Advertisement
Published: December 22nd 2012
Edit Blog Post
Kids in Kampong Speu
Innocent and shy looking young souls Back in Phnom Penh again! This time for specific 'missions' as I term it. To visit old friends that is, and to also understand more about the work that I'm doing.
Like the previous trip (which I didn't have the time to blog about, probably will go back to it later), I was leading a group of volunteers on a community program to Kampong Speu to install Bio-sand water filters and build a latrine at the commune hall in the village. We stayed in Princess Hotel, a pretty decent 3-star hotel near the city centre, though pretty far in terms of walking distance from the riverside. Did have some time at night to wander around the streets though since I was there during the weekdays, somehow the riverside became pretty deserted come 10-ish pm. And there were a few changes since August when I last came. Their were portraits of the late King, Sihanouk, shown pretty much as all the monumental places, with a huge one at the Royal Palace. Apparently, with the highly worshipped King very much revered, massive numbers of locals came to pay their tributes in front of the palace and there are still remnamts of them,
2 months into his passing away. And just adjacent to the palace, contruction was going on, as a huge pagoda like structure is being built to prepare for his cremation come next month.
Food Recommendation Had our dinner at the
spoon restaurant as recommended by the tour guide on the first night, a pretty value-for-money 4USD buffet! Food was pretty local, with their spring rolls a favourite hit. Buffet comes with the usual desert and fruits though it perhaps is lacking in terms of variety, with around 10 dishes for one to choose from. But hey, what more to ask for, for a 4USD buffet bargain! Went back to
Bodhi Restaurant just across the Night Market (which was unfortunately closed on a weekday) for the second night. An open outdoor restaurant just beside the river, soaked in exquisite atmostphere that is really popular with tourists and locals likewise who just wish to chill and watch the world go by, at the same time, enjoying the local live dance performance (which is pretty eye-catching!). Had a 5-course meal, which effectively is only 2 mains, as it includes appetizer, fruits and pastries for deserts. Food quality is definitely better and
filling as well, a good recommendation if you ain't thinking of saving that extra cash for something else! It's 10USD per pax for the set dinner. If you are interested in Chinese food instead, there is the
123 restaurant that we went for our last dinner, pretty close to princess hotel. It is a 6USD (for tours) 10-course meal, definitely a big bargain compared to similar chinese dishes back at home. Atmosphere is so-so though you can't stay for long as the waitress(s) will be eager to 'chase' you away as they await the next group of customers. Oh, and lastly, if you are near the riverside, do try out
Blue Pumpkin Ice Cream Palour. It's a really comfy place to chill out with friends or just take a break from a long day of work, while dipping into the exotic ice cream flavours.
Experience the local flavour What's the best way to experience the local way of life? Thanks to my Cambodian friend, Bob, I had the chance the experience how the local pub/club culture is like. Instead of heading to the tourist-infused places along the riverside like the
FCC or
Le Moon (which we went to the last time round and I absolutely love the rooftop drinking atmosphere!), he suggested bringing me to a local lounge instead and I was more than game for it 😊 And so, we headed for
Hush Lounge, which obviously I wouldn't have even know of. There was live music playing (similar to like Timbre in Singapore) but a lot more noisier and confined, alike that of a club back at home. Well, not that I could fully appreciate the whole thing as most of the songs were Cambodian, though I occasionally give the 'Ahh, I know that song!' look when they play the more popular English ones. Well, no prizes for guessing the one that got everyone dancing to it, yeah, Gangnam Style! It was no short of a eye-opening experience for me, and definitely enjoyable with the company of a good friend 😊
Had a good walk around the riverside during the last night, trying to look for the previous hostel that I stayed in, though my memory just refused to cooperate. The past 4 days have reinforced the view that the disparity between the rich and poor in phnom penh is ever-widening, with the rich spurging on drinks in the clubs and pubs and the poor just along the street side next to the pubs begging for money. Not one, mind you, dozens. Sometimes such things just makes one wonder just how much do Mankind care for each other, especially if the locals indulge in pleasures at the expense of their own countrymen. Questioning the meaning of contributing as an International community maybe?
Just some interesting and incoherent things that I saw during this short trip: • 6 Eleven Mini-mart (instead of 7 Eleven)
• Chill and Chew restaurant
• iFood restaurant (anyone iNterested?)
• Super efficient border crossing near the Crown Bavet Hotel and Casino (yup, a CASINO)
Headed east to Ho Chi Minh next, for 4 days to find friends and return back to Ben Tre!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.062s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 10; qc: 25; dbt: 0.0274s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb