THE THINGS people do to get a promotion sometimes blow your mind, or maybe

your entire office if you don't watch out.

One guy who works at the spa at the Grand Hotel in Siem Reap decided he was overdue

for a move up the ladder of life. He marched into the Human Resources office and

demanded a higher position. Just to add a little emphasis, he pulled out a grenade

and plunked it down on a table.

Fearing his message might not be clear enough, he then went to the GM's office and

repeated the near-explosive performance, which sources say had Mr Madhavan scurrying

for cover under his desk.

Next time you meet the new Assistant Spa Supervisor be polite. He's a bit of a loose

cannon with the hardware to prove it.

** There's a new plan circulating in Siem Reap to help save the environment

and gouge foreigners' pockets. Bring in a fleet of electric cars and mandate that

all non-Khmers who visit the temples pay $30 a day to use one.

** Late night motorists beware. The section of Street 178 between Street 19

and Norodom Blvd has been dubbed "Muggers Gulch". Moto drivers have figured

it out. They won't go there and you shouldn't either.

** The place to be last Sunday night was at Le Royal for the US Embassy July

4th bash. A Who's Who of former battlefield enemies were on hand, kitted out in snappy

suits, clinking glasses and having a bit of a jolly.

Ambassador Quinn said: "There could not be any greater honor and privilege than

to preside over this celebration." Amen. Given the amount of blood spilled in

the last three years, and the number of guys in the room who'd been involved in the

carnage, it was easy to find a fair reason to pause.

The only grumble of the evening came from Ambassador Ali who wanted to know why the

Sampras-Agassi match wasn't being screened live.

** Don't get your hopes up that the US Congress might repeal the ban on aid

to Cambodian government entities. Several Hill staffers were in town this week, one

from Jesse Helms's team.

When told that the troops US Rep Dana Rohrbacher applauded at O'Smach in early 1998

for their determination "to defend democracy and resist Communism" included

a whole gaggle of Ta Mok's boys in new uniforms, the so-what response came quickly:

"Yea, but Hun Sen is Khmer Rouge."