bus system in pnom penh? preposterous. proven/efficient method of transport in all other cities the world over. but nope, not here. All transport is done either on the backs of motorbikes, in tuk-tuks, or in a sort of bucket seat on the front of a circus looking platform bike. My host has never taken one without bargaining and I do the same. They ask for $2-3, but never pay more than $1.50 no matter how long the ride is. words cant even begin to describe the mayhem on the road. but lets just say traffic lights are another concept that hasnt quite caught on. or even traffic directions.
Markets are full of good bargains, but you really have to try to avert your eyes while in the food areas, as there are many horrible sites and smells. Unrefrigerated meat sitting out in 100 degree weather, bloodied piles of hacked up fish and chicken.
The old and new mix it up here, so u might see a beautiful boutique, with trendy storefronts of plate glass and the staff inside in the comfort of AC, there are dudes up to their ears in grease, dismembering engines right next door. At another location, bags of old computer parts are piled 20 feet high, shipped here under the guise of bringing (severely outdated) equipment here will somehow help developing countries. three guys are hunched over with hammers, cracking the mother boards up and discarding the plastic, saving the little transistors that must posses some value to someone. Unhealthy working conditions all around, makes you realize how good youve got it in your cushy office.
Not me. It's bad here in my office. The coffee is TERRIBLE. It's a national tragedy.
ReplyDelete