Hart's List of "Different" Things the Khmer People Do:
1. Ice comes from huge blocks that are delivered every morning. You wont find a cube in all of Cambodia.
2. Most Cambodians who travel with foreigners receive free food or commissions from guest houses they bring foreigners to, even if they are "friends."
3. Breakfast is officially over at 10 AM
4. 75% of vehicles are motorbikes. They can get 4 people onto one easily. With the right trailer, they can transport 30 some-odd people.
5. No coins in Cambodia - all change is handled with paper riels.
6. There are 4 people who will routinely approach a foreigner: beggars, moto drivers, mine victims, and shopkeepers. Walking down the street is a barrage of "Mistah... you buy somesing?" "Moto sir?" "Plee help sir"
7. White skin and big noses are sexy to most Cambodians (male or female)
8. There are no traffic rules... except street lights, which are rare.
9. There are no saxophones in all of Cambodia.
10. Everyone says "...or so" when they mean "...or something"
11. Guitars, drums, and midi keyboards make up 95% of new Cambodian music.
12. The rats are as big as the cats.
13. They let their mole hair grow (I've seen some guys with a sprout of 4 inches at least)
14. Cambodians traditionally eat with a spoon in their right hand and a fork in their left. That could make sense if they ate pasta. They can even cut meat with the edge of a spoon.
15. They put a hand in front of their mouth when using a toothpick.
16. They throw trash on the ground, even in respectable restaurants. Why? There are no trash bins anywhere. Anyway, cleaning the land is what the rainy season is for.
17. Bamboo is eaten more often than used as a wood.
18. Literally translated, "I'm doing so-so" means "I'm not sour, not spicy" in Khmer.
19. Karaoke is way bigger Cambodia (in Asia?) than in the U.S. Most places have people singing continuously all night. It's some kind of mating call. The big hit in Cambodia right now is "I miss you like craaazy."
20. There is no government in Cambodia. You need some to get done, you ask someone to do it in a persuasive manner. Impolitely, this is called a bribe.
21. Children ride on bikes that are so big they can't even sit on the seat.