Phnom Penh

[Betong]

Police are meeting with St. 136 bar owners tonite to discuss schedule for reopening. Rumors say maybe as early as next week if Covid cases don't increase. We should know more tomorrow.

[Red Kilt]

You always know what's coming next when they message you with the lead being "can I ask you a question?

Filipinas ALWAYS say this as well.

Must be a SE Asian institutionalized response.

I always respond to "can I ask you a question?" by saying "You just did".

This is followed by "what?" or "huh" to which I say "you already asked me a question".

Another response that I have used regularly is "No if it is a request for me to send you money". That usually cuts the conversation very short.

[Mongo1]

That is too funny. I girl in Thailand just did the same thing to me. Can I ask you a question? Then like a dumb-ass I said sure baby. Then she proceeded asking for money. 6000 Baht. I was thinking if I paid this it would have been some pretty expensive pussy.

That would explain why I received requests for assistance from a couple ladies I met when I was traveling in Cambodia in the last couple years. Although both had comfortable jobs, they are not wealthy and I'm sure surviving a lock down would create challenges for them. You always know what's coming next when they message you with the lead being "can I ask you a question?

[Red Kilt]

On 27 March, the Cambodian government decreed that foreign nationals, even those with valid visas, who wish to enter the Kingdom will be required to present.

(a) a medical certificate stating that they tested negative for COVID-19; and.

(b) an insurance policy of at least USD 50,000.

These have been implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is not known when the Cambodian government will lift said requirements.

Here is the link to Cambodian MFAIC's post: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...95313347330159.

[Amanut]

That would explain why I received requests for assistance from a couple ladies I met when I was traveling in Cambodia in the last couple years. Although both had comfortable jobs, they are not wealthy and I'm sure surviving a lock down would create challenges for them. You always know what's coming next when they message you with the lead being "can I ask you a question?

[Red Kilt]

As from midnight Thursday April 9, no intra-travel between provinces is permitted until further notice.

It means that there is no Khmer New Year celebrations permitted in 2020 - KNY is deferred until 2021.

Phnom Penh is virtually a ghost town now anyway. Hardly any traffic. Nagaworld is closed up.

Thankfully most of the good restaurants and coffee shops are still operating and there seems to still be a lot of barangs wandering around.

Supermarkets are well-stocked with fruit and vegs etc.

Masks are required garb everywhere.

It's quite a pleasant place to be right now, but definitely not a place for mongers.

[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?