Why is this woman so pleased to see us? Is it a typically happy, smiling face of a Ratanakiri resident during my recent visit in the northeast province? Or have I just cracked my favourite "soksabai-saisabok" joke? No, it's because we have just given her 500 Riel per moto to pass through her makeshift road-block/toll about ten kilometres outside Ban Lung. We were returning from a visit to the O'Sinlair 7-step waterfall and Bey Srok gem-mining town and had encountered no less than ten such small money-making enterprises on our route. Where the 'public' track is either waterlogged or impassable, land-owners allow motos to use an alternative route across their property for the price of 500 Riel per moto (in UK money terms, that's 9 pence). Hence her happy disposition when she saw us arriving, mud-splattered from our day's adventure. And yes, she's wearing teddy bear pyjamas.
Monday, December 03, 2007
500 Riel richer
Why is this woman so pleased to see us? Is it a typically happy, smiling face of a Ratanakiri resident during my recent visit in the northeast province? Or have I just cracked my favourite "soksabai-saisabok" joke? No, it's because we have just given her 500 Riel per moto to pass through her makeshift road-block/toll about ten kilometres outside Ban Lung. We were returning from a visit to the O'Sinlair 7-step waterfall and Bey Srok gem-mining town and had encountered no less than ten such small money-making enterprises on our route. Where the 'public' track is either waterlogged or impassable, land-owners allow motos to use an alternative route across their property for the price of 500 Riel per moto (in UK money terms, that's 9 pence). Hence her happy disposition when she saw us arriving, mud-splattered from our day's adventure. And yes, she's wearing teddy bear pyjamas.
hehe, "sok sabai, saisabok"
ReplyDeleteThat's cute and funny to hear from barang. Not only the woman, you cracked me up as well. heh pu barang, pang baru.