2002-2006 Phnom Penh

[Ljohnson]

Driver in Phnon Penh:

I just got an email from Yorn, my driver in Phnom Penh. He was thanking me for posting his info here on the WSG. Some customers have come his way as a result. I posted a picture I took of him in the Photo section.

As a reminder, he is, in my opinion, a very good combination driver/tour guide. I recommend his services if you go to Phnom Penh. Details may be found on this Forum. Go to Classifieds section, under Asia, Cambodia. (No, I am not getting any kickback; I just enjoy directing people to him as he made my visit very enjoyable.)

Enjoy!

LJ

[Robux]

Regarding the Heart of Darkness:

I was there one evening in February and found it full of young caucasians, perhaps the children of NGO'nics. Nicely decorated, dj spinning techno, would easily fit into any Western metropolis. I didn't get the gay bar vibe and saw no single males cruising. All patrons appeared to be hetero couples. Saw no P4P action, so I left.

Robux

[Carlos Spain]

Care in Martini!!!

In the last days have been seen TV reports in Spain carried out by ONG'S with hidden chamber in Martini disco.

The chamber focuses to foreign people with girls in the Martini disco!!

[Member #2001]

I use to have the same problem in Ukraine. I thought it was crazy too. I mean do they really thing an Ameican would have bad money or was it some kind or strange costome or ritual. After a while I got into practice of looking at my money too. Sometimes I freinds would trade new money for old when they knew I was going back to the states.

At that time they had some strange money was called the kupon (believe it or not). It really looked like monopoly money. Things got so bad that poor people would use the smaller bills for toilet paper or christmas decorations the counterfeting was so bad.

Ahh, back in the days when the dollar was worth something

[Noplobrem]

be careful with accepting 1996 $100 USD.....they have been counterfieted to an extreme and most countries will not accept them...I have had money changers try to tell me they will only give me 95 for a 100 because it was 'dirty'?

[Batman]

Now thats funny Ljohnson.
Yeah the place seemed clean and nice but very artsy and after your initial comments made me think, yeah probably a gay bar. I would never go back any way to the HOD, the Walk About is much more my cup of tea and close to the river and I have always had good luck in with Aussie bars all over

As for the Dollar thing William3
I was given some real ugly dollars ( a couple looked like they were used to clean a Machine Gun) for change and had no problem using them in the street. I think the banks are the ones with the clean crisp money problem. I have had 100's turned down at 50 banks all over the world because they had some flaw.
That really makes me crazy. I have asked them if they want me to Iron my money before I bring it to them of course they didnt understand but it was funny to me.

[Aardvark]

I do not know about Heart of Darkness being a gay bar, but 19 months ago it was boring and did not have many girls. I will take another look at it in November.

[Ljohnson]

Batman,

I didn't mean to imply that Heart of Darkness is a gay bar per se. I was just told that there is a gay scene at that location. It didn't seem like a "gay bar" as such; just probably not the best location for straight guys to find girls for sex. As a general scene and hangout, I liked it. It seemed very international and, as I said, I got into a good, intelligent conversation with someone who was not drunk on his ass and was quite intelligent. A pleasant surprise. He even paid for the drinks. (Omigod, maybe he "liked" me.) (-:

[William3]

Batman,

In Cambodia paying in dollars in no problem BUT the dollars should be rather clean. Dollars with stains, plies, etc are not accepted. Maybe that is the reason why somebody wrote that dollars were not accepted in Cambodia.

[Batman]

I am sure glad I read the thread
Frankfurter mentioned the Sakura Hotel.

My motor driver took me there one afternoon and it was great one hour massage for 5 U.S. and it was a GOOD massage a real massage in a private room (clean and AC with TV). The next day I took the Canadian girl to have one and she loved it as well.

I got the happy finish for 5 extra on my second visit and think I could have for less as she did not ask for anything I just tipped her 5

They also have a fish Bowl so you can pick which one you want or they will pick one for you like they did with my Female travel companion. (I dont think she was quite ready for the fish bowl and probably would have freaked) I got the same girl from the day before and the guy at the fron desk remembered wich one it was so there was no trip to the fish bowl to pick for me or her.

SO hell yeah that place rocks for massage but I did not stay there
also I have seen in the thread that some have said that dollars were not good to have in PP. I did not find this true everywhere I went they wanted dollars and some times gave change in Riel which I gave to the motor driver at the end of the day.

SO...... IMHO PP is very US dollar friendly

[Batman]

WOW, Good to know the Heart of Darkness is a gay bar. I will have to cross that one off my list. I am also glad I went with a Canadian girl who told me she had heard it was a cool place, go figure.

[Ljohnson]

Batman,

Thanks for the PP update. I was there in April and had a great time but I see now that I overpaid a bit. I'm glad to know about your Sharky's experience and also the new Martini's. I will definitely plan on staying at California II next visit.

I also visited Heart of Darkness and didn't see much that interested me in terms of action. I did have a good conversation with a Dutch guy there who, it turns out, was gay. He told me the PP gay scene centers around that bar (I have heard that elsewhere.) Maybe that's why the girls we're looking for are in short supply there.

I also went to K-11 just to look. I reported on that in this thread in April of this year. I was a little freaked out. Very interesting, but kinda spooky. Oh well, it is Cambodia.

Thanks for the update.

Ljohnson

[Batman]

OK,
Just back From PP and here what I found.

I stayed at 3 hotels the only one worth metioning was California 2 its girl friendly clean and safe and $15 a night. Its on the river and the owner JIM is a great guy. Very freindly place good food and nice service.

Sharkys is for sure a pick up place and there were a lot of 5's and a few 7's the price for the whole evening was $20.

The NEW Martinis was nice but a little far away from the river. Its full of girls that want to go home with you and I tookone from there and she didnt ask for a dime. I gave her a $20 and it was a real GFE. SHe wanted to hang out but I had other things to do and since I was traveling with others I had to ditch her.

Heart of Darkness was a nice bar settiing but I saw no "Talent " there Seemed like it was more of a couples bar.

The WALK ABOUT. Great little place open all night and they served food after everything else was closed. ALso a pick up Bar lots of action. I took one away there $20 all night average sevice and wanted to leave early.

K11 is still open and my motor driver knew about it and took me for a look. Its way out of town and seemed dangerous but I just wanted to see what all the hype was about. IMHO Stay in the city dont waste your time.

[Turbo Carl]

Hello,

In September I will visit Phnom Penh at my first time. I will stay at "The Juliana Hotel" near the Central Market.

Is this hotel girl friendly or have I to pay a lady charge when I bring in a lady?

Are there any nice and clean GoGo-Clubs like in Thailand in Phnom Penh?

Thank you in advance.

[Pathologic]

I've travelled overland to PNH many times, from Pattaya and from HCM, but never thought my experiences could provide useful information to others.

So, here goes. I'm planning to go back to PNH in mid-Sept, spending a few nights in Pattaya, overland via Koh Kong and Sihanoukville, then to PNH, a few days in Siem Riep, before returning home. If any monger out there wants me to collect specific information, I'd be more than happy.

Post your requests.