Comments on: Off to Phnom Penh! http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/04/off-to-phnom-penh/ drink and blog Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:55:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Doc Holliday http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/04/off-to-phnom-penh/#comment-92457 Doc Holliday Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:04:49 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/main/2007/11/04/off-to-phnom-penh/#comment-92457 Thank you very much for posting all this helpful information (and to the gentlemen who have added additional info in their responses). I am planning a trip to Cambodia in November, and feel MUCH better prepared. Thank you very much for posting all this helpful information (and to the gentlemen who have added additional info in their responses). I am planning a trip to Cambodia in November, and feel MUCH better prepared.

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]]> By: Back from PP! at The FARANG Speaks 2 Much http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/04/off-to-phnom-penh/#comment-36879 Back from PP! at The FARANG Speaks 2 Much Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:54:58 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/main/2007/11/04/off-to-phnom-penh/#comment-36879 [...] Back from PP folks. What can I say - Bangkok rules. From the moment I landed I was happy to see some Thai girls, [...] [...] Back from PP folks. What can I say – Bangkok rules. From the moment I landed I was happy to see some Thai girls, [...]

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]]> By: Jack Dawson http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/04/off-to-phnom-penh/#comment-33785 Jack Dawson Sun, 04 Nov 2007 10:47:05 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/main/2007/11/04/off-to-phnom-penh/#comment-33785 1. Stay at Flamingo on Street 51. 2. Have a meal (or meals) at "On the Corner" at 136th (I think) and Sisaquay (the lake). Particularly recommended is the chicken breast in mushroom cream sauce. Ask for a baguette with butter on the side. 3. The fast food is good at the place next to the Lucky Market at Soriya (the only mall in town, walking distance from Flamingo). (BTW, they sell Fritos at that Lucky, something they DON'T sell here). (BTW II, Lucky has a GOOD bakery). 4. I'm a Martini man. But it's like every other place. Half the time I'd score and half the time I wouldn't. Around 10 is a good time to arrive as the good ones, if there are any, get grabbed early. Have a good, safe trip. 1. Stay at Flamingo on Street 51.

2. Have a meal (or meals) at “On the Corner” at 136th (I think) and Sisaquay (the lake). Particularly recommended is the chicken breast in mushroom cream sauce. Ask for a baguette with butter on the side.

3. The fast food is good at the place next to the Lucky Market at Soriya (the only mall in town, walking distance from Flamingo).

(BTW, they sell Fritos at that Lucky, something they DON’T sell here).

(BTW II, Lucky has a GOOD bakery).

4. I’m a Martini man. But it’s like every other place. Half the time I’d score and half the time I wouldn’t. Around 10 is a good time to arrive as the good ones, if there are any, get grabbed early.

Have a good, safe trip.

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]]> By: Jack B http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/04/off-to-phnom-penh/#comment-33708 Jack B Sun, 04 Nov 2007 06:06:57 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/main/2007/11/04/off-to-phnom-penh/#comment-33708 PNH has changed significantly in recent years, more so than Bangkok. The biggest FDI country in Cambodia now is China. Chinese punters are sought after by Vietnamese and Khmer working girls alike, who seem to be trending towards more affluence, bitchier attitudes, and demanding higher prices. And there are also more farangs: both the backpacker-type (who congregate by the riverside) and the monger-tourist. The days of the $5 short-time are over--the bars mentioned above are where you find your talent. My feeling is that Martini has declined--it's moved twice since its original locale, and while it's fine if you go with some people to hang out and survey the scene, its overall darkness and the quality of talent can make finding short-time companionship problematic. mah-tee-NEE (put emphasis on last syllable for moto-drivers) gets going late, which some people like. But the drunken idiocy I see so often in Bangkok isn't just obnoxious in PNH: it's dangerous. While it's not the norm, armed robberies and attacks can and do occur at places like m-t-N and Heart of Darkness. You need to be a bit more careful. You'll notice that the VN gals do not carry purses--they are tolerated, but not necessarily liked, by the indigenous population. If you strike up conversations with people at Sharky or Martini you'll find much discussion of the relative merits of the VC versus the KR, and yes, it may be best to use euphemisms and nicknames in conversations. You'll also learn the latest prices, so given the smaller nature of the scene, you might want to head down to Sharky around 7 or 8, see if you can find someone who wants to give you the lowdown. Sharky gets going earlier, but as always, when approached by someone who wants to glom onto you (which happens fast), just say you're "waiting for your friend." If nothing catches your fancy at Sharky you can always go to Martini later. The traffic in PNH takes a little getting used to. I tend to walk but moto-drivers will appear every 20 seconds or so. Get riel for the motos, most rides around town are 1000-1500 riel. Any moto-ride from Sharky will cost a dollar per bike--absurdly high but there's a sort of informal enforcement. I like PNH but I'm careful where I eat, who I associate with and I don't stay out late at night. Vietnamese is my preferred route. And there are some good Viet eateries in town as well. ;) JtB PNH has changed significantly in recent years, more so than Bangkok. The biggest FDI country in Cambodia now is China. Chinese punters are sought after by Vietnamese and Khmer working girls alike, who seem to be trending towards more affluence, bitchier attitudes, and demanding higher prices. And there are also more farangs: both the backpacker-type (who congregate by the riverside) and the monger-tourist. The days of the $5 short-time are over–the bars mentioned above are where you find your talent.

