FROM Nana to Anna: World Famous Development Expert Hans Van Zoggel got off to

a robust start on April 14 on his Phnom Penh to Amsterdam motorcycle expedition.

Hans was sighted in Bangkok last week as he was about to attend a Thai cultural performance

at one of the various artistic houses in Nana Plaza. He apparently survived the experience

as his latest report came from Pokhara in Nepal just before he was to trek in the

Annapurna region. Hans notes that he has already been "fined" three times,

once at the Japanese Bridge here in Phnom Penh and twice in City of Angels. The good

news is that the "fine" in Cambodia was the cheapest-one George Washington

did the trick.

His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk has gone for a ride in cyberspace. The King's

new website is at: www.norodomsihanouk.info

Former PPPost Managing Editor Matt Grainger and his wife Kate are now the proud

parents of Edie Frances. Edie weighed in at nine pounds one ounce at her March 28

arrival in Oxford, England. Kate was in labor for ONLY 27 hours and she reports that

"drugs work". Baby and mother are both doing fine; Matt is a wreck. Congrats

emails can be sent to: [email protected]

A bit of controversy surrounding this year's Mekong River Swim. Olympian swimmer

David Doran thought the race was across and back, so he did his flip turn and powered

on for a final sprint home. But Darren Campbell made it first to the other side and

then stopped to savor the glory. With some confusion on the exact rules, this one

may end up in court.

Some people are just never satisfied. For years the beef was "Why can't the

city install stoplights to bring a little order to this madness." Now that they

exist, motorists are grumbling that those on Norodom Boulevard should be synchronized

to speed up traffic flow.

Singaporean Ambassador Verghese Mathews' sense of humor is still intact. He recently

sent out an email message with the latest Hooters calendar which included a warning

"Do not open this when there are any women around." Sure enough, when the

attachment comes up 12 owls are right there in your face.

For those who are at a loss on how to kick off the weekend, join the Foreign Journalists

Club of Cambodia at its open house tonight (Fri). Starting at 6:30 pm at Le Deauville

Bistro near Wat Phnom. Free beer and wine while supplies last.