Family evenings in Phnom Penh

As we said before the favoured mode of transport in Phnom Penh is the ‘Moto’ or small motorbike. These buzz about the streets all day with workers carrying everything on them but in the evenings they become the favoured family transport with typically four people including grandma and the baby. The Cambodian women manage to perch side saddle on the back with bags of shopping or even breast feeding the baby without any concerns darting between the crazy traffic.

Photos family on moto – note ‘Safety First’ sign!

See the baby on the front.

Apologies for blurred pictures due to speed of traffic.

As the evening cools families then go to the Vietnamese friendship Park. Thousands of people go – the whole place is very busy and lively. Lots of big music speakers are set up seemingly in competition with each other, there are sweets and toys and snacks for sale, the atmosphere is like a busy Blackpool prom.

Photo –Chris eating Lotus flower seed pod –tastes like raw peas.

There is a large playground area full of children –I’ve never seen a park so busy yet no bad behaviour or arguing seems to take place.

Parents sit chatting around the playground and fountain.

Photos – how many children can you get on a mini roundabout?

 Lots of teenagers and young adults do a type of aerobics – there are several big groups of these spread around the park.

Chris enjoyed a bowl of banana and coconut rice milk which was served boiling hot –weak porridge?

Since arriving in Cambodia we are undertaking In Country Training so far covering topics such as staying healthy ,Gender, Cultural do’s and don’ts, corruption, mines in Cambodia, and HIV and Aids.

Representatives from Mines Advisory Group (MAG) gave a presentation on their work in providing clearance and conflict recovery across much of the country for communities affected by Landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).See www.maginternational.org/cambodia.

We visited the British Embassy to meet the Ambassador Andrew Mace and had an opportunity to ask him questions on political issues in Cambodia.