Phnom Penh

Trip Start Nov 03, 2008
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Trip End May 2009


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Where I stayed
Sokha Heng
(Phnom Penh hotels)

Flag of Cambodia  ,
Saturday, December 13, 2008

Took the public bus from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh ( 7 hrs) it had a kareoke DVD playing, which the locals loved....the boarder crossing was mental, but they let us through eventually. Stopped for the " happy house" which gave Thou our guide a chance to get us to try some local food. Terantulla ( bad spelling of a big furry spider) , crickets and durrian smelly fruit were top of the must try list : o 0
Sombre day, first at the Tuol Sleng Prision, our guide lost his parents and most of his friends and family there. He survived by working in the coutryside as a "scare crow" , to keep the birds off the rice, he was 6 years old at he time. The Killing Fields at Choeung Ek are in one way awful but in another strangley peaceful left as they are, as a permanent reminder.
The Russian Market is worth a visit to check out the local produce and you dont get hasseled by people trying to sell you stuff Karaoke on the bus
Karaoke on the bus
 . 
Found an Irish bar called Ronnies, which made Flip Flop very  happy and tried some local whiskies:
Mekon = Cambodian
John Saigon = Vietnamese
Sag Som = Thai
They were better than expected...all very good, but Mekon was my favorite with toffee / caramel notes. Bri liked them all !! Mable : o )

The hotel was close to the old Palace, the river and the shops.  Mac spent some time sketching and managed to
attract a crowd of interested locals again, they were more impressed at his screw in travel paint brush though.  The killing fields and prison were very sad, but some of the tee shirts a few of the other foreigners were wearing were a little odd,  Little Miss Giggles etc, or maybe Mac was being a bit too sensative!  Cricket tasted like smokey bacon, spider didn't.  Mac liked the local whiskey, better than most of the stuff Ireland produces.  A good city and a nice hotel, shame no lifts or Wi-fi.  Mac
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