Is it me or Phnom Penh is actually kinda expensive ?

[MrPancake]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Been many times, always enjoyed it.

Always booked a hotel with a pool right in the middle of the entertainment area.

It's worth the extra money for a morning and afternoon swim every day, and a nice walk down the promenade in the early morning.

 

Sounds like a better plan than mine for sure :))

[scubascuba3]

3 hours ago, bignok said:

Its not difficult.

No one is suggesting it is

[scubascuba3]

I went to PP in 2009, sounds like it's still a dump, full of unsavoury characters back then

[MrPancake]

14 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I went to PP in 2009, sounds like it's still a dump, full of unsavoury characters back then

 

I've been exploring outside the riverside district this morning. Much better. The touristy area is the worse part of the city really. Nothing makes sense here. Prices is all over the place. People are nice though. Dodgy characters you'll find only around the riverside area.

Edited November 10, 2023 by MrPancake

[JimTripper]

13 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I went to PP in 2009, sounds like it's still a dump, full of unsavoury characters back then

that's funny. cambodia is where i met that guy that said it was paradise and if you don't like it's you...

 

he's probably living in the bloody guesthouse i mentioned earlier.

Edited November 10, 2023 by JimTripper

[Hanaguma]

20 minutes ago, MrPancake said:

 

I've been exploring outside the riverside district this morning. Much better. The touristy area is the worse part of the city really. Nothing makes sense here. Prices is all over the place. People are nice though. Dodgy characters you'll find only around the riverside area.

Area a bit south near the Russian Market is interesting. Also, if you can handle it, a visit to the school/prison from the Khmer Rouge days and the killing fields seems like a necessary thing to do. 

 

Loved Siem Reap. But you need to be into history. There are very very cool temples outside the city, you need to book a private car to go. Koh Ker and Beng Melea can easily be done in a day.  Beng Melea still has some land mines around though- the touristy area is limited. When we went, a young police captain volunteered to give us a "back country" tour of the temple, around the ruins and through the interior.  It was fascinating, his English was good, and it was a side that others don't get to see. He was genuinely surprised that I gave him a $20 tip for his troubles, but it was well worth it. 

 

Stayed at the Royal Crown Hotel, about 35 bucks including buffet breakfast. 5 minutes' walk to pub street, laundry across the road (a dollar a kilo), and a small supermarket with 65 cent cans of beer a block away. 

 

You can rent  a motor bike these days too in Cambodia, about 10 dollars a day. Great way to see the Ankor complex and the countryside.

[jossthaifarang]

Well here's what I think. If the beer is the same price as the coffee, you better stick to drinking beer. 

[scubascuba3]

39 minutes ago, MrPancake said:

 

I've been exploring outside the riverside district this morning. Much better. The touristy area is the worse part of the city really. Nothing makes sense here. Prices is all over the place. People are nice though. Dodgy characters you'll find only around the riverside area.

Maybe that was true back then as I only went to Riverside area and got out of Dodge quick. I stayed at the Walkabout for 1 night, bogan hell, door handle fell off immediately, kinda summed up that trip to PP

Edited November 10, 2023 by scubascuba3

[radiochaser]

16 hours ago, MrPancake said:

 

Yeah I know.

I book a 11$ room on Agoda.

Looked decent.

In reality even a rat wouldn't accept to live here. I had to fix an air freshener on the fan to hide the disgusting smell... Well it's supposed to be an aircon but it doesn't really work so it's a fan imo.

 

... I'm gonna f$cking die here...

You can't die MrPancake!!!
 

I just bought a jug of maple syrup!! 

[Kinok Farang]

20 hours ago, JimTripper said:

are beers really $2.50 now? i think when i was there they were always $1

 

i remember the $1 drafts in cambodia were almost always flat and barely drinkable

 

in vietnam they were 50 cents lf i remember correctly 🤷🏻‍♂️

50 cents in S/ville 15 years ago.Cambodia has changed beyond recognition since then and not for the better.

[bignok]

5 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Area a bit south near the Russian Market is interesting. Also, if you can handle it, a visit to the school/prison from the Khmer Rouge days and the killing fields seems like a necessary thing to do. 

 

Loved Siem Reap. But you need to be into history. There are very very cool temples outside the city, you need to book a private car to go. Koh Ker and Beng Melea can easily be done in a day.  Beng Melea still has some land mines around though- the touristy area is limited. When we went, a young police captain volunteered to give us a "back country" tour of the temple, around the ruins and through the interior.  It was fascinating, his English was good, and it was a side that others don't get to see. He was genuinely surprised that I gave him a $20 tip for his troubles, but it was well worth it. 

 

Stayed at the Royal Crown Hotel, about 35 bucks including buffet breakfast. 5 minutes' walk to pub street, laundry across the road (a dollar a kilo), and a small supermarket with 65 cent cans of beer a block away. 

 

You can rent  a motor bike these days too in Cambodia, about 10 dollars a day. Great way to see the Ankor complex and the countryside.

Sounds good. Thanks for the info.

[Colabamumbai]

Yes all based on u s dollar, dispensed at atms. 

[gargamon]

Go to Kampot. Check out the local pepper. Best in the world. They used to have a suicide assistance guest house there too in case you're interested. 

 

Snooky is a waste of time since the Chinese took the place over. 

