The flight to Phnom Penh revealed the enormous flood plains of Cambodia. At times it seemed as though we had flown over the coast but we were well inland. The floods are important for the rich agriculture of the country but it is important that the rainy season comes at the right time, or it causes more damage than good. Phnom Penn airport is going through the changes and developments I have witnessed at Yangon, in Myanmar (formerly Burma). The existing airport is very small but something very much larger and complex is rising around it.
I was met by Sok Sen, otherwise known as "Kiko", the Regional Representative for CAFOD for South East Asia. In fact Kiko had been our guide in Myanmar in 2012. The drive to the hotel was through the centre of Phnom Penh, a bustling city of about four million people. The scene was familiar insofar as the streets were teeming with life and there was a constant line of shops and markets bursting with goods. One thing did register: there are thousands of motorcycles and tuck-tucks (motorcycle taxis) but no buses. There is no public transport here beyond one bus route which is not running consistently. There are quite a lot of cars (a fast-growing number I am told) but they were predominantly large 4x4 people carriers and luxury vehicles. It is a sure sign that, while the economy is booming, the benefits are being felt by relatively few who have the lion's share of the prosperity.
After a couple of hours at the hotel, and a very useful siesta, I went out to eat with Kiko in the old part of the city - very French colonial and charming, near the river. The restaurant was very large, overlooking the water but the food was excellent and wonderfully cheap.
The breath-taking moments of the evening were all due to the traffic, not least to the motorcyclists who seem quite happy to go on the wrong side of the road. The streets were teeming with crowds and I was told that "Cambodians like to eat out, any meal, any time".
I was very pleased with the conversation with Kiko and have learned a lot about the work of CAFOD in this region. The timetable for tomorrow has already been adjusted but it will mean both briefings in the office and trips to see partners.
