On the Road with Kem

Life changes quickly in a developing country and I have been called elsewhere. As I reflect on my time in Phnom Penh, the one constant aside from my volunteer work with Daughters NGO was my tuk-tuk driver Kem. He collected me daily from work in the slums near Wat Steung Mean Chey, rain or shine--mostly rain though, among the dark late afternoon clouds.


On my last day in town, Kem drove me to the airport. Before he dropped me off, we stopped briefly, so I could interview him about the tuk-tuk, which was a source of fascination during my stay. Tuk-tuks are the major mode of tourist transport in Phnom Penh. In this hectic, lawless town, a trustworthy, savvy tuk-tuk driver is an asset. Kem was always there for me, only a text message away. He was a safe, dependable driver and a good friend. I will miss him and our daily drives.


Talking in a Tuk-tuk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwuYZMfmXlI

This short video, only five minutes of the fifteen we talked, is breathtakingly amateurish: The sound is poor, due to passing moto traffic; I'm sweating bullets like a rookie thanks to the heat; and at one point, there is the disconcerting sound of someone sharpening a knife. But more important than the video quality, or lack thereof, is the interviewee: The kind, hard-working man who made a challenging experience manageable for me, by ensuring I arrived, whenever, wherever, safe and sound.