One thing severely lacking as an expat in Phnom Penh is a solid and exciting music scene where I look at a poster or flip to the back of a magazine and say “YES! They’re finally showing!”. There are a few local bands and groups from small punk groups to jazz quartets along with some local singers who cover Top 40 hits, but nothing compares to the smashing availability of music venues, acts, and talent that strikes my fancy like that of the Pacific Northwest- and for Ritchie the music available in Scotland.
Monthly Archives: August 2014
Munro.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the stunning experience of visiting Scotland- the homeland of my beau, Ritchie Munro. Through old streets where I envision sheep roaming the cobbled stones to sprawling mountains where blood was shed over freedom to ancient churches where beauty still strikes through stained glass and spire, the spirit of the old has not left this place.
Dublin.
Is there something about traveling that makes writing seemingly so utterly tasking?
Maybe not even the writing part, but sorting through every moment and compartmentalizing them so they make sense in some form of linear way. So that I could even begin to piece sentences together and deconstruct the jumble of nuances, emotions, and thoughts that have built up over the past week.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Once a month I attend a networking event through the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) for work. To meet, to greet, to exchange cards, chat, catch up, and get the word out about Forte and everything else in between. I actually really enjoy these events usually and attend EuroCham along with a few others depending on time, date, etc.
Insurance.
Over the past few months, I’ve gotten a number of emails, inquiries, and calls regarding work at Ladies Magazine. Since it’s now been seven months since I’ve left my post as Managing Editor- I figure I would throw it out there via blog that I am no longer an employee there after deciding to move forward into a different industry.
Now -as mentioned in several previous posts- which leads me to think that no one asking about Ladies really reads this thing anyway- I work for an insurance company, Forte, which has been successfully in business since 2000 and is now the leader in insurance coverage in Cambodia.
Dying to be white.
The Dangers of Skin Lightening Cream
When perusing the health and beauty aisle of your local supermarket or beauty supply store in Cambodia and other parts of Asia like India and Thailand, it’s common to see row upon row of skin lightening and whitening creams, lotions, and foams. These popular products are not a new addition to beauty rituals and celebrities, models, and peers alike are sharing their success stories and parading artificially lightened skin, believing it to be attractive. The idea that lighter is better has obviously caught on with an estimated $18 billion USD spent per year on whitening products in Asia alone. Unfortunately, there’s a dark side to the skin lightening industry that many have turned a blind eye. The phrase “pain is beauty” may be the perfect tag line for these lightening systems, but it is not so beautiful when the user is suffering from poisoning or worse, dead.
Glamazon: Abyss
Last year there was Glamazon 2.0: Too Much is Never Enough: it was grandeur in a glossy bottle and I was delighted to take part in the avant garde segment of the second show during my first year of living in Phnom Penh.
Stepping into the limelight this year in sky high heels and mass amounts of glimmer comes Glamazon: Abyss. I’m looking forward to being part of the anticipated event once again and had the chance to write up an article for WUPP! to share a bit more about what to look forward to. Throw on some neoprene and get ready to dive in!