Phnom Penh

21 Mar 2010

0615  Depart HCMC on a Mai Linh 16-seater

0835 Cleared both VN and Cambodian customs; took a short break

0900 Depart for PP

1030 Reach Ferry Terminal

1145 Reach Golden Gate Hotel

22 Mar 2010

1035 Depart PP 

1135 Reach Ferry Terminal

1150 Depart Ferry Terminal

1355 Cleared both customs

1550 Reach home

This is our first trip to Cambodia. Our observations :

1. Cambodia is indeed a poorer cousin to Vietnam.

2. Vast pieces of empty land. Many houses in the countryside are built on concrete stilts. Horse and bullock-carts are still common in the country-side. 

3. Most riders wear helmets that are of better quality than VN riders. Most helmets have visors. Either they wear helmets or not at all!

4. In PP, more cars than in HCMC. They even have multi-storey carparks!

5. PP seems more cosmopolitan than HCMC. Supermarkets are better stocked with imported foodstuff compared to HCMC.

6. More Khmers seem to be able to speak better English than Vietnamese.

7. Khmers do not push each other like Vietnamese do.

8. Things are more expensive in PP than in HCMC - looks like the cost of living is higher. One DVD movie costs US$2 (20,000VND). It's 10 - 15,000VND in HCMC. Petrol is about 21-22,000VND/litre compared to 17,000VND in HCMC. 

9. US$ is the main currency for transaction - not the riel. US$1 : 4,000 - 4,200 riel - it varies from place to place.

10. Few riders wear masks - and these masks are all medical masks. They do not have anything like the masks that are found in HCMC. 

11. Tuk-tuks and motor-cycle taxis are the most common mode of transport for tourists. We saw only a few taxis.