Comments on: Cambodian wedding food in Tbaeng Meanchey

By: DJ

DJ — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 08:18:20 +0000

oh yes maytel don’t worry i agree with you for the most part – vegism is quite a ridiculous concept in Cambodia. but after 18 years – i find i lack both the flexible morals and the stomach lining required for an on-the-spot conversion. i was lucky to work with locals who had encountered many vegos before and in fact were quite relieved that at communal meals they got to eat all the meat…!

By: Maytel

Maytel — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:40:57 +0000

No offense DJ, but I came to view many western vegetarians with a great deal of disdain during my 3 years in Cambodia. Not all mind you. I did have a vege friend who relaxed her approach to vegetarianism in Cambodia, understanding that while it very much makes sense from an ecological and humane standpoint in the west, it is the ultimate luxury, even ethnocentric indulgence, to turn down protein in a food scarce country such as Cambodia. One should be flexible in such circumstances.

By: DJ

DJ — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:07:18 +0000

unsuspecting vegetarians who may be invited to these events , be warned- if cambodian food in general is veg-unfriendly then weddings are even worse and the potential for embarrassment (of self and of the host family) is great – i was once at a wedding seating 500+ people – the only food i could eat was deep fried cashews. with a beer chaser. (this would qualify as one of the most disgusting meals i have ever had if it weren’t for the unfortunate case of Stir Fried Gourd i encountered at a village in SR). worth it for the strange cultural experience but not in a hurry to repeat…

By: Maytel

Maytel — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 08:18:54 +0000

oh whoops, I hadn’t noticed…unfortunate….that’s pretty good, we should have a competition for ‘worst english named establishments in Cambodia’. My vote would go to the Hor Bunny hotel in Kratie

By: MeegsR

MeegsR — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:23:24 +0000

Such restraint!! Not one joke about the restaurant’s unfortunate name for English speaking customers … Needless to say, I have no such restraint. Darareah! Hilarious!!

By: Maytel

Maytel — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:00:37 +0000

hmmm, it’s the long “lucky” mole hairs that disturb me the most. It is widely held that to grow long hairs out of moles on your face brings fortune, however I always like to remind people it most likely brings unluck with women – ugh

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 06:12:39 +0000

I spent half a day trawling through Cambodian cellphone numbers with a concerned workmate to ensure that my number had an 8 in it. Half a day that I’ll never get back.

By: Maytel

Maytel — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 06:02:22 +0000

eight is probably another borrowed chinese tradition, eight is lucky in chinese