Some might be familiar with this particular kind of architecture. It seems way out of place here in Phnom Penh. In fact, it seemed so out of place that I immediately recognized it for what it was even though I had gotten completely lost in the city. Near the corner of Mao Tse Toung Blvd. and Street 63 I happened across this very large building. If you will double click the right hand column you will see the name of the building in Khmer. Khmer as you may know is the parent language of Lao and Thai. Both of the writing systems are descended from Khmer and their vocabulary is very similar to Khmer though both of them are tonal languages and Khmer (ever so gratefully) is not. Some might know I stumble around in Thai. When I get completely lost in Khmer (which is every 20 seconds) I default to Thai................... Ugh................ You may know the two kingdoms are at war and there isn't much more you can do to insult a Khmer than to mistake her or him for Thai. Oh well, so much for being bilingual.

Oh back to the bulding. Read the left column and you will see the name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is the North District building for the church. There are about 2000 LDS people in Phnom Penh divided into two districts (diocese(s?) For those of you who aren't LDS, the building is classically Wasatch Front architecture except for the two stories. (Sigh, for those of us who aren't classically Wasatch Front the imposition of American culture on others has been a struggle.) Nevertheless, in church meetings Khmer LDS do keep a unique part of their culture. When beginning a talk they first clasp their hands in front of their chest or face and bow slightly in the traditional Khmer, Lao, Thai and Burmese way... called in Thai "wai." (There I go again inserting Thai into Khmer....sigh.)