Foreign lives

Living on National Road on Phnom Penh shows one reality of Cambodia, but one that is at the same time so artificial. Staying in a five-star hotel also made me feel thrice removed from reality.

Above: National Road

Below: An ordinary road

Because of the large amounts of tourists and government officials there, it’s almost like the lives of its citizens have been shaped their lives to provide for these ‘foreigners’ and higher officials. They shape their training and professions around this tourist culture. For example, tuk tuk drivers wait in crowds outside hotels restraints and tourist places and rush to offer service to tourists. Then there is the waiting. They wait for a client, then offer to wait for you as you do your visit to museums or shopping. Many tuk tuk drivers are homeless, some without a home but with a family. They sleep on the streets or in their tuk tuks.