Phnom Penh

[Nyezhov]

The police systematically moved around Phnom Penh on Thursday closing all bars along Sts 136,5, 130 etc.

I took a walk last night and it was dark and deserted.

There are a few places that appear closed but I believe they are functioning with a few girls (who live upstairs), very low music and the lights turned right down.

I had a few "pssts" and "hellos" as I walked down the street but I ignored them.

Naga 1 & 2 are virtually deserted. Darlin Darlin is shuttered with a sign on front "closed until further notice".

Good news is that so far pretty much ALL the food outlets are open and serving the full menu.

Given that there are very few foreigners around now it remains to be seen whether they can stay open or perhaps keep functioning with a reduced staff.

The supermarkets are open and no sign of panic-buying. Plenty of food around.

Lots of toilet paper too.

I blew in to town on Monday and was out in a hour and back to Siem by the evening. My Khmer driver was amazed at how dead it was. There were lines at Pharmacies, I believe for Chloroquinine. I'm so glad I'm out of a large city. Wash your hands and stay safe everyone.

[Red Kilt]

The police systematically moved around Phnom Penh on Thursday closing all bars along Sts 136,5, 130 etc.

I took a walk last night and it was dark and deserted.

There are a few places that appear closed but I believe they are functioning with a few girls (who live upstairs), very low music and the lights turned right down.

I had a few "pssts" and "hellos" as I walked down the street but I ignored them.

Naga 1 & 2 are virtually deserted. Darlin Darlin is shuttered with a sign on front "closed until further notice".

Good news is that so far pretty much ALL the food outlets are open and serving the full menu.

Given that there are very few foreigners around now it remains to be seen whether they can stay open or perhaps keep functioning with a reduced staff.

The supermarkets are open and no sign of panic-buying. Plenty of food around.

Lots of toilet paper too.

[Rick Rock]

I love the non sensual massage also and frankly I doubt you'll find a better place than Bkk for that considering the cheap price and the very good service you can find it in Bkk.

I've never wanted to try one in PP because the places never look very inviting and more importantly there are loads of news about customers being scammed or robbed while they were being serviced.

The robberies are in the 10000 Riel brothels where the actual massage lasts maximum 90 seconds.

If you go to a normal massage where the price is $5 or more, the odds of getting robbed are somewhere between slim and none.

[Rick Rock]

In both cases, the tourist loitered around with 1000 $ of cash. Even the editor of news is surprised.

Excerpt:

"The victim claimed that during the massage, the masseuse mixed a sedative with the oil and massaged him," he said. "When the victim was sleeping, the three suspects stole $1,100 from his bag."

At 8:30 pm, the victim went to the massage, and while getting a rub down had $ 1320 (*Yes, one thousand three thousand twenty? Source says $13,200, but must be an typo? Exchanged with counterfeit dollar bills. The suspect managed to escape with the money.

Why would you carry so much cash in your man purse? I don't spend that much money during the entire trip. I am sure they must have heard about ATM in Cambodia or surely they could stay in hotel with a safe. These people are obvious targets. As an old saying, Fool and his money will part ways. There are lot of petty crimes in PP as in any other town. Phones being snatched often reported. I was followed by ladyboys / gangs couple of times during the midnight walk from 104 to ohana hotel. Silly drunk me. I consider it lucky that my phone or wallet wasn't snatched. But if you act wise, I think PP and Cambodia is very safe.

It's common for Asian people to walk around with large sums of cash. Especially if they hail from countries like Japan, Singapore or China with functioning societies and virtually no cases of person-to-person robbery.

[Nazgylg15]

Here are two others for RedKilt:

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/512473/...inese-tourist/

https://cne.wtf/2020/02/28/korean-re...massage-theft/

So am I right to say loads of news?

In both cases, the tourist loitered around with 1000 $ of cash. Even the editor of news is surprised.

Excerpt:

"The victim claimed that during the massage, the masseuse mixed a sedative with the oil and massaged him," he said. "When the victim was sleeping, the three suspects stole $1,100 from his bag."

At 8:30 pm, the victim went to the massage, and while getting a rub down had $ 1320 (*Yes, one thousand three thousand twenty? Source says $13,200, but must be an typo? Exchanged with counterfeit dollar bills. The suspect managed to escape with the money.

Why would you carry so much cash in your man purse? I don't spend that much money during the entire trip. I am sure they must have heard about ATM in Cambodia or surely they could stay in hotel with a safe. These people are obvious targets. As an old saying, Fool and his money will part ways. There are lot of petty crimes in PP as in any other town. Phones being snatched often reported. I was followed by ladyboys / gangs couple of times during the midnight walk from 104 to ohana hotel. Silly drunk me. I consider it lucky that my phone or wallet wasn't snatched. But if you act wise, I think PP and Cambodia is very safe.

[Paolo99]

Thanks for the updates Paolo.

Your examples show that I was wrong.

My background in research science prompted me to challenge your generalizations without providing any evidence.

You have now done that but it would have been better if you had quoted the examples in your original article.

No harm. No foul.

You're welcome Red Kilt.

I didn't linked these articles because I thought most people on the PP forum were aware of these scams.

I just wanted to let newcomers in PP (especially people that are used to regular massage parlors in BKK) know that these scams are common in PP and that they should take all precautions before entering one of these shops.

[Red Kilt]

Here are two others for RedKilt:

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/512473/...inese-tourist/

https://cne.wtf/2020/02/28/korean-re...massage-theft/

So am I right to say loads of news?

Thanks for the updates Paolo.

Your examples show that I was wrong.

My background in research science prompted me to challenge your generalizations without providing any evidence.

