Why ponchos, pajamas and pork are here to stay

I just got dumped on.

I know... bad English, but the sky literally just unloaded an ocean onto my unprepared, bike-riding self. The rain was coming down so furiously that I could barely keep my eyes open! My contacts were wading in the pools of water that were filling up on my pupils and it was near impossible to blink rapidly enough to see clearly. It was like trying to take a shower with your eyes wide open the whole time. (Don’t worry mom, I’m alive J).

Pedal, pedal, squeeze water out of eyes, wipe off as much rain as possible, pedal, pedal. Repeat.

All this while trying to avoid being side-swiped by a motos and cars also scurrying to get home before the streets assumed the role of a rushing river. But no worries, I arrived home before the rising water reached my ankles! As traumatic as I make it sound though, biking in the rain is also a beautiful beautiful thing. Especially if you’re blessed to have a cozy home to coast into. It’s even tempting to just stand in the downpour, embracing the cooling effect.

The reason ponchos are here to stay is that it rains hard and often during rainy season in Cambodia. If you have any hope at all of arriving at your destination with your belongings dry, it’s a necessary purchase. And please, who WOULDN'T want to wear one of these beauties? :)

Pajamas – who says they’re only sleepwear? Cambodians sure don’t. At all times of day, women sport the matching button-up tops and shapeless bottoms with a preferably floral pattern. The more intense the design the better. In the beginning, it was always a little shocking to see women riding motos, shopping in the markets or selling goods wearing these (as Westerners see them) sleeping clothes. But I’ve become quite used to the sight. Nothing about PJs screams “night!” so why not? Pajamas are here to stay J

I’ve never eaten so much pork in my life. Threat of swin flu never fazed us over here. I didn't think I really liked pork – but I eat it often in Cambodia and I like it. It’s accessible and it’s delicious – simple put, that’s why pork is here to stay!