Phnom Penh

[QUOTE=MichealRen1; 1401629]Hi Guys.

I plan to visit HCMC mid April, I want to take a bus or taxi to Cambodia border then cross over to Cambodia, then change a bus to PP, so friends there, can you please suggest the easiest route and is it advisable, considering am a singaporean Indian.

Suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Cheers[/QUOTE]Loads of buses running all the way through from HCMC to PP. I suggest taking the Kumho Samco bus as they have the best leg room. The bus departs from Pham Ngu Lao in District 1 and travels to the Mocbai / Bavet border crossing. During the trip the bus attendant will give you the Vietnamese and Cambodian immigration documents. After you complete the forms you'll give your passport and docs to the bus attendant.

At the Vietnamese immigration checkpoint you will get off the bus. No need to wait in any of the queues as the bus attendant will take all the passengers' passports and deliver them to an immigration officer. Officer will process them and afterwards this same bus attendant will begin calling out the passengers by name. Upon hearing your name, retrieve your passport, exit the building and reboard the bus.

The bus will travel a couple hundred meters to the Cambodian immigration checkpoint. Here you will again get off the bus, enter the immigration building and take your place in one of the queues. Once the Cambodian immigration official processes you, that's the end of it. Welcome to Cambodia.

[QUOTE=Epictus; 1401824]How did you learn K'mai?

I just got back from a long trip to Asia but only did a border run to Cambodia. Never been to PP.

Feel free to PM me.[/QUOTE]I learnt to speak K'mai the same way I learnt Thai, from books and just learn at least one word a day. Also by speaking the language as much as possible. I still speak Thai in Thailand and only use English if I can't say something in Thai or I'll look it up in my handbook first.

Some of my friends have apts on their iphones, which is real handy.

I love it for Thailand also, you get the best girls knowing how to speak Thai too.

[QUOTE=Titanio;1390603]I agree on the Walkabout. That is a dump. Next door to the Walkabout is the PC Hotel that is reasonable well although staff is contineously pushing to have a drink or a meal at their empty bar but rooms are spacious and clean. Street 154 opposite the Sorya Mall has some OK hotels like the Nana, which recently merged with the Circuit hotel. That area is all safe to walk at night but not when walking from street 51 through 154 to riverside. A few Khmer street bars and food vendors in a very dark street and some drunken Khmers can be a hassle. On such a budget last month I found a brand new hotel, absolutely GF, on corner of riverside and street 102 in the former Mekhong Express building. 35 dollar a night for a great room. Spotless clean and a great breakfast included. Easy going from there to the 104 bars around the corner and 110, 118 and 136 street bars all on walking distance.[/QUOTE]Hi, thanks so much for the input, but do you have a name or info about that hotel you are writing about? Any other info is most welcome as well! It will be my first time to P P! If anyone knows a nice but budget hotel in the hot area with swimmingpool, that would be nice as well!

Thanks in advance! Philip

Go to the area you want to stay, find a tuk tuk that speaks good english, tell him that you will give him a dollar extra if he takes you to a hotel that fits all your requirements ie cost, pool, wifi, whatever

This got me a hotel on street 172 with aircon for $15 a night called white river guesthouse, no pool and not luxury but nice safe touristy area and 5-10 minutes walk from all the action.

I was happy with it.

Some will say don't do this because he will get a kickback from the hotel but who cares as long as it meets what you want imo.

[QUOTE=AussieGuy100; 1401188]The girls there are great. They are the pick of the crop from Zapata and Zanzibar. This place is aiming to be a bit more chilled and upmaket than a typical hostess bar, with frequent live music, pool table and cocktails.

There are no barfines available and the girls are discouraged from hugging, kissing or other overt sexual activities with customers. But the owner has no issue with you taking the phone number of a girl you like and then meeting up with her during the day or after working hours.[/QUOTE]I'm confused of the location here, what is the name of the pub?

Its across from zanzibar on 10th street?

Thanks

I will go and have a look today at where you mean. Yesterday I was in the area and saw that the Mekong office was still there at least sign posted that way. I know they don't do the buses from there any more. Is it possible you stayed at Nay Nay Star Bar. There is also a hotel around the corner where a lot of girls will take you for st if in that area. None of them have pools though.

If you would like a good Hotel with a pool right in the middle of the action I would suggest the OHANA about 3 shops from the riverside on street 148 it is about $70 per night depending on how you book or negotiate.

[QUOTE=Shadow6491; 1402781]I will go and have a look today at where you mean. Yesterday I was in the area and saw that the Mekong office was still there at least sign posted that way. I know they don't do the buses from there any more. Is it possible you stayed at Nay Nay Star Bar. There is also a hotel around the corner where a lot of girls will take you for st if in that area. None of them have pools though.

If you would like a good Hotel with a pool right in the middle of the action I would suggest the OHANA about 3 shops from the riverside on street 148 it is about $70 per night depending on how you book or negotiate.[/QUOTE]Is California 2 is GF?

[QUOTE=Nandu;1402797]Is California 2 is GF?[/QUOTE]Yes, You even get the odd freelancer hanging out there, but only now and again. Not very often esp with so many new bars in the 51 st area.

