Khmer Diary

[Faidenk]

Originally Posted by JouZatriani

Background

I liked PP a lot eventhough it was Khmer New Year. It was really my pleasure to meet Faidenk. Next time we meet I hope we can do two things:

1) Play snooker, also with those army generals
2) go off the beaten track with some selected nice girls for a 1-2 nights

All the best for you and thank you very much for your hospitality and friendship!!!

Yo bro, glad you have a good time, but like I said, I didn't do anything I wouldn't have done on my own.

Yup, those military guys are so hospitable. Every time they see me, they always insist I have a drink or two with them, probably out of gratitude for the sardine and anchovy (both in oil) sandwich I introduce them to.

BTW, there was a pool tournament last Sunday organised by a hotel here. $20 entrance, a bit steep but worth it because it came together with 10 cans of Tiger beer, a carton of Mild Seven ciggies, a simple dinner, already worth the entrance fee. Anyway, I was very lucky to win it, went down to the last game (race to 5) and to the last 8-ball. The $300 cash prize came in handy, the JW Gold Label shall be drunk in the company of good friends, the Tiger beer hamper with a half-yard and very classy looking beer glass shall have a place of pride at my home.

It was good to know you, look forward to seeing you again.

[Faidenk]

New Year In The Cambodian Countryside Part 4 Final


So, what are we looking at today? Well, more of the same. Frankly, I am looking forward to going back to Phnom Penh. Going out to the country seemed a good idea at the time, smell the fresh country air, the flowers, relaxing by the stream. In reality, it’s bull shit I’m smelling; and the dust gets to you after a while. And to think 30 years ago I harbored dreams of a country home in Northern Thailand.

The day passed agonizingly slowly by, more Angkor beer and free-range chicken fried with ginger. One of my party wagered a bet of 2 cartons of beer when Chhan’s friend said tonight he will introduce a Dutch girl to us tonight. Yeah right, a Nederlandse frau in the middle of the Cambodian country where there is an absence of electricity and running water, and you can’t shit without your bum bitten by mozzies, where waft after waft of fresh cowdung hits your nose as you sleep on the bamboo floor above. Well, the bet is on, and nothing more was said about the Dutch girl.

About 6 in the evening, after we had freshen up with another much needed shower, we packed ourselves in the van and stopped at a pitch dark house in the middle of nowhere. The van’s headlights the only source of light, the host and a few other guys carried out 2 bamboo platforms that were to be out seating and dining area. Chilled beers from an eskie from the back of the van were distributed and another round of drinking began. I swear I’ll give beer up.

At the back of the house, several people were preparing food, all women folks, huddling over pots on on a makeshift stove dug in the ground. When the food was served, Chhan’s friend triumphantly tapped our friend on the shoulder, here your Dutch girl. Our jaws dropped, sure as the LKY is MM, a young (maybe 25) Angmo girl stood there and introduced to everyone. Anyway, I shied away because everyone was talking to her, the usual questions, what you doing here etc. She’s working for an NGO in Sihanoukville and she’s, well, making use of the Khmer New Year holidays, much like us, coming with her colleague to visit her family.

When everybody’s curiosities were satisfied, they went back to their drinking. I took a beer and handed it to her. She was a bit hesitant but I reassured her Khmer ladies drink as well, and in any case, even if ladies drinking is frowned upon, she’s excused because she’s a barang. I reinforced myself by saying many other things goes on behind the seemingly conservative frontage, I mean, look at the numbers of divorces, the single mothers, babies borne out of wedlock, numbers of girls working in bars, beer gardens all over Cambodia. Nah, I said, a beer is about as sinful as the Pope drinking wine in Communion.

We got to talking and the beer loosen my tongue and bit and I told her of my 3 years in Europe (then Western) and the 2 in Amsterdam, working in the CTA as a lashing gang crew in the 70s. She wasn’t even born yet and found it quite fascinating as I described Amsterdam, Ibiza (in sunny Spain) and other places as they used to be. Her English was excellent and that was useful, as my command of Dutch is all but forgotten, only some words unmentionable in polite company permanently etched in my storage drive.

Like us, she was leaving the next day back to civilization. We said our goodnights and bye byes, she promised to call me if anytime she’s in Phnom Penh and we left it at that. Nice girl, about 26, and yes, sometimes, she revealed, she indulges in a smoke or 2 of the happy herb.

