Phnom Penh

[Backtobasics]

Gosh. Thanks for the update about the new system. I have a feeling that the free and easy days in PP are nearing their end.

Before, the sign in the Flamingo rooms saying something like 'Don't film pornography here' was the limit of their 'restrictions'.

There was usually a "lady come down. OK" phone from reception call when the gal left the room, but a couple of times it didn't happen.

I have a horrible feeling that Flamingo won't be able to be what it is for much longer.

Hotel in PP:

Stayed at Flamingos: 25$ per night standard room with AC, TV and fridge, including breakfast (1 meal, 1 drink coffee or tea), free airport pick-up: very friendly staff, totally GF (but they have a new (?) regulation: on entering all girls have to fill/sign a "form" and leave their ID at reception for copying. And the girl has to sign it with her thumb print – there is also now a copy of an official document dated March 24, 2010 in the elevator and each room attached to the wall, saying that this hotel is "not engaging in any illegal stuff" (my rough interpretation). So what?)

Location: just around the corner is Walkabout and Heart of Darkness; Sharky is a 15 minutes walk

Walkabout Bar:

Only a few freelancers – nothing to write home about: was quoted 20 $ ST, could only bargain down to 15$

Draft beer is 1, 25$

Sharky:

Lots of freelancers (was there always after 8pm) – ST 15$

Draft beer 1, 5 $

Moto Sharky-Flamingos 2 people 1$

Tourist stuff to kill time (for those who have been to all the PP temples already):

Oudong Tour (40 km outside of PP): Tuk-Tuk 15 $. Takes 4-5h (incl. 1, 5 h looking around)

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[Policarpa]

Hi all,

Long time lurker, first time monger here in PP. Here's a (clothed) pic of Tia. Picked her up at Sharky's. We agreed on $30 LT and I gave her a few extra bucks cause she was nice. If you think that's too much you may be right, but as I said she was my first pick-up and my negotiation skills need sharpening. I will do better/cheaper tonight.

[Dars Veider]

Hotel in PP:

Stayed at Flamingos: 25$ per night standard room with AC, TV and fridge, including breakfast (1 meal, 1 drink coffee or tea), free airport pick-up: very friendly staff, totally GF (but they have a new (?) regulation: on entering all girls have to fill/sign a "form" and leave their ID at reception for copying. And the girl has to sign it with her thumb print – there is also now a copy of an official document dated March 24, 2010 in the elevator and each room attached to the wall, saying that this hotel is "not engaging in any illegal stuff" (my rough interpretation). So what?)

Location: just around the corner is Walkabout and Heart of Darkness; Sharky is a 15 minutes walk

Walkabout Bar:

Only a few freelancers – nothing to write home about: was quoted 20 $ ST, could only bargain down to 15$

Draft beer is 1, 25$

Sharky:

Lots of freelancers (was there always after 8pm) – ST 15$

Draft beer 1, 5 $

Moto Sharky-Flamingos 2 people 1$

Tourist stuff to kill time (for those who have been to all the PP temples already):

Oudong Tour (40 km outside of PP): Tuk-Tuk 15 $. Takes 4-5h (incl. 1, 5 h looking around)

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[Muzungufotsy]

Nice girl mate! Where did you find her?

Please post some more!

[Himbersaft]

OK, here some Pics with wet Khmer Girls.

[Gaudente]

Flamingo has a LIFT - WA is all "walk-up" (or rather "climb up") 2 flights of stairs

I have always wondered how many drunk guys died mountaineering from and to their WA rooms.

[Wendella]

Walkabout by Rain,

Nice game on the Street.

Once when I was staying at a hotel near the river, I looked down off my balcony to see motorbikes and bicycles being pushed through water that was as high as the seat (Oct 2001) right down on the street below.

[Jan 156]

Adds a whole new meaning to get them while they are wet! Only afterwards did I realize that I was looking at Walkabout. Until then I thought you were getting your rocks off looking at photos of rainy streets! Well, there is room for everyone, I suppose.

Pretty good photos actually. When it rains it rains good. I tend to travel with some lightweight waterproofs, but as you can see it comes past the ankles at some points. Tuktuks sprout plastic windows which helps (at least if you can get one).

[Simian]

Walkabout by Rain,

Nice game on the Street.

Adds a whole new meaning to get them while they are wet! Only afterwards did I realize that I was looking at Walkabout. Until then I thought you were getting your rocks off looking at photos of rainy streets! Well, there is room for everyone, I suppose.

