is that you can actually live here and go about your daily business and not even know that there are major clashes that are making international news headlines. While I have been loosely following the protests, some of which are calling for the Prime Minister to step down amid rigged election results while others are now aimed at raising wages for garment factory workers, the photos I saw on-line today give a picture of a city in upheaval, a place without a safe street corner. But in general, the Kampuchean people (Cambodians) are a quiet lot. It takes quite a bit to rile them. In this case, they want $160 or so dollars a month. Yes, a month! That's for 6 or 7 day work weeks at anywhere between 8 and 10 hours a day. You do the math.
There is certainly a bit of that if you're in the right places. The locations where the opposition party has been demonstrating (peacefully) are being cleared by police. And there are certainly areas in turmoil, particularly those areas where the garment factories are. And in the past weeks, Julie and I have had some plans thwarted by marching. Most of the time, we turn around and head home--it's always best to stay out of other peoples' business. One time, we were cut off trying to cross the cross-street closest to our home, but we relaxed and waited like everyone else: no cameras, no chanting, no shenanigans.
Other than that, there is a sense of normalcy here. In fact, Sila and I were cruising our local market and doing our daily biz. As I said, most of PP is safe (for now, at least), and things progress as normal, so fear not for our safety. We are staying clear of troubled areas and will keep a watch out for any call to leave the city, but we're keeping on with our daily lives until then.
As for those, I will update in a few days with some other things going on here. Until then, if you want a quieter slice of life in and around PP, check out my latest travel article, "On the Road: Biking to Neak Loeung," which just appeared in What's Up Phnom Penh.
There is certainly a bit of that if you're in the right places. The locations where the opposition party has been demonstrating (peacefully) are being cleared by police. And there are certainly areas in turmoil, particularly those areas where the garment factories are. And in the past weeks, Julie and I have had some plans thwarted by marching. Most of the time, we turn around and head home--it's always best to stay out of other peoples' business. One time, we were cut off trying to cross the cross-street closest to our home, but we relaxed and waited like everyone else: no cameras, no chanting, no shenanigans.
Other than that, there is a sense of normalcy here. In fact, Sila and I were cruising our local market and doing our daily biz. As I said, most of PP is safe (for now, at least), and things progress as normal, so fear not for our safety. We are staying clear of troubled areas and will keep a watch out for any call to leave the city, but we're keeping on with our daily lives until then.
As for those, I will update in a few days with some other things going on here. Until then, if you want a quieter slice of life in and around PP, check out my latest travel article, "On the Road: Biking to Neak Loeung," which just appeared in What's Up Phnom Penh.
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