Last weekend I traveled to Ratanakiri with a friend of mine, Sukrat and a driver. We left Phnom Penh on Saturday at 17h30 using national road No. 6A and No. 7 and we reached Ratanakiri the next day at 8h00 am.

I went to Tumpuon village located in Ondong Meas district that is about 70 km from Banlong, provincial town of Ratanakiri.  I was very interested with the way they live. According to my observation their life had been changed by outsider.

“They are now modernized by using motor bike or car as a mean for transportation, TV or radio to receive information and mobile phone or radio transmitter for communication.” district police officer said.

Even thought they are getting new technology, but the knowledge to use those is still limited. Two things that make me surprise;

Firstly is the way they use motor bike. They drive motor bike without using motor light in the night time. I don’t know why? I want to know about this, but I don’t have time to talk to them.

Secondly is the way they keep their house safe from thief. They take the ladder away when they are not at home.” This also the sign to tell villagers that the house owner is not at home or go outside” the villagers of Tumpuon said.

The first time in Ratanakiri give me some experiences how to drive the car at night on the very long slide-road, taste a very delicious food with a very reasonable price, and know some Tumpuon culture.