[Jan 156]

Flamingo has a LIFT - WA is all "walk-up" (or rather "climb up") 2 flights of stairs

Ah yes . . . The American physique . . .

[Himbersaft]

Walkabout by Rain,

Nice game on the Street.

[Dinghy]

Flamingo has a LIFT - WA is all "walk-up" (or rather "climb up") 2 flights of stairs

[Jan 156]

there's no need to run a mile, i just crossed the road and checked into flamingo

haha
yeah, even i don't run. but i do generally arrive in places with just a backpack (which converts to more respectable-looking hand-luggage if i need to look more posh!) that way i can have a look at the rooms on offer, see if they smell and so on. when i stayed at walkabout, i had looked at about four places, including flamingos. if they only have dumptruck smellholes, you're better going somewhere else.

the only reason i'd book in advance in a town like this and with many empty rooms in more or less adjoining hotels is to book a specific room. the classy rooftop rooms at walkabout are in short number. the mid range are tolerable given the other pros and cons. the smellholes are pretty vile. i only saw three rooms at flamingos, didn't like any of them. but i think the ambience there maybe appeals more to the 'hotel' mindset compared to the 'backpack' mindset.

running is generally not a preferred sport in pp unless you are being chased. walking at a steady speed and direction is much safer - traffic will generally make a reasonable effort to drive round rather than hitting you. if in doubt - or pants-pissing panic - get a tuktuk or moto to cross a busy road. because i feel it would be inconsiderate of me to leave body-parts rep001tered across the highway for ngos or scavengers to collect, i have done this myself on one or two occasions.

but between flamingos and walkabout is just normal dirtmuck side-road. so you can jaywalk - or paddle if it's raining - with no more than the normal 360 vision and a 'no thank-you-i-don't-want-whatever-it-is-you're-selling' wave.

unless it's a tuktuk to take you from bus-terminal row to the more refined tourist hotels the far side of the main road of course.

[Simian]

I know what Phil Istine means and, for most mongering type situations it is probably true, even from my experience. But strangely I found myself believing exactly the opposite when it comes to trying to find decent NGOs to support during non-mongering time (you have to be pretty hard hearted to spend long in the country without wondering what you might do to help). There is still the culture from the days of the UN in '92 everywhere, 'NGOs' lining their pockets with tourist bucks, and making a small change donation to some school or village. They have nice offices, big gas-guzzling cars, and talk with a born-again do-good smile. They often include subtle diatribes against local Khmer NGOs for unspecified questionable practices. I have seen many hard-working, honest Khmer NGOs with the sincerity of someone who picks their way past a landmine to help someone less fortunate.

And purely on a mongering level, once you get out of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, I have found moto drivers and bellboys that are kind and helpful without any attempt to rip me off over arranging an escort for the evening, and even point me towards 'decent' places with women just earning an honest living rather than anything reeking of a dodgy, indentured set-up.

The culture of lying and aggressive ripping off is produced mainly by gringos (NGOs or mongers) throwing money around willy-nilly, over-paying enormously, even giving money to beggars. It all creates a culture of laziness and greed - an attitude we, in the West, sadly feel very comfortable with. Add to that a history of (KR) men with guns who basically put people in a position of having to lie to get them to ease up a bit. So while it might be 'buyer beware', I am cautious not to put any moral spin on that against Cambodian people. Get through the defence mechanisms, and the fact that, in an unregulated, prohibition culture, mongering scenes can attract low-life scum, and many Cambodians are among the kindest people in the world.

I qualify my statement by saying that I have no time for a certain kind of NGO that either tries to push their (usually) Christian religion on desperately needy folks or inject their kind of morality on our hobby. That said, there are more than a few who do not fall into that category - trying to help locals in the countryside set up businesses, for instance. THere is not a part of the health system which does not have NGOs and others trying to fill the gaps.

That said, there are the large donors (World Bank, WHO) who are inclined to spend spend spend and then complain that the locals pocket a small cut. Not surprised given the salaries paid to the expat experts!

As I understand it, the big problem on the Khmer side is the cut that the officials take. But as long as they are on very low salaries, who can blame them?

Yes, in the main centers you are bound to get the kind of guys who will rip you off, send you to places where there are ladies and where they get a commission and so on. But I agree with Christopherd that once you get beyond that and they realize that you are not some dumbass trying to tell everyone how to live or throwing money all over the place, they will accept you as another human being. It is easier to do that once you get out of the main centers of tourism.

[Gaudente]

Of course, 99% of folk will read this, take one look at Walkabout, and run a mile.

There's no need to run a mile, I just crossed the road and checked into Flamingo