Sunday 14 Aug 2011. Phnom Penh
By 8.00am I am at the Mekong Express 275F Pham Ngu Lao, Dist. 1 office. I am inquisitive and talkative. I make friends with British travelers Neil and his wife Maryosh. They have just done the train trip from Hanoi to HCMC and it was a baby trip for them, according to Neil, as they have extensive train travel experiences including one on London - Russia - Beijing.
He suggests I check out Vietnam Impressive (Mr Nguyen Thi Hien at 84-4-39747343 and hien@vietnamimpressive.com). They paid $384 for a 4-soft sleeper train coach because they wanted privacy and comfort.
The journey on the coach will take 6 hours to track a distance of 240km with a rest stop after the Vietnam Border town of Mocbai at the Cambodian border town of Bavet. I know I do not need visa to get into Cambodia and this is verified by the tour guide. Phew!
There is a movie and Vietnamese karaoke being played on board. We are slow going due to the dual carriage way and bike traffic in the Vietnam side. Crossing the border is a breeze and we stop at the Flowery Restaurant for chow. I befriend 2 old Cambodian ladies having overhearing them converse in Teow Chew. It turns out one of them speaks Hakka and another speaks perfect Putong Hua. Hakka woman was in HCMC to seek medical treatment for her stomach ulcer and Putong Hua lady was there to have her drooping eye lids operated on. They trust the Vietnamese doctors and medical facilities more.
Border crossing
Looking at Bavet from Mocbai
River Crossing on a ferry
Rest Stop
At the rest stop we have just tracked 80km from HCMCI get into Phnom Penh Mekong Express office and buy 2 bus tickets to Siem Reap. One tuk tuk driver is very persistent and he tails me and waits for me, sensing business opportunity. I use him to get to my hotel - the Frangipani Villa 60's.
The beautiful hotel is located at #20R St 252, Chaktomuk, Don Penh, Phnom Penh.
Two amigos
My friend Darren is already at the hotel waiting for me. He has earlier arrived from KL to join me for the rest of my journey. I am glad he's ok and he tells me he got into the hotel from the airport on a motorbike for US$2. He wants the experience.
We settle in and walk to nearby St 57 (BKK 1 - lots of restaurants and pubs) and have a look see. It begins to rain and we look for cover. We get into this spa called Nata Spa at 29 St 302. and the environment looks great. I order a traditional Khmer massage and Darren an aromatherapy massage.
The bill comes to US$60 and the disappointment is as big as the bill. But the ladies are very friendly and helpful. We have a recommendation from them to have dinner at the nearby Kravanh Khmer Restaurant at #122 Sothearos St. The girls at the spa get us a tuk tuk in the rain to Kravanh and we enjoy our first Khmer food thoroughly.
Amok is a must. It is just like the otak otak. We also have fried pork ribs and a fish dish. Angkor Beer of course. Just $26 and excellent dishes and friendly staff.
2 comments:
Do they use USD in Phnom Penh too? Looks like the massage price in Phnom Penh is higher then the one in HCMC... may be you went to the high class one in Phnom Penh, am I right? Now I know where to eat and what to order after reading your updates. ;P
yes all in usd. they give you back usd and for small amount in Riel. we went to spas with nice environment but it turned out these spas are just so so in their service.
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