Is Running A Luxury?

As many of you already know, I am running the Angkor Wat Half Marathon in tomorrow. I've been training the past month and a half and I just wanted to write some thoughts down before the big race.

I've been spoiled running in the unsullied streets of Tokyo the past few years so it's certainly been a challenge to run in Siem Reap.  or one thing, you have to run very early to avoid the searing heat and av heavy traffic. The best time is to start around six o'clock, just when the sun rises so waking up at five is essential. The roads are bumpy, dusty, and muddy so watching your footsteps is vital. Also you have to keep your eye on and dodge your way around motorcyclists, cars, cyclists, and stray dogs. It's like running in an obstacle course in some ways!

Nevertheless, it's been a joy to be able to run here. I love to run as I watch the sun quietly rise over Siem Reap river.  The city slowly come to life with vendors making their way into the streets and tuktuk drivers chatting away with iced coffees in hand. 

Beautiful sunset...one of the very few times I've gone running in the afternoon since it was a cool day. Otherwise I'll be melting.

I've realized I've been running for more than half my life now. I don't run everyday but when I try to schedule in runs and races when I can and it's something that I truly enjoy. But ever since I've started running in Cambodia, I've seriously started to wonder why I run and what motivates me to run.

 Let me start out that Cambodians hardly run. They don't even walk fast; they saunter.  In a hot country like Cambodia in which people try to avoid the heat as possible, why volunteer oneself to go running and get drenched in sweat under the sun? Hence the reactions of the locals watching me run are hilarious. Motorcyclists watch me as they pass me and continue to do so after they pass me, turning their head around. Old grannies stare at me with mouths wide open as if witnessing a ridiculous antic. Young construction workers interrupt their work and look up at me as I pass by (no whistling) with quizzical looks on their faces. And to be clear, I am pretty sure it is not because of my running attire nor my appearance since I cover all my arms and legs and I run with no makeup.

But as humorous as it is, I can't stop to wonder what they think of me as they see me run.  People here eke out long work hours, usually from seven o'clock in the morning. They certainly do not have the luxury to go for a run as I do. Many are in tattered clothes and needless to say there is no money to buy shoes let alone running shoes.

It's a...bridge. But I wouldn't be surprise if it collapses any day

In developed countries, many run to lose weight or get a better body. But in a country in which a third of the children in the nation are malnourished, putting food on the table is the more important issue at stake. I can't help but think that by going running out in the streets, I am flaunting myself as a rich, self-centered, vain, complacent foreigner. And to an extent, it is true. I do run to get fit. My running shoes cost anywhere from $40~$120, an amount equivalent of a month's worth of food to an entire family here. And though I do live frugally, I do not have to worry about what and how my next meal will be served.

But at the same time, it is no doubt that exercise is important and should be incorporated in every one's daily lives. However, it is certainly true that being able to exercise and taking care of my body is a huge luxury. Many people in developed countries hold gym memberships, participate in organized sports, and enter extraneous competitions such as marathons (which are quite expensive by the way. An average marathon entry fee is about $90). People are constantly conscious of their appearance and body image whether it is through peer pressure, celebrity media, and/or cultural influences. A huge number and women in developed countries suffer from depression or eating disorders because of it. Some even go as far as going on extreme diets and going through baiatric surgery. Yet the majority of the people in this world have much more dire issues to worry about.  

I've ruminated over this issue for the past few weeks. But I've concluded that I will not make myself guilty over the fact that I am not one of them. And it will certainly not hinder me from going out to run in Cambodia. I will rather think how fortunate I am and appreciate for what I am able to do. As painful and painstaking running and training can be, how grateful that am I that I am able to take the power to exercise. How wonderful it is that I have full limbs with a healthy, injure-free body to be able to move freely in full strength. This is especially true in a country in which at least 2% of the population are disabled from a landmine accident.  For all the times I have moaned that I have to wake up early for my run or dragged myself to the gym, I now know that I will not take it for granted and go do it with gratitude.

And on the same note, while I will be sure to enjoy running my race tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Registration...dun dun dun

Class Time

Just another day at the Foreign Language School.

All are welcome to learn, including dogs.

 ....if only they were more studious



Monk Stories

I must dedicate one post solely on monks telling stories.

Growing up, I was always told to listen to the monks. They are our teachers, community leaders, erudite intellectuals. They are wise, profound, and compassionate. Whenever they tell a story, we must stop what we are doing and listen to them. As an adolescent, I loved to listen to them because they were easy to understand but had a greater deeper meaning.

For some reason, the monks that I interact with are a bit different.

They just CRACK ME (and all the other volunteers) UP!

I tried to write some of their stories down but it just doesn't do any justice. I vowed to myself that I will record it one day and post it up. 

Sometimes I seriously think that monks must carry a joke book around to entertain others. And yes laughing is a form of enlightenment so they are under the rules! 