After that, another ho-hum dancing around a bouquet on a table hosted by another local governor or something, eating unmentionables from the inside of the pig, it’s back to the uncle’s house before leaving for Phnom Penh the next day. This night, there was no generator, instead, the small lamp was hooked up to a car battery and left on for the night, by the next morning, the battery’s flat. I had been asked to source for used car batteries in Singapore and Malaysia and I was wondering what it’s going to be used for, certainly the batteries, no matter how good the reconditioning is, would be unsuitable for use in cars ever again. Now my curiosity has been satisfied.

We reached Phnom Penh round about 6 in the evening, a shower at home and all of us hit the bars that night, vows of giving up beer all but forgotten. It’s good to be back. And I’m never going to complain about the power blackouts that hit Phnom Penh ever again.

[Faidenk]

Ripping Off The Boss

That’s the name of the game, Ripping Off The Boss, and everyone in Cambodia seems to be playing it. From the largest of corporations to the smallest of enterprises.

I have described previously about the Cable Guy. He installs, for a flat one-time fee of about $50, the cable that runs to your house. For a little extra he provides the desktop sets and auxiliary cables that you may require for multiple TV sets. Enterprising, isn’t he? One such entrepreneur I know of drives a luxury SUV now.

Common misdemeanors are staff ganging up with cashiers to pocket the takings; bartenders selling drinks to friends or customers in the know at a ‘special’ price, sometimes with bottles brought in by themselves; store personnel accepting bribes for short delivery from vendors, the list goes on.

A Canadian buddy I know here recently negotiated with a bank for a 1-year lease to a piece of land. The land is slated by to be developed in a year’s time, therefore the short lease. My friend intends to run a fair targeted at both locals and tourists, renting out stores to locals selling apparels, food, games, rides as well as organizing variety shows, Miss Fair pageants and so on. Far as he knows, he was the only person approached for the bid, he did his pitch and presented his plans for the ground to the bank but before he could submit his bid, he was summoned and arbitrarily told he was outbidded. He called me to ask if I had spoken to anyone about his plans, I had not and told him so. It seemed the successful bidder had the exact same plans. A week later, he found out the successful bidder was a relative of one of the bank senior staff. Figures.

The latest entrepreneurship I heard of is the ‘alternate’ ISP. It works like this – you purchase a USB internet access dongle from a ISP which allows you to access the internet, say, for $30~40. This comes together with a SIM card which you can recharge with either your mobile phone or PC. For this amount you are given a certain amount of data download per month, e.g. 500mB, beyond this amount you are charged $0.07 per mB, $70 per gB.

Where does the alternate ISP come in? Well, without being too technical, you go to a runner who gives you another SIM card, downloads a piece of software into your USB dongle which directs your billing data to another server, and you’re ready to go. The alternate ISP charges you $0.70 per day with unlimited access. For maximum savings, on days that you want just to access your email, you use your bona fide ISP’s SIM, remember you are given 500mB free; and on days you want heavy usage, use the alternate card for $0.70. Great savings. The question is, how does the alternate provider get their money, considering that you top up your alternate SIM card with the same top up card the bona fide provider uses? It points the finger to somebody way up there in the hierarchy, doesn’t it?

Well I suppose these go on around the world, even in squeaky clean Singapore. I remembered ages ago the company I worked for was invited to tender for a system. The company painstakingly drew up detailed specs for the database, the outline of the program, hardware requirements etc. A presentation was put up, and the specs handed over for their perusal. In those days nobody thought much of a NDA, a government contract like this was considered an important stepping stone to more lucrative deals. Months later the company was regretfully informed the tender was shelved. A year or two later, one of the staff left and joined a newly set up government IT unit. As she had worked on that particular system, she was surprised to discover she was hired to work on that same system, using the same specs and database structure she had worked on in her previous company. That company is still around today doing quite well but I think they have developed a somewhat apprehension to bidding for a government job ever again.

[boysaigon]

...... Next time we meet I hope we can do two things:

1) Play snooker, also with those army generals
2) go off the beaten track with some selected nice girls for a 1-2 nights

...i have tasted bro Faidenk's killer skills at the pool table. He is good with both the stick and his balls...be careful, very careful...

Anyhow, hope to see u again bro! I will be in PP in June.

[Faidenk]

Originally Posted by boysaigon

...... Next time we meet I hope we can do two things:

1) Play snooker, also with those army generals
2) go off the beaten track with some selected nice girls for a 1-2 nights

...i have tasted bro Faidenk's killer skills at the pool table. He is good with both the stick and his balls...be careful, very careful...

