Dear Editor,

You might wonder why a well paid company employee like myself is still hungry. Money

can't buy everything, at least not if you do not want to be embarrassed by ordering

three plates of rice and soup while others are not.

In the past few months, I have noticed that the amount of food in restaurants has

been substantially reduced.

Even at the weddings where there used to be a lot of leftovers, now people are still

hungry after finishing everything on the table. Khmer noodle sellers who used to

complement their dish with more than ten kinds of vegetables have reduced them to

three or four.

The last time at a restaurant, I finished a plate of Khmer noodles (Num Ban Chuk)

at 1,500 riels. This was 500 riels more expensive than last year. However I still

felt hungry. So, I ordered another Chinese noodle (Kuy Teav), which was 3,500 riels.

I was still hungry.

Should I order another one? I could, of course, but I would be a stranger then.

I remember when I was in Paris a few years ago and I was so surprised at the small

plate of noodles I ordered. It was twice as big as the two plates of noodles I ordered

in Cambodia.

Cambodians will be getting health problems if they continue to get used to eating

such small dishes of food.

Ana Nov

Phnom Penh