VIETNAM/CAMBODIA - 2025

Thursday 22 May'26 - Mekong River Cruise (Cambodia)

 

This morning, we docked at Peam Chi Kang, one of the most palatial mooring points we have had so far 😊 where once again, a new method of transport (an “Indian” tuk tuk) awaited us.  We were then whisked off to a local aluminium smelter & kitchenware manufacturing factory which once again, was nothing more than a double garage.  The proprietor met us and then told us, via Somalay, of how he was originally from Phnom Penh, but his parents were murdered by the Khmer Rouge so in 1980 when the war finished, he moved his wife & 2 kids to this region as the capital had too many bad memories for him.  At this point, a very poignant moment in that he actually broke into tears and excused himself whilst he gained his composure.  His wife stepped in & showed us a photo of him from 1987, when he was in the military, a thing he did in 1980 to ensure the Khmer Rouge did not come back!  In 1989, he left the army and was helped by the UN Peacekeeping Force to establish the business.  The 1st few years were difficult in obtaining raw materials as they had to scrounge for the aluminium bits of bombs, grenades, etc but he now recycles window frames, soft drink cans, etc; & supplements that with ingots from China.  He then showed us how the mould was made for a medium saucepan.  Firstly, he created a flat base, then filled the mould with river sand, turned the mould upside down, puts a box around it, puts sand over it.  At every step he ensures the sand is packed very tightly.  A hole is then put into the sand down to the base of the mould.  The tightly packed sand box is lifted up, the saucepan gently tapped to remove it from the sand & the hole made into a funnel. A feather is then used to ensure no loose bits of sand are on any of the smooth surfaces & the box containing the sand mould is put back into place.  He then apologised that he wasn’t going to melt any metal down as he currently doesn’t have any orders and didn’t want to waste any as it can only be melted twice before it loses quality, but he showed a video on his mobile.  After 5-10 minutes the molten metal hardens, the new item is pulled out of the mould and then the “tag” from the pour point is removed as well as any small holes that might be there, are repaired.  The item is then buffed up for sale.  Like the silk weaving, and rice noodle factories from yesterday, very labour intensive but “bleeding edge: in Cambodia.