Shopping therapy

Consumerism has arrived in Cambodia. There are three big supermarkets in Phnom Penh: Lucky, Pencil (which curiously does not sell pencils), and Big A. A common feature of all three is that the staff outnumber the customers. These supermarkets are not only for foreigners; there are a surprising number of Cambodian couples wandering around them hand-in-hand. The supermarkets have a dual attraction: they are air-conditioned and they contain the first escalators to arrive in Cambodia.

The Big A supermarket has a large section entitled "All kinds of using equipments" which really does contain all kinds of "equipments" for "using", for the most part made in China and of superlative quality. The vital component of a rather sophisticated looking water pump that we purchased, which ceased to function within days, turned out to be a very ordinary, flimsey rubber band. Fortunately, rubber bands are in plentiful supply here so the pump could be swiftly repaired.

Amongst the highly desirable items on sale in Pencil yesterday evening were a furry photo album, a very large basse-relief of a dragon crafted from copper and plastic, a plastic hose kit called "I love you" (which I purchased) and a highly-flammable six-foot high teddy bear.

There is something quite disconcerting about a shop which places rat poison on the shelf adjacent to the baby food.

Having made my purchases, to my dismay I discovered that I had spent enough to receive three free gifts. There was no choice as to the gift: some plastic slip-on shoes. Only the very large men's sizes were left. So the drivers in the Office are now the proud owners of identical plastic sandals about three sizes too big for them...