Hazards

Cambodia is full of short people. Most Western people are a head taller than the locals. So, bumping your head on things is the first lesson in a whole list of differences one finds outside of Western anyplace.

I am going to ignominiously describe the West as trying to idiot-proof their environment. The South East Asians haven't tried to do that. There is a Buddhist story that might explain their point of view.

A monk was walking across the temple, fell into a hole, and injured his leg. He went to the Abbot and asked for help.

The Abbot noted, "That hole has been there for ten years. Why did you fall, not it now?"

"I don't know," complained the monk.

"Well," suggested the Abbot, "if you fell into the hole a month ago, you would be all better by now!"

Hazard awareness takes several months to get good at it. There are helpful conditions. If you walk into the street, everyone is going slow enough to see and miss you. There is only one traffic rule. Try not to hit anything!