Anyhow, hope to see u again bro! I will be in PP in June.

Yo bro, skills can only get you so far and it's really lucky that he left the 8 ball at the jaw for me. We're just a bunch of weekend players, any of the pool hall players from Singapore come here would easily walk away with the top spot. That's how 'good' we are.

And hey, congrats to the oppo who won the Aljunied GRC, you rock. The others? Keep it up, you're getting closer.It's no longer 66%!!!

[Faidenk]

Originally Posted by boysaigon

...... Next time we meet I hope we can do two things:

1) Play snooker, also with those army generals
2) go off the beaten track with some selected nice girls for a 1-2 nights

...i have tasted bro Faidenk's killer skills at the pool table. He is good with both the stick and his balls...be careful, very careful...

Anyhow, hope to see u again bro! I will be in PP in June.

And if I didn't forget you are more than a match for me, bro. Look forward to shooting a few rounds with you. Loser spring for the beers.

[JouZatriani]

Originally Posted by Faidenk

And if I didn't forget you are more than a match for me, bro. Look forward to shooting a few rounds with you. Loser spring for the beers.

That's a deal! I tend to have a higher propability of loosing when there is money on the table. But if the money goes for drinks or girls, I don't mind at all loosing

[JouZatriani]

...as the title of Frank Marino's good LP stands....

My with children and my wingman's wife go to Philippines in early June for 2 months. On the same day they depart, we will fly to Berlin which is one of the best mongering cities in Europe. After few more days we continue to Amsterdam to get our neural connections rewired, perhaps including some experiences with our darker skinned cousins from Africa. Before my wife comes back home, we have a trip to Lisbon, the cheapest place you can get Brazilian in Europe. I highly recommend, also accomodatio, food, etc very affortable.

But this is what I would truly recommend! Trip to Colombia in Oct-Nov. Faidenk, I don't have a buddy. If you would like to join me, send me a PM! Prices not much higher than in PP, but the curvers...! I'm sure we would have fun. I know that there are many other travellers from where you are from with excellent reports.

[Faidenk]

Originally Posted by JouZatriani

That's a deal! I tend to have a higher propability of loosing when there is money on the table. But if the money goes for drinks or girls, I don't mind at all loosing

Then you're on. No money. I stopped playing for money a long time ago, note I did not say gamble becoz in this game, luck figures, although it does, only so much, ultimately it's the skill.

I have so much fun playing the game to let money spoil the game but a little wager for drinks or dinner adds to the thrill. After all, what's drinks or dinner between friends.

[jimmycool]

Yo Bro Faidenk, how are you? You are fast becoming a legend, and rightly so, for your pure heart and unbeatable friendship and hospitality. I miss PP and you, and we are trying hard to visit you again soon. Cant wait to have those beers with you again.
By the way, may I side bet on the snooker game that you will win please, haha
Warm personal regards from jimmycool.

Originally Posted by Faidenk

Then you're on. No money. I stopped playing for money a long time ago, note I did not say gamble becoz in this game, luck figures, although it does, only so much, ultimately it's the skill.

I have so much fun playing the game to let money spoil the game but a little wager for drinks or dinner adds to the thrill. After all, what's drinks or dinner between friends.

[Faidenk]

Originally Posted by jimmycool

Yo Bro Faidenk, how are you? You are fast becoming a legend, and rightly so, for your pure heart and unbeatable friendship and hospitality. I miss PP and you, and we are trying hard to visit you again soon. Cant wait to have those beers with you again.
By the way, may I side bet on the snooker game that you will win please, haha
Warm personal regards from jimmycool.

Yo bro, good to hear from you, and thank you for the kind words.

Wine, women and songs, throw in a little snooker and the joy is complete. Where else in Asia can I have a good Australian wine at USD4 a bottle, an FB who stocks up my fridge even when I told her not to, and songs... errr... oh, fuck the songs.

Phnom Penh and all that is waiting for you.

[JouZatriani]

Just a couple of words to clarify my point... I'm a gambler, but not a professional one I.e. for me the additional thrill of a reasonable bet in 8 or 9 ball, or snooker, even if I loose is fine as long as it is in the limits of my budget.

Card games I approach a bit differently. Over a series of sessions my objective is to win money, however the fun of playing face to face with good friends and having a few drinks is very very nice. Texas Hold'em is my favourite game... ready for any sessions when I'll be there next time

Now I stop polluting this excellent forum and take care further comms through PMs unless I think I have something to say which might be interesting to wider community of readers...

