Phnom Penh... on my birthday
Trip Start
Aug 04, 2008
1
13
16
Trip End
Aug 21, 2008
Phnom Penh,
Cambodia
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Today is my birthday. Waking up in Cambodia... pretty cool.
As the days have passed and the trip has progressed, we've started a pattern of beginning our days later and later. Today was no exception. We rolled out of bed around 9:30am, and by the time we were ready to make our way out into the city, we had done some internet surfing and blogging, and had gotten a bite at the resort's restaurant. Imagine this: FRESH passionfruit juice, rolls with passionfruit jam, and fresh pineapple and watermelon... all served to you with coffee/tea by the poolside.
As we wandered along a nearby street lined with small restaurants and shops selling hand-made goods, we passed by a few street-side barbers. Yes, street-side hair cuts... and there were customers too! Just two chairs facing small mirrors, under a small tarp, with scissors and combs lying around. It wasn't that outrageous a sight... but it just struck me as ridiculous!
We stopped in for lunch at this restaurant called Frizz. As we ate, we noticed a sign for a Cambodia food cooking course! By the time we headed out from the restaurant, we had signed up for a class tomorrow!
Here in Phnom Penh, there were pretty much no identifiable taxis... only tuk-tuks. The tuk-tuks look a little different here. While the basic tuk-tuk elements remain... half motorcycle, seating area in back, dude wearing a huge helmet up front... it just looked different. I couldn't put my finger on it. Maybe they're bigger.
Either way, we grabbed a tuk-tuk, and headed out to the Russian Market... so named because apparently, this was where the Russian people used to buy they're goods (instead of at the other markets in town). The market was similar to the markets we had seen in Thailand... little silver jewelry shops, souvenir shops... but with much fewer fake Gucci bags, more shops selling antique trinkets, and a fresh produce/seafood/meat market within. We made our way through the cramped stalls and narrow walkways, but finally succumbed to the stifling heat, and stopped at the market for some fresh lemonade.
We both agreed: out of all the markets we've been to, this was probably our favourite. It was just more friendly here. You could still barter prices, but it's all done with a smile. In fact, the general atmosphere and vibe of the city was a positive one. Everyone you pass on the street seems to be making their way around the city... and probably through life... with a good attitude and nature... and well, just more positively! While the city streets are often garbage strewn and the buildings are run down, the people are beautiful and healthy-looking. It's hard to describe in words... but we both got a great vibe from our surroundings.
From the there, we headed to the Central Market. This market is located in what looked like an old bus station, under this giant dome that housed circles of little silver jewelry booths, fake watches, and fake electronics. Oh, did I mention that back in Hong Kong and Bangkok, we'd frequently come across shops selling a "Hi-phone", a "My-phone", and various other fake ipod items? It was pretty funny. Here, no hi-phones, but lots of fake ipods. We left after walking around for an hour or so, but not before acquiring a few fake Rado watches, and Burberry polos!
Next stop, Seeing Hands Massage. This place, as described in the Lonely Planet, trains blind people in massage, providing them a way to earn money and make use of their enhanced sense of touch. In order to get there, we had to hop a ride on the back of a motorcycle... or "moto". No tuk-tuk benches on these ones, they were just motorcycles... where you sit on the seat behind the driver... often more than one of you.
The massage of pretty good I guess. I was just a little strange, I guess.
I want to talk more about the motos! Walking along the streets, you'd rarely see a moto with only one person on it. In fact, I witnessed some of the most amazing feats... 4 adult men on one moto, 5 people (3 adults with small child wedged in between each of them) on one moto, 7 sacks of potatoes on the back of one moto, this ridiculously large basket full of stuff on one moto... it was just mind-boggling. That's just how people commute here. Back at home, if you have a small child, you have this big SUV with child-seat. Here, your infant sits in your lap while you zoom around the city on a moto. It was just something else to witness!
Back at the resort, we went for a swim in the pool, then night over.
