Angkor's Away

Friday February 8th

Sorry, bad pun I know. Transferred to Phnom Penh. This was a much more efficient operation. They said the journey would take 6 hours and it took exactly 6 hours. Because it is a better road than the one into Siem Reap they can put on better coaches so all in all the trip was quite comforatable.

The only unusual thing about the trip was that as I am sitting there reading, I hear some familiar voices and look up to see a group of lads playing GAA on the TV. Turns out it was a Westlife video. They subjected us to 5 Westlife videos in a row. Still overall it was a better journey than the previous one.

When we got to PP I wandered along about 2 blocks until I saw a guesthouse with a chalkboard outside saying France v Ireland on Saturday night. So I chanced my arm, went in, and enquired about rooms, and they had one (but only for 2 days, not the 3 I wanted). Anyway I took it, and although it was dear, $18, it was very good. Turns out the whole operation is run by an Aussie, hence the cricket and ruby on TV not soccer, and there are a few extra touches that actually make the $18 worthwhile, like the free bottled water, and its proximity to the city centre, which all in all saves about $6.

One added 'attraction' I soon discovered was the troop of monkeys outside the window. After struggling to see them in Siem Reap, they decided to visit me, coming right up to the window to see the new arrival. Needless to say it was obvious that you don't open your window here.

I went down to Sisowath Quay, which is the main tourist strip in PP. I wasn't that impressed, and couldn't really see what the deal was. I guess its just in comparison to the rest of the city it seems hopping. Even on the quay there are a few points where there are gaps between the bars. As there is no street lighting, only that which comes from the bars, you can find yourself walking in the dark if not careful. Overall there is more of an edge to the city than in Siem Reap which seemed quite safe.

After having dinner in a local bar that played a lot of U2 (they seem to play albums right through in pubs rather than mixing music) I headed back to the hotel with the intent of just having a few drinks there before heading to bed. However I ran into a few English lads who were about to hit the town and persuaded me to join them.

Lets just say a lot of drink was had, and I didn't get back to the hotel until 3. We visited all the famous PP bars (well the two most famous of them anyway, plus another couple) covering the great distances on the back of motorbikes (thankfully at that hour the streets are empty). Unlike in Bangkok where all the dodgy bars are concentrated in 3 spots, in PP they are all mixed in, so you could be in a decent bar one minute, go next door and be in a bar with a load of 'hostesses'. Anyway two of the other lads didn't last the night and were spirited away by hostesses, but I made it home intact.