Lindt chocolate - local soup

Started the day with an all staff  debrief from Stav on the Hanoi conference.  Not unlike our team meetings in Sydney , there are tasty treats involved!  Blocks of Lindt chocolate, chewy fruit slice coated in sesame, and nutty biscuits.   All delicious – but the chocolate is a bit decadent at 8.30am

This morning I caught up with the Media Officer at the Embassy.  My objective was to learn how the media operates here – they are an important stakeholder group on my comms plan.  The discussion in really helpful and highlights how difficult it is – local media are given “presents” to encourage stories.  The foreign press is more like we’re accustomed to in the west.  Both go for a bit of sensationalism – the bad and gory.  Wonder how interested they will be in covering CARE’s excellent work.

Caught up on some Optus email at the café next door during lunch.  Pilates after work – it wa at the Naturaj yoga centre and help on the rooftop under a canopy.  Lovely way to end the day as the sun sets.  Gekkos and tiny bats join in.  Got really adventurous for dinner rand went to a local place  - the chairs and tables on the footpath style.  Not quite as local as I thought ( they had an English menu!), but I was the only westerner there.  My beef noodle soup and a bottle of water was 10,000 riel ( $2.50).  Before we get carried away with the cheap process, you have to remember 1 in 3 Cambodians live in less than US$1/day.  Most people are not eating Lindt chocolate.  Puts it all back in perspective