T he new phone book is out with updates and modifications. Although it still lists

nine numbers for UNTAC - none of which, it is understood, are answered by Benny Widyono.

There's a new Korean restaurant that's set up shop next to the Green House. The sign

out front boasts one of their current specialties as "Dry Laver with Rall Rice".

And only $3.50 a plate. Imagine that. What a deal!

When the tanks showed up at Independence Monument on the 17th with a gaggle of crack

troops, one might have expected an air of tension as well. Not so for the one pointing

south on Norodom. One officer came by and shouted at the driver "Put the barrel

down. What do you expect to hit with it aimed up in the air." The order was

followed only to have a soldier on the street proceed to string up a hammock from

the end of the barrel to the front of the tank and then plop himself in it for a

bit of a rest.

CMAC recently received its 1995 share of funding from the government to the tune

of $50,000. That's okay, that's great. However, they were paid in 200 riel notes

which comes to a cool Riels 125,000,000. Never mind. Money is money. The only problem

was that when they took the 625,000 notes to the Central Bank, the green eyeshade

boys refused to accept the cash, as did every other bank in town. The deminers finally

ended up at a money changer who it seems didn't mind doing a swap for greenbacks.

John Janes of Standard Chartered fame passed through town last week. He said "Cambodia

is much better than Sierra Leone, hand over fist. People are much more friendly here."

Who ever borrowed (stole?) the book "Lords of the Rim" by Sterling Seagrave

from the PPPost, could you please return it?

Heder, Chandler and Vickery in town at the same time. Yikes! One acquaintance of

all three suggested that they be given boxing gloves and sort out any remaining differences

over at Olympic stadium in the ring.

A Thai businessman on his first trip to Phnom Penh went to Psar Thmei to buy some

toothpaste and found himself caught in the middle of a four-minute firefight between

some bad guys and cops. He went back to Bangkok saying he probably wouldn't return

in the near future.