The Spiral of Life

 

I can't believe it has been two years since I have posted on this blog! I have changed continents again, and now I'm calling Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, my home. I lived here from 2008-2010, so I have been pretty excited to see how the city has changed. 

About two weeks after I moved to Cambodia in 2008, I encountered a tiny black kitten who was in danger. I grabbed her, took her to school, and at the end of the day, back to my apartment. When she survived the weekend, I named her 'Samnang,' which is Khmer for 'Lucky.' I mostly call her Sammy now, and she is still with me, bossing me around and filling my heart with love. 

A week ago, Sammy and I boarded a Korean Air flight for Seoul, and connected there for a flight to Phnom Penh. As usual, Sammy was a much better traveller than me. I am NOT a glamorous traveller. My body HATES travelling. I am, in fact, the poster child for the pain and suffering that a traveller endures. This particular journey was made worse by the fact that I set out with a miserable head and chest cold (yes, I took a covid test to be sure). 

After a few days of rest to recuperate, I have begun to explore the city a bit. I have been quite disoriented, because the city has changed so much. It seems that all of my old haunts have disappeared. Hopefully with time I will discover new haunts that I will love as much. 

The first day when I was out walking, a man passed me on a motorbike. Actually, he was doing a u-turn in front of me. He was performing this maneuver using only his right hand, because he was holding a tiny baby in his left. I felt like I had never left. 

Mural at Factory Phnom Penh

One new space I was anxious to check out is Factory Phnom Penh. It is an optimistic complex based in an old Levis factory in the south of PP. Work began on it in 2017. There are IT and Art work spaces, small retail shops, little coffee shops, art galleries. Throughout the complex you can admire astonishing murals by local artists. There is a plan to incorporate condos as well. 

I had breakfast (an egg pancake and coffee with condensed milk) at a little restaurant, and was captivated by the rules as illustrated above.