Phnom Penh, Cambodia

CGK - SIN - PNH - SIN - CGK
The journey started 28 March and ends 2 April, 2011.

This was for US Education training, in short, work thing.
I won't say much about it, who would wanna make a journal about work?

Instead, I'll write about Phnom Penh, the city, the culture, the people.
There would be many missing out on this story, just because I only spent few hours out of 6 days there. But here is what I saw...

The city landscape is much more proper than Jakarta. They have many beautiful clean green gardens. Although traffic is crazier than Jakarta, but lacking population may yet endangered pedestrians (if any). Most of them are on wheels, be it cars, motorbikes, or tuk-tuks (or locals said rhenmo).

Don't get me started on cars. Cambodians (or locally said, Khmer) love to drive huge SUVs or Jeep, and they're not the cheap ones. On tourist areas, I saw many Hummer and Lexus (Toyota gak level ya bok?).



Whilst, on the commoners side, they don't have public transports as buses or train or anything like mikrolet. They have Tuk-Tuks. Even these Tuk-Tuks are not commonly ride by the locals. My colleague and I had this conversation, and we assume that locals who ride tuk-tuks are those mums or elderly, or those who goes to Pasar (market) often. Just as we, Indonesians, rode Becak. You won't see youngsters or even white-collars rode Becak as transport. This generation prefer to drive, on motorbikes or taxis. Although in Indonesia we still go by buses, train or mikrolet for transportation; of those Khmer doesn't have.

The tourist area in Phnom Penh are not many. I reckon you can explore the city in 1 day that would cover all. Out of those some, I can only cover: Sisowath Quay, russian market, sihanouk blvd, sothearos blvd, and diamond island.


(cityview from Nagaworld Hotel level 12)

Confused on what souvenir and traditional food we can bring home, I ask our local colleague for some tips. Surprisingly, they couldn't even think of what to buy. Except for Silk and handmade crafts.

One also wonders, what are their main food? is it rice, or noodle, or bread? Our local friends could not answer as well.
Although on street hawkers we saw many barbecue place, sandwiches place (with baguette!!), and sweetened fruits on jars (manisan buah). We didnt taste any of street hawkers food, just because I'm unaware of what the meat and what ingredients they put. They smell awful too sometimes, pardon, like urine.

We were surprised that they drive on the left (as American and French do?). I have to say, most of them. Because I saw some cars have right-side drivers. So, mix? This adds to no traffic lights at some tourist area, equals confusion. They, however, have lots and lots roundabouts! Crossing roads in Phnom Penh frustrates me, what's worse, we don't know which side to look! So that adds the adrenalin rush.

Walking can be an adventure itself in Phnom Penh. For farther area, we took Tuk-Tuk. It's almost like Delman but on motorbike. We went to Russian market by Tuk-Tuk from Nagaworld Hotel, took us $6 for 6 people! I'm not sure if it's cheap or not.

Oh right, they use twin currencies. You can mix your US$ currency with their local Riel. Say for example, you bought food for US$3.50, you can give your $3 and .50c in Riel (thats about 2000 Riel). For change smaller than $1, they will always give you in Riel. For Indonesian, having Riel would be easy. They don't have cents. Riel is only 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000.
I'm amazed by their cash registers! They have 2 currencies applied in the machine. But what's more mind-boggling is that the locals can calculate easy in their mind the mixes between US$ and Riel!! For someone lousy at math, this I find very amusing. :p

So Cambodia for me is very interesting in their on way. Pardon my conclusion, but I find it doesn't have a sense of direction, given everything of twos (the currencies, the roads). Culturally speaking, they have rich culture, but they don't explore and promote it. They only have their silk. Handcrafts and stones are also two most sought souvenirs, but as Indonesian, we have those too. Also, traditional food, what are theirs? Locals don't even know.

In such a way, Indonesian are more developed compared to Khmer. However, in other ways, in much more simplicity, Khmer are "nicer" than Indonesian. Places are moderately clean (at least for tourists area). So just because they have very clean and green gardens, Phnom Penh has more pluses than Jakarta in my checklist. Oh! and the way Khmer lives. I find most amusing was that they all (by all I meant, youngsters, kids, parents, elderly, everyone!) still hangout doing nothing at riverfront, or garden, or empty field. They play sports, they run around, they dance, they chat. They still socialize in simple ways! Blimey. I have extreme appreciation to Khmer in this manner. I mean, to compare to Indonesian, Jakartans specifically, people won't socialize unless there are cafes, restaurants, or movie event nearby! Especially families. Where would you see mom, dad and tots or babies play on gardens, run around? Not in jakarta they don't!



I'm already planning to go back for a real holiday this time.
and not forgetting SIEM REAP! :)