I’ve been editing a video that I hope to share soon, and there are will be more stories and videos from Cambodia to come.

In the meantime, here’s a fun photo. I met this BOY while walking through Lanka Pagado in Phnom Penh. He was hanging out with a group of friends. I saw his shirt and asked if I could take a photo. Then they ALL posed for a photo. And THEN this boy, who is very clever, said “yum yum bai,” which paraphrased means, “How about getting us some food?”

I was suddenly in a good mood, so I said fine. We headed for the street where a vendor was selling snacks, probably 12 cents for little bags of crackers and what not. I was thinking I might try to get them something better than junk food, or at least some decent junk food, whatever that is.

We got to the street. I glanced right and left with a questioning look, and this boy smiled and pointed — at my favorite little cafe where they serve pretty good hamburgers and wonderful Fish Amok. (Just to be clear, I NEVER eat hamburgers in Tokyo, so…)

I knew that cafe was way, way outside the price range of these kids. I felt like I was being hustled, but I shrugged and smiled “okay.” They smiled back. They didn’t speak much English.

The waitresses saw us coming and smiled, too. I was worried they might kick us out, because these were street kids. But they were delighted. I asked if the kids frequently showed up with friendly foreigners, but the waitresses said no, it was the first time.

From then on it was kind of awkward. As I said, they didn’t speak much English, and they were all twenty years or more younger than I am. I asked their names and ages, and they asked where I came from. I think two of them live at home, and two may live at a temple. The poorest people in the city — street kids, homeless families, and university students — sleep in temples.

I only bought french fries and a pizza, about $10. No hamburgers. Sitting down with these kids and casually paying $20 for hamburgers all around, which is a nearly month’s wages for many Cambodians, just felt wrong. Maybe it would have been right. I don’t know. Actually, they wanted pasta.