Originally Posted by Faidenk

Then you're on. No money. I stopped playing for money a long time ago, note I did not say gamble becoz in this game, luck figures, although it does, only so much, ultimately it's the skill.

I have so much fun playing the game to let money spoil the game but a little wager for drinks or dinner adds to the thrill. After all, what's drinks or dinner between friends.

[Faidenk]

Originally Posted by JouZatriani

Just a couple of words to clarify my point... I'm a gambler, but not a professional one I.e. for me the additional thrill of a reasonable bet in 8 or 9 ball, or snooker, even if I loose is fine as long as it is in the limits of my budget.

Card games I approach a bit differently. Over a series of sessions my objective is to win money, however the fun of playing face to face with good friends and having a few drinks is very very nice. Texas Hold'em is my favourite game... ready for any sessions when I'll be there next time

Now I stop polluting this excellent forum and take care further comms through PMs unless I think I have something to say which might be interesting to wider community of readers...

Gamblers, the majority anyway, tend to be cautious in the beginning as well as when they're winning but when they losing, they tend to throw all caution to the wind. I thought it should be the other way around. I suppose that's why the house always win, not because of that 1 or 2 miserable advantage point the house has.


By the way JZ, did you make it to Batam after PP?

[Faidenk]

Falling Out Of Lust Pt 1/2


There is this girl I call the Fuck Machine, a name I picked up from a gentleman who shall remained nameless. This gentleman is in his 70’s, well-off as well as spoken, picks his companion not just for the night, he engages her for a period of time, depending on the altitude of the lady in question. During this period of time, he expects her to be completely obedient, faithful and subservient, in return he showers upon her gifts, wine and dine as well as money. Over the years, he has accumulated a number of exs’ and any bar he walks into, there would invariably be a number of ladies he has had. Far from any discontent or petty jealousy, the exs’ would accord him treatment reserved for a VIP, after all, not many people have a monthly budget of a few thousand dollars just for drinks and tips, and if anything, he’s generous to a fault. He is not easy to spot because he would be surrounded by girls, never mind if there are other neglected customers sitting on their own.

He has been a huge fan of my chicken rice and the best ‘word-of-mouth’ advertisement one can possibly hope for, bless him. One evening we, as men are wont to do, discussed about the merits of each of the girls he had had in this particular bar. This one, beckoning a girl over, gives blowjobs that are out of the world; that one has a body to die for but she’s too greedy; and so on. The girl who was with me, he said, is a fuck machine, and so the name stuck in my mind.

The FM, she isn’t particularly pretty, not in the traditional way, but she has that air about her. Somehow it always come to pass that I am always ‘preoccupied’ and had not the opportunity to seek the pleasure of her company. It however did not stop me from recommending her to a few visiting brothers, and the feedbacks I received from them were always positive. It made me curious as to her talents and to made my mind up to have my evil ways with her in the near future. That was several months ago.

2 weeks ago, I popped into the bar she works, she was wearing a knockout low-cut dress which accentuates her fair complexion and cleavage. Her pleasant demeanor, the flowery perfume she wore and the attention she always paid me worked my hormones into overdrive. Why are you not wearing your uniform? Oh, it’s my off day. Shall we go drinking somewhere. Sure. And so we went to Darlin’ Darlin’, the lounge at NagaWorld, where half a bottle of whisky awaits.

DD is the place to see and be seen in Phnom Penh, a place you rub shoulders with the movers and the shakers although the truth be told, I won’t know who they are even if they are right up my arse, dumb ignorant foreigner that I am. Danitha the friendly manager quickly got me a table, the last one left, faux tycoon that I am. The FM seemed to drink with a vengeance, bottoming it up every time the cute waitress (the waitresses here are supplied by a modeling agency) filled the glass, and before too long we were shaking our booties to the music of the resident Philippino band, and getting more pissed along the way.

The FM seemed a little out of depth in that environment, couldn’t blame her for the uneasiness, she’s probably more used to the bar scene where she reigns, but damn if she didn’t attract more than a fair share of double takes in that elegant outfit. I was enjoying the attention she was inviting; she, on the other hand, seemed totally unaware of her attractiveness, and if she was, she did a marvelous job hiding it.

