Kompot Thom

Imagine a town where there are less than 50,000 people. The sprawling market serves as the center. You can buy hammocks, fishing nets, cell phones, stainless steel kitchenware and anything else you might need. Now imagine most of the women and some of the children are wearing pajamas. Not victoria's secret stylish nighties but sets of matching pants and long sleeve button up tops. Welcome to Kompong Thom.

A few months ago, I would have been unable to comprehend the scene where women were going about their normal market shopping while wearing pajamas. Fortunately, I had listened to a planet money podcast which put this scene in context. Cambodia produces the majority of the pjs that the US imports. Unfortunately, things are going downhill for the pj factories. I can't explain it as well as the podcast but the decline is essentially based on American stupidity and a lack of ethical practices in China. The bottom line being that it sucks for Cambodia.

Anyhow, for now, the Cambodians still wear pjs as daytime apparel. I thought that thai pants might be the most comfortable getup in se asia or possibly a sarong. But the Cambodian pajamas might have them beat.

The other interesting thing about kompong thom is the guesthouse scene. There is a secondary road with 7 or 8 guesthouses in a row all offering varying degrees of small, dingy, and dirty rooms for $3. For $5 you can upgrade to a clean room with a tv, balcony, and bathroom.

Back on the main road, you can find the tallest building in town which is also the hotel recommended by our guidebook. In an attempt to avoid the guidebook circuit, I checked out a room around the corner from the main hotel only to find that for the same price ($5) the quality and cleanliness did not even come close. Once again, I am baffled by Asian business practices. It's like a Comfort Inn competing with a Hilton but charging the same amount. Who stays there?

Bottom Line: Kompong Thom is a somewhat easy stop over on the way from SR to PP to get a little closer to seeing the locals in Action.