Interesting Cultures: Reply to A

Hi A! Thank you for the kind words! We think it’s pretty cool, too! We’ve seen lots of amazing things on our trip, and we’re very glad that we did it. Learning how different people live has been one of the best parts of our trip! People everywhere are similar to us in lots of…

Phnom Penh Dreamland

Where We Stayed in Phnom Penh

Neighborhood: Boeung Keng Kang 1 (BKK1) Also called: N/A Pros:  Not as many guesthouses, which means that you can see how people actually live and the level of pestering (for things other than tuk tuks) is lower. The food is more authentic, especially from the local market (which you won’t find in any guidebook or site). It’s not close to the Russian…

Wat Lang Ka Altar

What We Saw in Phnom Penh

We were in Phnom Penh for six days. Central Market: This is the most touristy of the markets, and the largest. The building is interesting from the perspective of modern Cambodian architecture, but mostly, the market is a mob scene. The jewelry area was the calmest and the most spacious, but the market also has electronics, clothing/shoes,…

Phnom Penh Wiring

Surprising Things About Phnom Penh

Motorcycle and tuk tuk (motorcycle towing a wooden carriage that acts as a taxi) traffic is busier than in other countries we have visited. This is partially because they use these vehicles to move everything! You would be shocked by what they can haul on a small motorbike: we saw one guy with five family members behind him…

Cambodian Apsara Dancing

The Enforcer

A few days ago, we attended a performance of Cambodian folk dance. The organization that runs the performances seems very worthwhile, with a very interesting story.1 We went to the Monday night performance, which featured traditional dances done to ask for water, during cardamom picking, at the end of the harvest, and several more. The…

Food in Phnom Penh

What We Ate in Phnom Penh

Boat Noodles Restaurant: We found this place on our first night, wanting a sit-down restaurant with something non-breaded on the menu. It’s a fairly large place that’s open to the elements, like a room without walls. There’s even a mini fountain out front, the sound of which kept making me think it was raining. B…

Tuk Tuk Driver

Growing a (Temporary) Heart

Before visiting Phnom Penh, we had done some research on what to expect. Articles and blogs said that one of the primary things to get used to was the constant hassle and demands: ‘Take my tuk tuk!’ ‘Give me money!’ ‘Buy my product!’ I was somewhat concerned, because I hate that kind of pestering. When…