Soon it was time to go home. We struggled a little up the narrow stairs, made even more difficult because of the higher than standard steps to accommodate the high ceiling height because of the mezzanine floors in the ground and first floors. After a quick shower, we were finally alone. We switched off the lights, I like to think she struggled to stay awake as much as I did, that pissed we were, but we didn’t wake up until 12 the next day, and the pounding head didn’t allow for any further amorous activities. I slipped her a $10, she orkun’d me and I didn’t see her out.

[Faidenk]

Falling Out Of Lust Pt 2/2


The next opportunity came 2 evenings ago and again I had not prepared for any female companion for the night. A buddy had called me to go bar-hopping and because this buddy was always a bundle of fun and also because my current FB was 'inconvenient', I tagged along. We ended up having a beer each in a string of bars. At the FM’s bar, I was struggling to prevent myself from falling off the chair.

The FM magically appeared, although I did not spot her upon our entrance. The buddy brought out the remainder half of his JD. He had this cute girl, R sitting with him. Together with the girls, we finished the bottle. Although my mind seemed alert, my legs however have a mind of their own. In this state of mind, there is a tendency to be receptive to any suggestions, so when the buddy suggested we each bring a companion home, well, I agreed. Did I mention the buddy had rented my spared room? Well, he did, after my ex-flatmate moved out.

I had a previous encounter with R, she was always good to me whenever I went to that bar and well, I liked her. She’s quite vain, always posing and admiring herself in the mirror, but then youngsters are like that. One day, I invited R for a nookie to my place in the afternoon. She turned up 3 hours late because her sister wasn’t free to fetch her. I found it a little odd, after all, she’s 22, but did not pursue it further. In any case while she wasn’t the best I had, there’s nothing much to complain either. Even if there was, it would have been more than compensated by her simply gorgeous body. I had not negotiated any amount prior but assumed it would be $25 for a quickie and I was prepared to pay her a premium because well, I liked her. The deed done, I handed her $40, expecting her to leave. She sat there on the bed, looking up at me with those sad puppy eyes, and saying something. My Khmer then was a lot worse, not that it’s any better now, and could not fathom what she was trying to say, but I hell wasn’t about to fall victim to any scam, pretty or not. As it is, I have already overpaid. R used her fingers to let me know $70 is the amount she wanted. Preposterous! I put my foot down and said no. She looked about to cry but I was adamant and said bye, bye and shoo’d her out the door. From my balcony I saw her get on her sister’s bike. She avoided me whenever I went to that bar and I was contented to leave it as that, until that night.

Back to the FM, I made some feeble attempt at foreplay and found the cleavage she had, well, was the work of Wonderbra. I could live with that but her nips really put me off. You may laugh but she has really skinny nipples; the length of it is normal enough, as long as my pinkie’s nail but the circumference, it’s like sucking a a stiff yellow noodle used in prawn noodles. It put me off completely and I just couldn’t work up the mood to have sex with her. It’s like trying to make love to a sister, I’m not into incest but that’s the vibes I am getting, it’s not that she’s objectionable in any way, but that’s how I felt. I feigned drunkenness and went to sleep. The next morning I woke up at 8 and had to pee. I took the opportunity to wash up and when I came back to the room, she was all dressed up and ready to go. I did not object and slipped her another $10 for her trouble. She thanked me and left. I guess the feeling’s mutual.

After I locked the door after her, I walked to the living room to get my ciggies and found R sitting there watching the Khmer channel running 24-hr KTV Khmer folk songs. She was all dressed up as well. The buddy habitually doesn’t wake up until around noon. Oh boy, this girl has a long time to wait. I greeted her ‘morning’ and she returned it. I had my ciggie and went back to sleep.

I woke up just in time to see the buddy sent her off. Later we went to the Vietnamese phÓ shop not far from my apartment. Good stuff, lots of beef slices, some very tender tendons pieces and a beef ball, and very smooth kway teow, all for 5,000 riel or USD1.25, my breakfast once a week. I asked the buddy how was R’s performance and he said it’s alright, as in it could have been a whole lot better. Then he added, I think this girl is not quite right up there. How so? I asked. I can’t put my finger on it but….

Come to think of it, I think he’s right. I can’t pinpoint it but there’s something in her behavior that indicates she one short of a dozen. That would explain why the sister has to fetch her to and fro jobs. But damn if she isn’t the most attractive wacko I jumped. Oh well, I’ll try to be nicer to her next time.

And the FM, I doubt I’ll RTF.





P.S. Yo bro Xam, long time. Thanks for the ups. Didn't hear from you since you left PP. How's the travels. Drop me a email to update or post the FRs, love to hear them.