You have now done that but it would have been better if you had quoted the examples in your original article.

No harm. No foul.

[ShiftTab]

Limoncello is still open and they do indeed have very good pizzas. It's on Street 264 at the moment. Regarding action along riverfront, do you mean SW's and stuff?

It's great to hear the restaurant is still open. I hope they're doing OK with this coronavirus scare. As for action, there were a few SW, but mostly girls in the small bars that my friends brought me to. From reading what everyone's been writing, the scene has changed and st 130 -136 seems to be where everyone's gone to. I was there in late 2014, so it's been a while. I would love to go back to Phenom Penh, but on my own dime so I wouldn't have to stay at the Raffles. My employer wanted to stay at the fancy hotel because JFK had stayed there and it was historical. Flooey, the front desk would ask us to hand over the room key whenever we went out, requiring us to go to the front desk to pick up the key when we returned and the chance of bringing back a girl almost 0.

[Paolo99]

Here are two others for RedKilt:

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/512473/...inese-tourist/

https://cne.wtf/2020/02/28/korean-re...massage-theft/

So am I right to say loads of news?

[Paolo99]

Extraordinary generalizations here Paolo, and you haven't even been scammed yourself (just repeating stories about "loads of news about customers being scammed or robbed while they were being serviced".

What part of Phnom Penh are you talking about? The middle of the entertainment area or some other more sophisticated parts? Where are the "loads of news stories?

If you have been scammed personally, let's have some details as that is what this board is for rather than some broad generalizations that don't mean anything.

I've not been looking the Khmer news for a long time so I don't know if these stories appear as often as a few months back.

The stories I'm talking about are in the news sites or Khmers forums, and I'm not repeating any stories, I'm just saying that this happens a lot more than in BKK for example.

After one minute of googling I already found two:

https://cne.wtf/2020/02/28/happy-end...it-at-massage/

https://cambodiaexpatsonline.com/gen...ng-t29794.html

I've not been scammed myself because I'm aware of the situation and I'm not one that like to play with fire when I'm abroad.

Have a good read.

[JimBocohones]

Extraordinary generalizations here Paolo, and you haven't even been scammed yourself (just repeating stories about "loads of news about customers being scammed or robbed while they were being serviced".

What part of Phnom Penh are you talking about? The middle of the entertainment area or some other more sophisticated parts? Where are the "loads of news stories?

If you have been scammed personally, let's have some details as that is what this board is for rather than some broad generalizations that don't mean anything.

He is most likely talking about the scams that happen in the 10 000 riel massage parlours. It is actually very common and you can find plenty of stories about this online. News stories are a few every month, so the real number is probably way higher. They switch your bills while your pants are hanging somewhere else in the room. You are lying on your stomach and the massage lady makes a few loud taps on your back and meanwhile someone sneaks in to take some money out of your wallet or switch to fake bills. This is however only the cheap dodgy massage places that barely gives you a massage.

[Red Kilt]

I've never wanted to try one in PP because the places never look very inviting and more importantly there are loads of news about customers being scammed or robbed while they were being serviced.

Even if I took my precautions as to not being scammed, I don't see the point of giving my hard earned money to people that like to scam others. Cambodia is full of nice people that try to make a honest living and deserves a lot more my money than these scammers.

At the very least, if anyone still decide to go there, you shouldn't hold any valuables if you enter one of these places and try to have only the required amount for the service.

Extraordinary generalizations here Paolo, and you haven't even been scammed yourself (just repeating stories about "loads of news about customers being scammed or robbed while they were being serviced".

What part of Phnom Penh are you talking about? The middle of the entertainment area or some other more sophisticated parts? Where are the "loads of news stories?

If you have been scammed personally, let's have some details as that is what this board is for rather than some broad generalizations that don't mean anything.

[Paolo99]

I am thinking of PP for my next trip and what I love in Asia is good healthy non sexual massage and reflexology.

Of course this is everywhere in BKK but BKK is becoming rather pricey.

I love the non sensual massage also and frankly I doubt you'll find a better place than Bkk for that considering the cheap price and the very good service you can find it in Bkk.

I've never wanted to try one in PP because the places never look very inviting and more importantly there are loads of news about customers being scammed or robbed while they were being serviced.

Even if I took my precautions as to not being scammed, I don't see the point of giving my hard earned money to people that like to scam others. Cambodia is full of nice people that try to make a honest living and deserves a lot more my money than these scammers.

At the very least, if anyone still decide to go there, you shouldn't hold any valuables if you enter one of these places and try to have only the required amount for the service.

[Red Kilt]

I am thinking of PP for my next trip and what I love in Asia is good healthy non sexual massage and reflexology.

Massage shops (large and small) are everywhere in Phnom Penh too (as you noted for Bkk).

They can be found on virtually EVERY street in PNH. However, I personally am unable to answer you question as to whether they are good, healthy and non-sexual.

A good starting point to seek out a good massage might be to go to the area called Boeung Keng Kang (coincidentally it's known as BKK and not to be confused with the Thai city) . It's an upmarket part of PNH and it probably has more parlours that are essentially non-sexual in nature. Start on St 51 (pasteur) and wander the block bordered by St 278,57 and 282. Many stylish looking spas there that I have seen and I am sure will provide exactly what you want.

I have only ever sampled the in-room massages in a couple of hotels. Nothing special.

[Franga]

Can this massage be found here?

Yes there are a lot of massage places around. There is a group of places on the northeast side of the circular road around what phnom. No extras offered to me on my visit there. Also a lot on Sothearos Blvd leading to Aeon Mall. And along the Riverside as well. Whether the massage is any good is another story.