Phnom Penh, Cambodia

15 - 18 May

Flew from Bangkok to Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 15th May. Had accomodation booked, but was not available when we arrived at the guesthouse despite them assuring us they would hold the room. So the "Top Banana" was not graced with our presence. Good thing is, we have found if you have money to spend, accomodation and especially transport is always at hand, if not right in your face waving his hands screaming, "Tuk Tuk, Motorbike, cheap room, special price for you my friend...".

Soon had to adjust to two new currencies - the US dollar and the Cambodian Riel. We found Thailand good value for money, but this place is insane. The shopkeepers eyes go wide when you pull a US $5 dollar note from your wallet. But its not surprising, considering the harsh events these people have endured for decades up until just recently - it wasnt that long ago that a certain Regime abolished money altogether in Cambodia! More on those guys later.

Poverty is impossible to avoid here - children, elderly, and disabled beg for a crust. At first its hard to know how to deal with it. Apparently children are often used by "Pimps" to beg, so it's hard not to become slightly sceptical when approached by a grubby nosed 3 year old boy with his hand held out. The strategy to adopt we have heard is to give food to kids，not money. This way they're getting a feed without putting money in someone elses pocket. We gave a little boy a whole pineapple (which cost us little more than 20c) and he was stoked.

We have found it pretty eyeopening to see whole families sleeping on cardboard at the roadside, many people going through garbage which is dumped in the gutter and other very real and obvious signs of poverty. We saw a mother nursing her baby on the footpath. The baby's head was atleast 3 times the size of its body - no exaggerating. Obviously some pretty bad disease/condition. I found this very hard to see.

Phnom Penh itself is an interesting mix of poverty and new development.There are many signs of Westernisation - we were surprised to see ANZ bank branches and ATM's here. We found a big　Western-style mall in the centre of town， which was an interesting contrast to the Central Market on the next block - kind of a large Art Deco dome, semi open air building, designed to house your classic Asian market. Needless to say, much more lively than the Mall. This was packed with, well anything you could ever need to buy and a hundred varieties of each. Lots of the usual knock-off items we saw in Thailand - bags, clothes, watches, DVDs, playstation and PC games etc. The food is usally the most fun to look at. The bigger the market, the more specialised each stall is - and finally I found a stall selling insects. Big insects. To Eat. I　didnt pluck up the courageＩhave to say.

We have had many really good meals here - the food is delicious everywhere we have eaten, but I'll do seperate entries on the food highlights of our trip now and again I think. The approach to transport warrants a seperate entry also. We have seen some classic uses of the humble scooter.