Drinking

My colleague came up with the perfect phrase to describe expat life in Cambodia

"If I wasn't married, I'd be an alcoholic"

Ponder on that for a while. The booze is cheap and there is little else to do ...

Adultery

Recently an adultery law was passed. Break this law and spent up to one year in prison for men and women. It is, as usual, a political move targeting FUNCINPEC party leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who is divorcing his wife and is reportedly in a long-term relationship with another woman. The prince is the prime minister's latest target in the run up to next year's commune elections.

It is feared the law may also be selectively used against opposition politicians or others who ruffle the feathers of government officials. There is also a legitimate concern that corrupt police and courts will use the law as a tool to extort money from vulnerable women such as domestic violence victims who, if they try to leave their abusive husbands, may be accused of having affairs.

This is another example of hypocrisy from the government. It is widely acknowledged that all rich men have more than wife and many mistresses. In fact TV stars and singers serve as high class prostitutes to the rich and powerful. So much the much vaunted morality that government is trying to protect.

Life

The streets are quiet. It feels like an early Sunday afternoon at home. The UN are the only people at work today because of the festival of Pchum Ben. It is the Cambodian equivalent of All Saints Day and most of the residents of Phnom Penh have gone to the provinces. It is so peaceful here - also hard to find a motodop. Going to do a shop today as tomorrow *nothing* will be open. My bosses are considering letting us go at lunchtime - that would be excellent.

I am sure everybody has heard about the coup d'état in Thailand. As one of Thailand's closest neighbours, Cambodia remains unconcerned. Friends of mine are heading tomorrow towards the military coup and martial law when the general rule when it comes to civil unrest is participate or get the hell out of the way. Speaking of I hope D is OK in Budapest.

As there is no way to extend my contract here I am job hunting again. It seems like its all I do - hunt the wily job. I've already had an offer but they wanted someone immediately and it was part time. I want to finish out my contract here and then walk into a plush salary and a penthouse in Manhattan!

Anyway have a great weekend - eat, drink and be merry cos tomorrow there may be bird flu!

HELP - computer literate people out there

My IT guy just quit on me and left an unfinished website written in Macromedia and and CSS which may be the same thing for all I know.

Does anybody want to help me out by taking on unpaid work and finish the site? It's almost complete according to what he said. The job is relatively urgent and so if you don't have time - please don't offer!

Thanks! I'm on skype if you have questions

Vids

TocciOnline has another great video out - Gasoline from the people who brought you Preggers and D.R.A.F.T

It's hot here.

Arsenic and old lace

Not so much old lace as arsenic in the ground water. Yes indeed it was revealed last week that the Phnom Penh ground water is full of arsenic. Boiling does not get rid of it. I was wondering why my skin was glowing ... its bottled water from now on!

Slurping politely

Why does my colleague come into my office just to slurp his coffee at me? He doesn't drink it so much as slurps it out of a spoon.

I can't tell him to fuck off because it is not culturally acceptable where I am.

I'm trying to be polite and put up with it but eww gross

Broke

Apparently they sent an email but first I heard was at the staff meeting. No pay till 20th. We usually get it on the first so I am a little perturbed by this. They want to get us in sync with other agencies who get paid at the end of the month. I think there is an obvious solution here which is not being addressed

*expletive deleted* *expletive deleted*

Grey girls

Khmer Proverb No. 1
“A son is a diamond, a daughter a piece of white linen. If you drop a diamond in the mud it wipes clean again.”

Khmer Proverb No. 2
“Having a daughter is like having a toilet inside the house; one day you just know the smell will come”

Women in Cambodia

Meanderings

Getting blood taken from one's hand really hurts. Delicate veins bruise easily and five days later the bruise remains. It hurts even if it leaves interesting colours on my skin. I prefer the bruises on my arm - less pain.

Anyway I don't have dengue fever - just the flu - not even bird flu - just the normal kind - despite having had a flu shot at the beginning of the year.

Check this link out - if HP was written by ...

I'm glad it's Friday cos P is coming to visit and there's an Elsewhere party on tonight to which I may end up going!