I think me and TaBrang had the buffalo for marriage war 2 years ago. I am curious to hear about it too.

you mean payment of a buffalo to get married?
what use do buffaloes have for money?

Something a long that line.

I agree with you 100% Taabarang, about possessions and social standing. I worked my arse off in construction for 30 years in Oz. Made good money, had all the toys, good looking girl, lots of "mates", I got jaded with the lifestyle and started suffering from the black dog. I moved here for the simple life and that has made me happy again. One of my mates asked me how my life is different here to back in Oz.He also has a fairly affluent lifestyle there. My reply was to say in a lot of ways life isn't all that different, except its a lot simpler. Then I sent him a picture of my washing machine ( my girlfriends legs in a blue bucket), my stove ( single burner direct on to a 2.5kg gas bottle), my T.V ( shit, they haven't had cathode ray tv's in Oz for 10 years!) my transport ( a photo of my feet) my electricity bill for one month ( $9.75 as compared to my last one in Oz of $220 odd) a sign in front of Sky Bar advertising its all day happy hour with draft beer @ 50c and cocktails from $2.50, a picture of my girl and I and our mates, at the first birthday party of my tuk tuk driving mates daughter and a picture of the beach bar/guesthouse I was managing at the time.
He has almost finished his contract and is moving over in October!
This lifestyle isn't what everyone is searching for, I acknowledge that, but it works for me and obviously you too. More power to ya mate!

I will answer with a fuller biography when my computer has more battery time. But essentially what I like about my neighbors is how resilient they are. They don't worry if they will have a new lexus next year or if they will have the latest ipad. They worry if it will rain enough so that they can feed their family or if maybe they can go to a "kru khmai" instead of a more expensive doctor in Kampong Cham. Real dilemmas create real character and real problems create the kind of people I like to call friends. Ain't nobody here slumming this is the real thing.

Personally (and sincerely) I'd love to read a professionally written bio on taabarang and Hotdigr and their experiences that brought them to Cambodge, and life since.

StroppyChops wrote:Personally (and sincerely) I'd love to read a professionally written bio on taabarang and Hotdigr and their experiences that brought them to Cambodge, and life since.

There are so many backpacker types writing of their experiences living like a rural Khmer local for 3-6 months and then moving on, which isn't near enough to get the full experience anywhere. Sounds like taabarang is one of the few who really know what it's like. His story would be an interesting read.

Would you be up for that, taabarang?

Be glad to guys and I promise not to make it sound like the TV show, The Waltons. You may never have heard of it, but I left the States in 95 so my memories are probably out of date for you guys.