Think world cities of style, think Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo... Phnom Penh? Well, in the hairstyle stakes, Cambodia just put itself on the map, taking two gold medals at the 11th Hair Olympics in Japan this month.
Sun Heang, a 27-year-old mother of one and proprietor of Christina's, captured the attention of judges in Tokyo at the Asia Pacific Hairdressers and Cosmetologist Association (APHCA) Hair Olympics, taking out the best show cut and best hair cut categories.
We were both under the weather. We had packed the kids off to stay with friends and my Cambodian partner had decided to celebrate moving house by spending the night trawling bars, thoughtfully taking my keys with him and leaving me outside with the guard until the small hours of the morning. A whole dead chicken complete with head and legs on the doorstep was the last thing I needed, but there it was. Roasted, Chinese style, its eyes staring and looking a little rancid already in the morning heat and no more attractive for the fact it was reclining on a bed of fruit.
In other countries, scrap collectors scramble for cans and bottles. In Cambodia, especially in provinces which experienced heavy fighting, your local "etchay" may have a stash of bombs and bullets.
Authorities in Banteay Meanchey district on the Thailand border confiscated 6,000 bullets and more than 1,000 bombs and grenades from scrap collectors in the past two days, saying they posed a threat to public order as the seven raided storage areas are mostly located in built-up areas.
They can't help but be cute, and with so many adorable options out there in Phnom Penh it really is time to dress the kids.
Unlike us, toddlers have no concept of 'fat days' or concerns over "but I wore that two days ago" and will never retort with "floral?! That's so 2007!" Sure, they go through phases when all they want to do is run around naked or to be Batman forever, but these phases are still cute. Seeing a boy dressed as Spiderman in a supermarket aisle is something that never fails to raise a smile. Dressing children is great fun.
Location, location, location, you know the old adage and the magnificent temples of the ancient Khmer empire are no exception. The classic Khmer temple of Phnom Rung boasts Thailand's boldest location, perched atop an extinct volcano, while in Laos the Khmers left their legacy under the shadow of Lingaparvata mountain in the elegant lines of Wat Phu.
What happens when Cambodia's vibrant youth culture is confronted with its not-so-distant past?
Click for the download page of Geoff Ryman's Hugo Award nominated imaginary novelette, 'Pol Pot's Beautiful Daughter'.
Geoff-Ryman
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EAS Interview: History's Horrors Inspired Literary Beauty
Geoff Ryman talks about his novels and short stories with Cat Barton.
Most visitors to Phnom Penh, even those on a short trip, have heard of Friends restaurant. Starting out as an NGO concerned with providing practical hospitality training to ex-street children, Friends has earned itself a well-deserved reputation for friendly staff and tasty, reliable food.