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Published: January 26th 2014
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Two flights from Densapar, Bali, Indonesia, through Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I am met at Phnom Penh airport by my energetic, happy, three year old grandson, Damiel Xander, and Scott. This brought much joy, after a long day!
We rode a'tut-tut' to 'Town View Hotel', which opened three weeks ago. Scott made the reservation. It is a symbol of the growth which is taking place in this city since I was here 4 years ago. This is a 5 star hotel by US standards, large rooms with big bath, city views, including the river. There is a restaurant on the 14th floor, a gym, large swimming pool with sauna, steam room & spa. I had breakfast with the owner and his family, they are a young couple with two bright children, all speak English. The couple met in New Zealand while attending the University. He invested in Town View Hotel (#1) in Phnom Penh 3 years ago and now owns three Town View Hotels, this is his newest one. He is a good looking Cambodian (Khmer) & very busy managing three hotels. His children attend a private, English, school. The growth here is just amazing.......There are shopping malls, hotels, tall buildings,
Damiel Xander
Celebrating 3rd birthday! restaurants & high prices on products. When shopping at the 'Lucky' grocery store, the prices were higher on some items, than what I pay for products in the U.S. I've been told the investors are, China, U.S., South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand. I was surprised Vietnam and Thailand were investing here, but why not? He gives English teachers a special rate to stay in one of his hotels. He said, 'these English teachers give so much to his country, why not help them'? Scott stayed in one of his hotels when he first began teaching English in Phnom Penh. It is very interesting spending time with a young businessman and hearing about the economic explosion throughout Asia. However, Cambodia is still a third world country, there is still much poverty.
The cultural restaurants are numerous.......delicious Khmer (Cambodian) meals, Indian, Turkish, Western, and the list goes on. Each night I experience a new delight! Last nite it was Turkish with a group of Bill W.'s friends.
I went to Scott's gym and again, I'm amazed! Modern, with lots of stainless, glass & mirrors, Olympic outside, swimming pool with plenty of lounge chairs to soak up the rays! Three
floors of workout equipment and top floor reserved for yoga and other classes plus a steam room & sauna in the men's and lady's locker rooms. My instructor was a young man from India and I was quite pleased I was able to keep up with the class! It was fast paced and I'm use to Hawtha, which is slower. Prior to our yoga class, we swam laps in the pool, was very refreshing.
The traffic here is amazing! There are few traffic lights or police to regulate traffic, intersections are a 'free for all'. There are many more cars, tut-tut's & motorbikes on the road since my last visit & I'm amazed that there are not accidents at every corner. Scott tells me there are no laws regarding who goes when or where, there is no one to enforce. Interesting culture. They've come a long way & have a long way to go. From the airport to the hotel, we passed a new BMW & Mazda dealership, Lexus & Camry's very popular cars to drive here, also Mercedes! I have seen one or two Prius'.
About NGO's, Non Government Organizations! NGO's came into Cambodia many years ago
'Friends' NGO
Friends have 2 restaurants which help to give troubled street kids a second chance. This is a lovely restaurant in an old French building. A great experience. to work in refugee camps; over time, more were brought in to help stabilize the government and help prevent it from toppling. Many NGO's continue to work throughout Phnom Penh. World Food Program, Happy Tree Social Services, the United Nations has a contingent here, 'Friends' is an international organization; their motto is: 'believes that together, we can protect children and youths and give them exciting opportunities to build their future, to help former street youths'. Over 1,500 homeless and abandoned young people a day are being taken care of. The proceeds from the restaurants and the handmade crafts, are all reinvested into social programs and to operating the organization.Friends came to Phnom Penh in 1994. They offer food, shelter, medical care, and training to venerable or abandoned young people. Two restaurants have been established in Phnom Penh. We ate at the restaurant which was across from my hotel. The food was amazing, we ate in the garden which was lite up with small white lights, a lovely setting. The building is old 'French'. Those I've named are but a few. I have met several people from these NGO's and they are encouraging about the direction Cambodia is taking.
My
visit is about to end with Scott and Xander......it has been the best! Monday morning it's back on "Air Asia', thru Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Bali. I will leave with lots of good memories in my heart.
Be sure to scroll down past the advertisements to see all the photos...........
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R. Lema
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Thanks for sharing. I always enjoy your blogs. Be safe and have a wonderful time.