[QUOTE=Shadow6491;1402896]Yes, You even get the odd freelancer hanging out there, but only now and again. Not very often esp with so many new bars in the 51 st area.[/QUOTE]What new bars other than Golden Sorya?

[QUOTE=Dante2; 1402780]I'm confused of the location here, what is the name of the pub?

Its across from zanzibar on 10th street?

Thanks[/QUOTE]Zanzibar Pub is a new place located on Street 110 about 80 metres back from the riverside. It's a big open bar with pool table, frequent mellow live bands and shortly will be offering food apparently. It has some great girls in but they aren't barfinable during working hours.

The original Zanzibar hostess bar is still going strong and is located in Street 104 opposite Rose Bar.

There are lots of small bars across the street changing hands and a quite a few new bars on 104. 136 On 136 more of the vietnamese Karaokee bars are trying to get more western customers by changing their looks just walk further down the road away from the riverside, The 178 backpacker area has a few new bars. Some of these go through times of having hostess type girls for instance Suomi even Cavern on 104 st now has hostess barfineable girls later at night. The area is still so small that it really isn't necessary to list the names of bars you just walk from one to another grazing until you find something you like for a little bit more.

So went to Ben's Bar on st 110, played some pool with a nice new girl they had there.

After a few lady drinks asked if she would like to go with me LT.

She nodded yes. I called bartender / cashier over to go over details and make sure everybody understood the deal (invaluable advice I learned to do here on ISG among other things ).

We agreed LT at $40 and soon headed back off to my place.

Had a quick boom boom, then taking a little rest planning to give it another go.

But then check this one out.

At almost exactly 2:10 A. M. She gets a PHONE CALL (right about when bars are closing up?)

She talks for a quick minute and then says "so sorry, so sorry I have to go for friend or something so she cannot stay any longer, must go right away ". Meanwhile I can hear it's a guys voice on the line.

I'm bummed but say

"so that is not LT, if we no do LT as agreed then I only pay for ST "

She got real mad and starts yelling more money, more money, which went on and on and on.

AND THEN she even changes her story and says ok ok I stay all night then.

But at this point I'm in a real bummed mood about the whole thing and want her gone, finally I say I will go complain to her boss next day if she does not get out of my room. Cause whole thing was a real scene.

Finally she grabs the $20 (+ 2 for motobike) and stormed out

I've heard of this happening to other FOB (fresh of boat) Barang like myself, I guess lesson rookies is

Beware the phone calls at end of 2am bar shifts if on LT?

-Rookie

The hotel on the corner of 102 and Rverside is called Pillar ($35) I am staying in the Riverview ($25) right next door. Nay Nay Star bar on 102 is worth a look after 8pm. Great short time bar and the girls go for the bar grope too. Very flirty place. Ladies like $30 short time plus maybe $7 for the room. You can get away with $25 though but buy her a drink or two. Some bars on 51 st across from Golden Sonyra (spelling?) have freelancers at $25 per night. It was pub talk from another expat though. Crycee bar is a winner but very small and you get crowded by the girls. I like to check their figures out too so you got to tell them to parade a bit. Across the road from Crycee is a haircut joint that does body massasge too during the day. The girl gave me a free RnT two shots. I tipped her a $20 though. I think she did a sneaky really. Kept telling me to hush hush. Crycee is near 41/136 corner I think. Its a side street definately in thst area. A Pom expat told me he has never found it after being here two years. I don't think he looked into it properly really. Other places worth mentioning are the Cavern, Rose and Airforce bar on 104. Cavern best earlier and others good after 10 pm.

Near 49/136 sorry.

[QUOTE=Jirawelo;1403349]The hotel on the corner of 102 and Rverside is called Pillar ($35) I am staying in the Riverview ($25) right next door. Nay Nay Star bar on 102 is worth a look after 8pm. Great short time bar and the girls go for the bar grope too. Very flirty place. Ladies like $30 short time plus maybe $7 for the room. You can get away with $25 though but buy her a drink or two. Some bars on 51 st across from Golden Sonyra (spelling?) have freelancers at $25 per night. It was pub talk from another expat though. Crycee bar is a winner but very small and you get crowded by the girls. I like to check their figures out too so you got to tell them to parade a bit. Across the road from Crycee is a haircut joint that does body massasge too during the day. The girl gave me a free RnT two shots. I tipped her a $20 though. I think she did a sneaky really. Kept telling me to hush hush. Crycee is near 41/136 corner I think. Its a side street definately in thst area. A Pom expat told me he has never found it after being here two years. I don't think he looked into it properly really. Other places worth mentioning are the Cavern, Rose and Airforce bar on 104. Cavern best earlier and others good after 10 pm.[/QUOTE]

Still surfing the net to find a nice hotel near the nightlife with swimming pool on a nice budget! So I found some info on the Casa boutique hotel! But after sending a email it seems that their info is not correct! Even tried the two tel numbers on their website without success! Does anyone has any experience with this hotel and any contact email address or telephone number?