Blogs from Phnom Penh, South, Cambodia, Asia - page 13

Stepping out of Phnom Penh airport in the late afternoon, my lungs are instantly filled with hot tropical air; not at all unpleasant in contrast to the chilling winds I’d left swirling behind me in the Australian winter. I barely have time to register my surroundings before a man approaches to whisk me straight into an airport taxi, pre-empting my thoughts before I have time to breath a nervous word of my shaky, infant Khmer. As I instinctively make my way to the left-hand side of the car, I quickly realise I’ve had my first cultural embarrassment by forgetting that the front passenger’s seat is on the right-hand side! The next moment of cultural difference proves less trivial however, in that the driver does not know the location of my hotel, and my language skills are ... read more

With Jenna and I today parting company it was another sad goodbye. Having breakfast brought up to us for the second morning running to our room this whole travelling lark was starting to feel quite decedent! With Jenna staying on another day in battambang and leaving for Bangkok tomorrow then home to Germany, I was picked up at 9 in a very posh minibus - and after doing the rounds was on my way to phnom Penh. This was the first time in a month or so that I was back to travelling on my own again. Half of me was apprehensive about potentially feeling lonely and the other half was excited about all the new adventures I would be having! 4hrs and we had arrived in the capital - swopping the minibus for a tuk ... read more

Phnnom Penh (Donnerstag, 5.3. bis Sonntag, 8.3.) Nach einer holprigen Fahrt in der hintersten Reihe des Minivans sind wir durchgeschuettelt in Phnom Penh angekommen. Nach einer durchschwitzten Nacht im Guesthouse "Lazy Gecko" besichtigten wir die Nationalgalerie. Der Goldfischteich im Hof war eine gute Abwechslung, wenn wir eine Pause von der 2'000. Buddhastatue im Museum brauchten. Um eine gute Sache zu unterstuetzen und den knurrenden Magen zu baendigen, kehrten wir im "Friends" ein. Hier werden Strassenkinder in der Gastronomie ausgebildet. Frisch gestaerkt begaben wir uns zum Koenigspalast, wo wir den Thronsaal durch ein Fensterlein bestaunen konnten. Wie immer waren wir Kleidungstechnisch perfekt vorbereitet (Knie und Ellenbogen bedeckt), da dies vorgeschrieben ist. Bei der Besichtigung des Palastes bemekten wir, dass wir uns diese Muehe haetten sparen koennen, da andere T... read more

Yesterday, we flew to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The Royal Palace is quite impressive, with it's many buildings on several acres and interlaced with lush gardens. The King in residence is a ballet dancer, single at age 62 and lives with his mother. He inherited the throne when his brother turned the position down stating that he would rather live in the private sector. King Sri Hanu passed away in 2012 and his ashes were placed in one of two giant stupas on the grounds. This morning we started the day with a private meeting with Chum Mey, one of only two survivors from S21, the prison camp where more than 12,000 were tortured in the Cambodian Genocide during the 70's. Only 7 adults and 4 children survived this camp. His skills as a ... read more

Tuk Tuks & Hotels Arrived in Phnom Penh to find an army of tuk tuk drivers crowding around the entrance to the airport, soliciting fares. I bought a ticket for a tuk tuk at 9US$ -- taxi was $12 so it was a deal! The driver was delighted until after he had put my suitcase in the rear and I had hopped into the back passenger side! Then he discovered that my hotel was near the central part of the city, near Independence Monument at the the Mekong Dragon -- about 8k from the airport. It's a long hot traffic-congested trip, a lot of work for the $9 fare. But things worked out for him...he managed to get me to sign up for an all-day tuk-tuk gig with him the next day -- didn't get his ... read more