TRAVELMAN in CAMBODIA: I reunite with two fellow travelers in Phnom Penh!
I spent three days and three nights in Phnom Penh, it was hot and dusty. Aimee from Holland (Hi Aimee!) had randomly contacted me wanting some info about Phu Quoc. We discovered that we’d both be in Phnom Penh at the same time. I was going where they’d been and they were headed to where I was leaving, perfect!
—Electrical wires reimind me of Spider-Man 3 character, Venom.—-
Before meeting up with them I explored the city on my own. On my first afternoon I decided to check out the Royal Palace and the National Museum. It was only a ten minute walk from my hostel.
I arrived at the gates of the Royal Palace to discover that it didn’t open until two. I also discovered it was ten dollars to enter. I peered through the gate.
Ten Dollars?
No thanks, I’ll just look through the gate for free.
I thought about the National Museum but it didn’t look all that interesting, it was hot, and I figured it would be overpriced as well. Cambodia likes to use US dollars. The food and attractions here are unusually expensive for S.E. Asia. The Prison Museum was $8 and the killing fields Memorial was $6 and the group Tuk Tuk ride there was 4.50 each as long as you had four riders.
I’m used to spending less than five dollars for a great meal. I spent 7-10 for a decent meal while there. Breakfast at the hostel was cheap, $2.00 USD omelette, white bread, fruit plate (banana, dragon fruit, watermelon, pineapple), and coffee. Hostel breakfast was the best deal in town.
—-Park under construction in front of the National Museum that was more interesting than the National Museum to me—
I wandered around town and ended up stumbling across a market
The market was dense with activity. Umbrellas from each stand formed a canopy over the entire place.
It was...
—-Bananas. It was bananas.
“Hey, honey? While you’re out, can you pick up some fresh pork ribs? And, Oh I need a new pair of flip flops too!”
“I know just the place!’
“Oh, and I’m so craving chicken feet and squid!”
“Got it.”
“Now, that I think about it. I’d love some fish heads, maybe an entire fish that’s still alive, some eggs, and that stuff we’ve eaten that comes from a wicker basket. I don’t know if it’s fish or animal meat, but get some of that!”
“Right-O! Won’t even have to look around.”
“Oh, you’re going to the local market aren’t you!”
“Yeah, you guessed it!”
“Well, say hello to our friends while you’re there. You know who I’m talking about! The family of four that rides a motorbike around the crowded market aisles? Yeah, them! They’re so much fun.”
“OH! ...I hate to ask for more, but maybe pick up some of the tiny oysters on your way out.”
“Sure thing, babe.”
“When you get back I’ll give you something special! You know, that special thing you like when I give you...”
“Alight!!! Is it already my birthday?”
“No, silly. I mean a beer in one of those cans with the pull tab that you haven’t seen since the early eighties!”
“Oh. Yeah. Right. ...Can we pretend it’s my birthday too though?”
This chicken dragon caught a couple locals. I found a sword made of US dollar bills and freed them by slaying the chicken dragon.
A view outside my hostel in the morning...
This was a clinic I passed. There were no front doors, just like any other shop. However, this shop was providing IV infusions to patients in the lobby. Cambodian healthcare! Yay!
I met up with Aimee an Yvon for some Indian food the next evening. The next morning we went to the Killing Fields (I’ll talk about that heaviness in another post). Here they are preparing to deliver a...
...Rollicking good time hanging out again for two days! (They attempted to deliver zero babies while I was in their company. I cannot account for when I was not in their presence.) I kid, I kid. The hostel gave us those for the dusty tuk tuk ride, and to deliver babies. I wouldn’t be surprised if they could deliver babies. They’re a couple whip smart, funny women.
The evening after the Killing Fields we met at Cousin’s Burger and Cafe for some surprisingly great hamburgers. After dinner the restaurant brought out complimentary homemade chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. A great meal.
These girls know everybody! That day in the Killing Fields, they ran into friends they’d made in Laos! So they were also part of the great dinner company. Here’s us getting some 75 cent Angkor Draughts and playing cards after dinner...
—-Had a great time Hanging out, see you in Holland ladies!—-
!steemitworldmap 11.5629 lat 104.9254 long Three days in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, d3scr
Too bad you had to pass on the Museum and Killing Fields Memorial, because they probably contain plenty of great history of the atrocities that occurred there.
There are several first-person account books written by Cambodians who lived through the Khmer Rouge regime. They are very disturbing, but essential history and well worth reading. (Two excellent ones are ... Survival in the Killing Fields, and When Broken Glass Floats.)
Anyway, it was nice to read about your adventures in Phnom Penh. I only passed thru it one day, but it appeared to be a fairly civilized place. Your report basically confirms that.
I went to the killing fields and the school prison museum. They were informative, disturbing, and moving. It was the palace and National Museum I passed on.
My misunderstanding. Good that you could see them. Just from the books I've read about the living hell under the Khmer Rouge, I developed a great respect for the Cambodian people, based on what they have achieved since then.
More power to them. And more peace to them.
If you’re interested. I posted about my trip to the Tuel Seng Museum and Killing fields. And thank you for the book recommendations.
Very interested. Will read it soon. Thanks for the notification.
I’ll be posting about it soon. I’m letting it marinate in my brain. It was... All I can say now is it was sad and unbelievable.
This is too funny. Maybe they don't want to create any competition between rivals/vendors. Therefore, this happens. I am still laughing by looking at those pictures now.
Great story and awesome photos. Where to next?
Thank you. I arrived in Siam Reap today.
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There are several first-person account books written by Cambodians who lived through the Khmer Rouge regime. They are very disturbing, but essential history and well worth reading. (Two excellent ones are ... Survival in the Killing Fields, and When Broken Glass Floats.)
Anyway, it was nice to read about your adventures in Phnom Penh. I only passed thru it one day, but it appeared to be a fairly civilized place. Your report basically confirms that.