[ChaiyaTH]

And yet more fake news, you can still get 1 dollar beers, even 2 of them during happy hours. Same for food, nothing has changed.

[MrPancake]

30 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

And yet more fake news, you can still get 1 dollar beers, even 2 of them during happy hours. Same for food, nothing has changed.

 

The only $1 beers I've seen in PP were in bars with happy hour.

I actually found a place where you pay only $0.75 during happy hour.

Passed happy hour, draft beer is now $1.75 within the riverside area.

That said I didn't try all places so maybe you can find a few remaining hidden gems here and there.

Edited November 10, 2023 by MrPancake

[Prubangboy]

Bloom Cafe was the best Cam food I ate. It's NGO etc so has the tasting platters with all the bits and bobs. If it were in Chiang Mai, I would eat there every week.

 

https://wp.avondale.edu.au/ytravel/2020/08/05/when-eating-becomes-giving-a-guide-to-feasting-at-cambodias-best-ngos-and-ethical-cafes-loren-russell/

[NorthernRyland]

On 11/9/2023 at 8:04 PM, MrPancake said:

What do you think ?

I stayed 20 days in Cambodia. Very depressing place except little highlights. There seems to be dual economies, one for the rich and tourists and everyone else, no good middle ground like Thailand. Money for value is better in Thailand across the board.

 

EDIT: I think beer was cheaper actually, but I don't drink so I'm not sure. Cigs could be the same. All due to taxes of course.

Edited November 10, 2023 by NorthernRyland

[MrPancake]

14 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

I stayed 20 days in Cambodia. Very depressing place except little highlights. There seems to be dual economies, one for the rich and tourists and everyone else, no good middle ground like Thailand. Money for value is better in Thailand across the board.

 

EDIT: I think beer was cheaper actually, but I don't drink so I'm not sure. Cigs could be the same. All due to taxes of course.

 

You're absolutely right.

Edited November 10, 2023 by MrPancake

[NorthernRyland]

Just now, MrPancake said:

 

You are 100% right, NorthernRyland.

For sure.

The one thing Kom Pot had hands down over Chiang Mai was the vast assortment of foreign owned restaurants. Cambodia makes it easy for anyone to setup a shop and get to work so those options are great. Sadly Thailand is too tight-fisted and most people won't even bother or can't afford to the staff and headaches. The prices were extremely expensive compare to anything else but still a novelty. Still won't be going back ever again though.

[Northstar1]

56 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

The one thing Kom Pot had hands down over Chiang Mai was the vast assortment of foreign owned restaurants. Cambodia makes it easy for anyone to setup a shop and get to work so those options are great. Sadly Thailand is too tight-fisted and most people won't even bother or can't afford to the staff and headaches. The prices were extremely expensive compare to anything else but still a novelty. Still won't be going back ever again though.

And the fact that you can breathe thete!

[NorthernRyland]

1 minute ago, Northstar1 said:

And the fact that you can breathe thete!

indeed. Air was good there in March so there's that.

[JimTripper]

18 hours ago, Kinok Farang said:

50 cents in S/ville 15 years ago.Cambodia has changed beyond recognition since then and not for the better.

is that beach bar area by the pier still there? what about victory hill or those beach areas to the south?

 

when i was there the chinese casino's were just coming in i think. i remember one being built by the dolphin roundabout. i don't mind that so much, i like las vegas and stuff, but the chinese establishments seemed unwelcoming if you were not chinese, i was uncomfortable going in.

Edited November 11, 2023 by JimTripper

[Kinok Farang]

16 hours ago, JimTripper said:

is that beach bar area by the pier still there? what about victory hill or those beach areas to the south?

 

when i was there the chinese casino's were just coming in i think. i remember one being built by the dolphin roundabout. i don't mind that so much, i like las vegas and stuff, but the chinese establishments seemed unwelcoming if you were not chinese, i was uncomfortable going in.

Unrecognizable from those days.It used to be paradise and a real alternative to Pattaya.

I stayed one day last time i was there.Could have cried.

[JimTripper]

 

[JimTripper]

On 11/10/2023 at 9:08 AM, BritManToo said:

Been many times, always enjoyed it.

Always booked a hotel with a pool right in the middle of the entertainment area.

It's worth the extra money for a morning and afternoon swim every day, and a nice walk down the promenade in the early morning.

 

On 11/10/2023 at 9:20 AM, MrPancake said:

 

Sounds like a better plan than mine for sure :))

i guess the question is are they still there enjoying the promenade or did they move away 🤣

[JimTripper]

Where are you now? Still in cambodia?

[bignok]

On 11/10/2023 at 10:52 PM, gargamon said:

Go to Kampot. Check out the local pepper. Best in the world. They used to have a suicide assistance guest house there too in case you're interested. 

 

Snooky is a waste of time since the Chinese took the place over. 

Pepper tastes like pepper.

[bignok]

7 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

Where are you now? Still in cambodia?

Jim is still there.

[gargamon]

8 hours ago, bignok said:

Pepper tastes like pepper.

Not this stuff. Don't “nok“ it until you try it. 

[bignok]

On 11/16/2023 at 10:24 AM, gargamon said:

Not this stuff. Don't “nok“ it until you try it. 

Yeah i will next year