This isn’t going to be one of my typical analytical postings, but there was some interesting news as well as a few fascinating/disturbing videos that were brought to my attention this week that I felt I simply had to share.
Firstly, there was a chilling scene outside a Phnom Penh money exchange yesterday that resulted in one woman dead and half of U.S. $30,000 stolen. Brazenly, and in broad daylight, a man appears to pistol whip a young woman repeatedly as she tries getting onto a motorbike – and in front of her small child – just after she exchanged the very large sum of money. Meanwhile, scores of onlookers go about their business as if nothing is happening. The shocking scene was all captured on security footage. I won’t show the video publicly on this post, but you can access it through this Facebook page of a friend of mine. The page is public. $30,000 is a lifetime and a half’s worth of money in Cambodia, so the nature of the crime is even more dubious in that context.
The following video is unsurprising to me only because it has been the subject of a few anecdotes from friends of mine in Cambodia for quite some time. That said, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are sure to find the fact that British tourists amuse themselves in Cambodia by tossing live chickens to crocodiles rather unsettling. The Daily Mail in the UK has performed a recent investigation into this matter.
On a lighter note, check out this incredible piece of footage of Phnom Penh, Cambodia circa 1965. Obviously, this was during the height of the Vietnam War, but before the Khmer Rouge. Interesting to see the ways the city has changed and how it has remained the same through the decades.
Bangkok has been named by Travel and Leisure Magazine as the world’s best city for 2011. I have lived, worked, or studied on four continents and have seen my fair share of great cities. Personally, I would have went with Prague as my number one choice. But Bangkok, for all its uniqueness in more ways than one, is at the top of my list as well.
Make sure to read my extended review of John Sayles’ independent film, “Amigo,” at The Diplomat, a phenomenal publication concerning the Asia-Pacific region.
Lastly, you can now follow me on Twitter @TheRealMrTim. I only have a few followers at the moment and it’s rather embarrassing so please, the more the merrier!
