poor folks. The middle-class folks are virtually in non-existence. Resort hotels lining Sihanoukville beach cater mostly to foreigners from Australia and Europe. With recent violent history behind them, the Cambodians are struggling to re-construct their life, one day at a time. And corruption is a significant burden in their day-to-day struggle. At one point, manufacturing industry was viewed as part of the solution to Cambodia's struggling economy. However, today, with the vacuum suction effect created by China's manufacturing magnets, thousands of Cambodians have lost their jobs and, perhaps, their hope in the fight against poverty. About 36% of roughly 13 millions Cambodians is living under poverty line. A monthly salary of a teacher is as little as US$20 per month. This means an illegal immigrant working at a minimum wage in the US can earn 40 times higher than a teacher in Cambodia

I got back to my room late in the evening feeling a bit ill. It could be the local beer? Humm.. but I didn't have any beer. Any way, My weekend in Sihanoukville was enjoyable but short. Gotta get back to Phnom Penh to get ready for my flight to SGN early on Monday.

• Lear heouy

(goodbye in Khmer)