Holiday in Cambodia

by Laura Jean McKay

  The author hopes that readers, especially from Cambodia, will understand if some historical details have been changed to tell these stories – for example, Operation Breakfast was carried out at night.

  Versions of the following stories have appeared in literary journals in Australia and Cambodia: ‘The Real Cambodia’ was published in Going Down Swinging No. 34, 2013; ‘A thousand cobs of corn’ was published in The Lifted Brow: Atlas, 2010, and in Nou Hach Literary Journal, 2010; ‘Coming Up’ was published in Ampersand Issue 6, 2013; ‘Massage 8000’ was published in The Big Issue Fiction Edition, 2011, on the Alan Marshall Short Story Award website, and in Award Winning Australian Writing, Melbourne Books, 2012.

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  Extra special and endless thanks to Anne (Ma) Whisken, and also Hayden Whisken, Gavin McKay and Nana Hodgson for raising me with books and words. Also to the memory of Ross McKay.

  Thanks to Nou Hach Literary Association and all its members, especially Kho Tararith, Teri Shaffer-Yamada, Khem Akhaing, Phou Chakriya and Long Linna. To Oum Suphany, whose books and words are always an inspiration. Chan Samnang for friendship and unquestioning advice. Jan Noorlander for his generosity and the Kep retreat I was lucky enough to live in.

  Thanks to the Phnom Penh pack: Chanthy Kak, Julien Poulson and in memory of Justin Foster.

  I couldn’t write a word without the support of Brea Acton, Michelle Ferris and Kelly Chandler – the most talented, caring and hilarious three.

  So much thanks to Tom Doig, Henry Feltham, Anna Krien and Romy Ash for the many, many hours spent getting structural on the whole book. Thanks to Ronnie Scott for commissioning the first story. Also Sharon Wilkinson, Kylie Mannion, Monika Nowaczyk, Vincent Hanon and Davy Chou.

  Admiration and thanks to Black Inc. – especially Chris Feik for seeing the book and Denise O’Dea for taking it through.

  Thanks to Amanda Johnson for all that unwavering support. Also Kevin Brophy, Tony Birch, Steven Carroll, Fiona Capp, Alice Pung, Cate Blake and Aviva Tuffield.

  Thanks to the Wurundjeri people, the traditional custodians of the land where much of this book was written.

  Thanks to the Australian Volunteers for International Development Program, CARE Australia, Asialink, the University of Melbourne, Rosebud Writers Fellowship, Laughing Waters Residency, ArtStart, Jenny Gill, Harry Doig, Mary Slater and Andrew Watson, and Emilio Fuscaldo at Nest Architects, for funding and housing me for the years it took.

  And thanks to younger sister, Chan Linna, who makes Cambodia feel like home.