This morning as usual I went with a friend to Bayon. I bought 3 jars of olives and five half-kilo containers of those green grapes I have become extremely fond of. While there I was photographing unusual versions of Western staples. For example, Heinz canned spaghetti with sausage, or Chunky Soup canned "Butter Chicken," a Cambodian fave. It consists of chicken stewed in coconut milk, lemongrass and ginger, but no butter. Go figure. As I had taken my third photo a stockclerk miraculously appeared by my side, made the sign of respect, what Indians call the "Namaste Greeting," hands together as if praying, in front pf chest with arms bone straight out to the sides, while smiling and head bowed, and then said in barely comprehensible English, "No photos sir," repeating it twice.
At the checkout counter the owner sits upon a stool at the end of one of the two checkout counters. I attempted to bring the incident up. An ethnic Chinese who only spoke Khmer and Hakka (a Chinese language), she claims to speak zero English. I probably could have spoken to her in French but a nice Khmer customer offered to translate. Amazingly none of the employees can speak it despite the store catering to expats. I lied and said that I was using my iPhone to shop for someone, sending images of items. The owner said that I am free to do so. I imagine there will be some interaction with that clerk on my next visit.
I was takkng photos because I am going to create a blog. I will probably name it, "A Junkie Abroad," since I will merely discuss my personal experiences, much as I do here.
My friend dropped me off on
Monviong Blvd on the corner of Russian Blvd (now "Russian Federation"). A second friend then picked me up and took me to a pharmacy where, thanks to his efforts, I found Oxycontin on sale at a fantastic price. Mundipharma 10mg IR capsules, 14 per box for $40.00!!! Better yet, it was an upperclass pharmacy! Here there are two types, the common storefront with no facade, a glass counter and a metal grilled gate that is pulled down in the evening. Families live in the rear almost always. Upperclass pharmacies are Western-style and would be unnoticeable in any Western city. I bought two so as to not freak out the owner and so for $80.00 I bought 28 capsules of Instant Release (IR) 10mg oxycodone! 280mgs IR at $80.00, fantastic!
In the Philippines at best I must pay almost $550 for 28 tablets of 80mg IR, also Mundipharma. That is why I buy 3 grammes IR morphine. It only costs $58.00 US per box, 100 tiny microdots of pure- apart from starch and colour- injectable tablets.
At the checkout counter the owner sits upon a stool at the end of one of the two checkout counters. I attempted to bring the incident up. An ethnic Chinese who only spoke Khmer and Hakka (a Chinese language), she claims to speak zero English. I probably could have spoken to her in French but a nice Khmer customer offered to translate. Amazingly none of the employees can speak it despite the store catering to expats. I lied and said that I was using my iPhone to shop for someone, sending images of items. The owner said that I am free to do so. I imagine there will be some interaction with that clerk on my next visit.
I was takkng photos because I am going to create a blog. I will probably name it, "A Junkie Abroad," since I will merely discuss my personal experiences, much as I do here.
My friend dropped me off on
Monviong Blvd on the corner of Russian Blvd (now "Russian Federation"). A second friend then picked me up and took me to a pharmacy where, thanks to his efforts, I found Oxycontin on sale at a fantastic price. Mundipharma 10mg IR capsules, 14 per box for $40.00!!! Better yet, it was an upperclass pharmacy! Here there are two types, the common storefront with no facade, a glass counter and a metal grilled gate that is pulled down in the evening. Families live in the rear almost always. Upperclass pharmacies are Western-style and would be unnoticeable in any Western city. I bought two so as to not freak out the owner and so for $80.00 I bought 28 capsules of Instant Release (IR) 10mg oxycodone! 280mgs IR at $80.00, fantastic!
In the Philippines at best I must pay almost $550 for 28 tablets of 80mg IR, also Mundipharma. That is why I buy 3 grammes IR morphine. It only costs $58.00 US per box, 100 tiny microdots of pure- apart from starch and colour- injectable tablets.