My feeling is that Martini has declined–it’s moved twice since its original locale, and while it’s fine if you go with some people to hang out and survey the scene, its overall darkness and the quality of talent can make finding short-time companionship problematic. mah-tee-NEE (put emphasis on last syllable for moto-drivers) gets going late, which some people like. But the drunken idiocy I see so often in Bangkok isn’t just obnoxious in PNH: it’s dangerous. While it’s not the norm, armed robberies and attacks can and do occur at places like m-t-N and Heart of Darkness. You need to be a bit more careful. You’ll notice that the VN gals do not carry purses–they are tolerated, but not necessarily liked, by the indigenous population.

If you strike up conversations with people at Sharky or Martini you’ll find much discussion of the relative merits of the VC versus the KR, and yes, it may be best to use euphemisms and nicknames in conversations. You’ll also learn the latest prices, so given the smaller nature of the scene, you might want to head down to Sharky around 7 or 8, see if you can find someone who wants to give you the lowdown. Sharky gets going earlier, but as always, when approached by someone who wants to glom onto you (which happens fast), just say you’re “waiting for your friend.” If nothing catches your fancy at Sharky you can always go to Martini later.

The traffic in PNH takes a little getting used to. I tend to walk but moto-drivers will appear every 20 seconds or so. Get riel for the motos, most rides around town are 1000-1500 riel. Any moto-ride from Sharky will cost a dollar per bike–absurdly high but there’s a sort of informal enforcement.

I like PNH but I’m careful where I eat, who I associate with and I don’t stay out late at night. Vietnamese is my preferred route. And there are some good Viet eateries in town as well. ;)

JtB

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]]> By: Bangkok Bad Boy http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/04/off-to-phnom-penh/#comment-33705 Bangkok Bad Boy Sun, 04 Nov 2007 05:44:52 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/main/2007/11/04/off-to-phnom-penh/#comment-33705 A little background - check the comments: http://www.bangkokbadboy.com/phnom-penh.html I stayed on Street 148, right by the riverside. Loads of great French food round there. Try La Croisette for lunch, and Rendezvous Cafe for dinner. There was a $25 departure tax last time I flew out of Phnom Penh (just over a year ago), so watch out for that. I think you'll have a fantastic time. Don't forget to open the Phnom Penh branch of the Big Mango while you're there. A little background – check the comments:

http://www.bangkokbadboy.com/phnom-penh.html

I stayed on Street 148, right by the riverside.

Loads of great French food round there. Try La Croisette for lunch, and Rendezvous Cafe for dinner.

There was a $25 departure tax last time I flew out of Phnom Penh (just over a year ago), so watch out for that.

I think you’ll have a fantastic time. Don’t forget to open the Phnom Penh branch of the Big Mango while you’re there.

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