Swine flu was all the rage that summer. Regardless of scale, Hong Kong International to Siem Reap, each airport/national-threshold required thermal scanning for admission. Climate: French Colonial… humid, lush, streets filled with scooter driven carriages, aromas of crusty baguettes, gingery broths and jasmine rice. Men wear officious shirts with epaulets on their shoulders, and women apply whitening creams on their faces.
A consumable-fruits vendor expertly skins petite pineapples with his paring knife. The milling may appear ornamental, but the spiral course is a function of efficient stud removal along the pineapples surface. Finally the pineapple is sliced into 6 longitudinal sections, each speared with a robust skewer; a veritable fruit kebab.
He also offers fists of stubby banana. The skin is naturally peppered, these are not blemishes. Stubby banana was traditionally reserved for “nobility” I am told… likewise French colonialists and western tourists. The taste is sweet and mellow, and there is a satisfying spring to its bight, like bread made with proper, high-gluten flour. Both are sold for 1 USD. Payment by € or GBP is not recommended in Cambodia and Cambodian tender is generally issued only as change, not for payment.
Should you purchase a fist of stubby banana, the vendor will tie a loop of twine around the stems so the bananas may hang from your wrist.
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