Halloween in Cambodia

I always thought that Halloween was a uniquely American holiday for gluttonous kids (as if they need any more sugar).

Welcome to the Twenty First Century.

It was shocking enough that kids in suburban Tokyo now have trick-or-treat events in their local neighborhoods. But even more surprising are how much the adult expats celebrate it; and most expats were anything but American! Supposedly the holiday is evolving as a "dress-up-in-kinky-clothes-and-drink-and-get-away-with" day aka it's (yet) another excuse to party hard in Tokyo.

Cambodia is no exception, albeit I am pretty sure it's only celebrated in expat-rich cities such as Siem Reap. Pub Street (as usual) was infested with inebriated Western tourists, but more surprisingly local teenagers and college kids were out dressed up in costumes and dancing away to the music which was nice to see.

While I am not a fan of dressing up in costumes, it was certainly fun to overlook the street party with a great company of co-workers over a few beers!



And I must note that if ramen is the Japanese way to finish off a fun night of drinking, then it's definitely pan-fried rice noodles (kuy teuv cha) in Cambodia! Nothing beats eating hot chewy noodles out by the riverside, far away from the mayhem of Pub Street. $1 well spent :)



漬物

最近発覚したのですが・・・・

世界のどこにいても漬物がないと生きていけないようです（東北万歳！）

左から生姜の醤油漬け、きゅうりのピリ辛付け、もやしのさっぱり漬けなり♪

なにせ毎日暑いのでさっぱりした漬物を体が欲するようです (;^^)  しかも漬けるだけで簡単にできるので台所がなくても作れるのが嬉しい☆  これにお惣菜屋さんで買ってくる白米と干物をプラスした３点セットが毎日の夕食の定番。これらさえあればカンボジアでずっと暮らせそう　笑

Rain, Water, and Moon

As I've wrote before..rain here is no joke.. It's a both a blessing as well as a total disaster.  

Time to walk in the rain ahem ahem I mean sewer water...

So as you can imagine it's a great relief when the Monsoon ends. First there's the Kathina Festival  followed by the Water Festival.

Traditionally, there are boat races (similar to the dragon boat races in China) and carnivals along the Tonle Sap Lake or rivers throughout the country. But ever since the disaster accident in 2010 in Phnom Penh the country has been in mourning and no "official" celebrations have been held since.

Although, what is interesting is that there is a lot of controversy surrounding over the accident. Many activist organizations and even monks are acerbic towards and brutally excoriate the government over this issue; putatively there may have been some conspiracy act committed and that certain details of the accident were shrouded away. Cambodia's mendacious and fraudulent government (and shockingly overwhelming ex-Khmer Rouge politicians holding office including the President) has been a sore spot for the Cambodian people as well as been an big reason for the hindrance of economical growth. Many of the monks who are on Facebook use pseudonyms for the sole reason of expressing their criticism towards the government. I digressed but in any case, the Water Festival holds a dark meaning for the people here in many ways.

Nevertheless, other traditions are still intact. On the full moon (on Friday), many homes had am-bok parties in which family and friends take their wooden pestles to gather to mash sticky rice in a stone mortar to make sticky rice cake. It is then mixed with coconut and bananas and then offered to the moon with prayers. This tradition has a striking resemblance with the Moon Festival in Japan - I am not sure of the historical origins of the two but it always makes me happy each time I find similarities between the two cultures.


東南アジアの雨はすさまじいので雨季が終わるとさまざまな祭典やお祭りが行われます♪
今週末は水祭り。国中の湖や川沿いでボートレースが行われて、縁日のようにお店がズラーっと並ぶそう。ただし2010年の大惨事以来正式なお祭りは自粛されているとか？

でも各自家庭での祝賀行事は変わらず行われるそうです。生徒達との片言の英語とクメール語での会話なので詳しいことはわからないのだけど（汗）、なんとなく日本のお月見に近い行事だということが発覚。日本と同じく杵と臼で餅をついて満月の日にお供え物をするそうな。もっともカンボジア版のお餅はココナッツと一緒に頂くようです☆　カンボジアと日本、一見縁がなさそうでも実際は細かい所でいろいろと共通点もあって、なんとなく嬉しく感じます　（＊＾＾＊）

At Dusk

Despite the fact that the dust and the gas emission will probably kill my lungs, for the vibrance and energy that I feel from the rush hour here is quite something. There's something oddly soothing watching women driving one handed with big bags of groceries in the other and small children clinging on their parents or other siblings for dear life on the back of a motorcycle. It's certainly much better than the overly congested trains in Tokyo full of of inebriated, crass, tepid people squished in together like a can of sardines.

夕暮れ時のシェムリアップ。通勤ラッシュは場所を問わず苦手だけど、エネルギーと活気で道が溢れていてなんとなく落ち着くというか懐かしく感じるというか不思議な感覚。さてさて、市場に立ち寄って野菜を買わねば。