The building is vibrating.
Don’t worry – it’s not an earth tremor or anything drastic – it’s the roller compounding the road. It rumbled and rattled down the street at about 7.15am, tuk tuks and motorbikes fleeing in front of it.
Who needs television when you’ve got Cambodian road maintenance?
The roller’s appearance follows a highly entertaining Sunday afternoon watching the transformation of our street continue as first an excavator and then a grader grumbled and roared up and down the road.
The excavator picked up concrete slabs and lifted them into place over newly-installed storm water pits. Half the street turned out to watch the spectacle. A few labourers plastered some concrete around the edge before the lid was plonked on and moved into place.
The tuk tuk drivers and local residents were lending a hand. Marom, a friend of ours, jumped on the bucket to be lifted up to the power lines where he proceeded to tie them up – I think. After all it would be unsafe having that lot dangling about wouldn’t it?
And let’s not forget the man in the Khmer sarong, who was out with his tape measure across the road.
Just as the excavator finished its work, the grader roared down the road like an impatient tin monster, its menacing form looming over anything in its way. It had already done a few laps of the street in the morning, dodging obstacles but it was back for the serious stuff.
It tore up the curbing and pavers of the neighbouring hotel and as it ploughed its way along bits of concrete, rock, brick and pavers were forced into the centre of the road. Some were collected by residents, others eventually compounded into the road surface.
On the other side of the road it ripped up a water pipe. The neighbour rushed to stem the flow only to have it ripped up again on the next run through. Storm water pipes were smashed and torn, only to be covered with dirt, unfixed.
We met new people – a few other expats joined the fray and the Joker had a beer while the action took place.
The Joker, as always, rushed to help where needed. He lifted motorbikes up and down the huge step created by the grader and joined a group of blokes trying to straighten the lid on one of the stormwater pits, after the grader knocked it about and skewed it from it’s recent placement.
Then he hurried to help push a crate for the rubbish back into position. The workmen had only finished constructing this bamboo masterpiece about five minutes before the grader irreverently knocked it from its position.
You can keep your television programs. I’m happy to be entertained by the goings on in our street. We’ve got front-row seats, we’re even part of the action at times. And like any good mystery, you never know what’s going to happen next.
Bruce Bougourd says
Looks all very chaotic. Where’s the health and safety officer?! Be interesting to see it finished when I next visit.
Sam Walker says
Haha, very funny Bruce! Yes, it will be quite a different street when you return. We’re not convinced it is for the better. We think it will lose much of its character. But we seem to be in the minority. Look forward to seeing you on your return.
Isabel says
I’m enjoying the lack of intelligible TV in China, but I think a bit of TV watching every now and then isn’t the worst thing…as long as you don’t sit glued to it every night for hours on end.
Sam Walker says
We haven’t really watched television since we’ve been here and really haven’t missed it. But I do want to catch up on the latest season of Game of Thrones. It’s not all bad but we can definitely spend too much time watching TV.
cleanlifehappywife says
I love all of your photos! They really bring the story to life! It’s amazing the lack of “regulations” used in construction. haha
Sam Walker says
Thank you! It was fascinating watching it all unfold. Safety regulations really haven’t reached here yet. People just get on with it, which is great in some ways and very risky in others.
Ruth says
What fun. Yes, life is better than telly… mostly. We are not missing Siem Reap in the slightest, to tell the truth. It’s so typical, smashing the stormwater pipe and just covering it over! LOL Will send you an email about our latest adventures.
Sam Walker says
Ah Ruth, I love the chaos, disorder and randomness of life here. It’s challenging and frustrating and you want to tear your hair out but it’s all part of the fun. We look forward to an email with all your latest adventures.
Sam // DIY Just Cuz says
I love all your photos they are so cool looking and the whole scene just looks crazy. The joker sounds like my husband, always ready to help when needed 🙂
Sam Walker says
Hi Sam, thanks for dropping by. And thanks for the kind words on the photos and post. Crazy has become our norm recently. It is all fun.
Fabiola says
Yep, definitely exciting! Will it be finished soon? Will it turn out to be worse than before? What other unexpected troubles lie ahead? I’ve seen that story many times in Mexico too!
Sam Walker says
Hi Fabiola. Thanks for stopping by.
Well, no-one is really informed of what is going on. So you kind of find out on the day what is happening. The road base seems to be down but they haven’t put it on the last 20 metres at the end of the road so when it rains it just turns into a massive muddy puddle. I assume they will have to fix that before the next step starts but you can never assume anything here. As for time frames, that’s anyone’s guess!