From Skeleton to Full Blown Business

As the Manager of a water program in Svey Rieng and Prey Veng for an humanitarian organisation in 1987, there were always less than 100 westerners in Cambodia at any time. The infrastructure was skeletal and basic, comfort zone the same. Roads were awful and local people were very much still in a state of shock.

Returning to Kampuchea after 22 years, as expected, I saw vast changes, another country in fact. Having travelled in Lao in 1988/89 and worked in Vietnam in 1991, I had already seen the transformation from Soviet days to more western style economies in the first 6000 kilometers of the ride.

In those '87 days, one of the few hotels available was the Monorom Hotel, famous in journo circles as the base for most correspondents in those earlier hectic times. I discovered it is now Asia Hotel after 2 changes of ownership and sought it out. During my '87 stay Vietnamese technicians were unravelling the 2 person lift elevator. All the NGO workers were afraind to use it so I have the honour of having been the first westerner to have gone up and down since Pol Pot days. Now redecorated and looking pretty swish, I asked permission to repeat the short journey to the 6th floor now renovated to rooms while previously a rooftop bar.

While taking my pic with the Minsk outside a nouveau riche Chinese couple shoved me out of the way to get their pic with my bike. Not polite. Reminded me of standing in the lobby one morning way back trying to get out to work when a cerain French videographer also shoved me out of the way to 'get his shot'. Not polite. Nothing seems to have changed no matter what they call this hotel.

Photographers too. The one who got personal sponsorshiop on the back of this project also shoved me out of the way to get the career path under way. Not polite.

While Cambodia was put on the map by Lady Diana regarding the Landmine issue, its problem with Cluster Bombs has been neglected and brains washed so when the subject is raised they ask "you mean landmines?". Thus the point of Project Pinepple, to gain publicity and raise awareness of the issue. Please tell your friends, write to your political representative.