Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Kampot

Arrived in Phnom Penh on the back of a heavy rainstorm, passed through immigration, three forms and a USD 20 donation each and we were outside to a steamy damp reception, a little crazy with people grabbing backs and steering us towards taxi's, pushing hotels ect.  We had pre booked at a guesthouse YouKhim, I knew it was near the Russian embassy and on street 830.  We were allotted a taxi driver who spoke excellent English, better than me some would say. He told us of the way things were done here, his words were Nepotism was king.  In fact the Generals who run the Police and Military were appointed even though they had never served in those services, one day a farmer the next a General, even gave themselves a few medals to fill out the uniform. He described them as mostly illiterate. He also mentioned that many Young men were killed while driving their motor bikes when drunk and that the Australian government help with Breathalysers. I asked what was the penalty for drink driving, he said they stop and test, if you are over you pay $5 and then drive away. Interesting.
The driver didn't know the guesthouse but I spotted the 830 number pointing down a lane way as we circled the Russian Embassy. A little doorway beneath a small Youkhim sign led us into a beautiful garden, restaurant and pool area. The staff mobbed us, tiny ladies trying to carry our bags and getting us settled. It was better than i expected even though I had some doubts in the narrow lane way. That night we walking around the neighbourhood, got a little lost in the lane ways and surprised ourselves when we appeared at the door to the guesthouse thinking we were a fair distance away.

First thing next morning after breakfast alongside the pool we took one of the resident Tuk Tuks (a motorcycle with a trailer attached that can carry four punters) to the Palace for a walk amongst some of the the most over the top Palace buildings, nice to see but would not like to live there.

After the Palace were started with the Markets in Phnom Penh, the Central Market was about a half hour walk through some very interesting streets and alongside the river.  This market is very clean and well presented selling clothing ion the wings and mostly jewellery under the dome. We soon found that most sellers were happy to accept about half of their original price.  We were hot sweaty and hungry and settled in to a small restaurant across the street for ice tea and a light lunch.  A middle aged man was helping us during the entire meal and when we got up to leave he asked if we wanted a tuk tuk, I said that i can find one thank you, it turned out he was a tuk tuk driver prepping us for our departure, this was to be the norm. The tuk tuk drivers become semi official waiters.  During the heat of the day we retired or some air con treatment and a swim. A tuul tuk took us to Hilde's favourite spot, The Russian Market, my pack was soon filled and I needed a cattle prod to get her out of there.

Hilde getting excited in the Russian Market, after each purchase the shop lady would push the next line.

As I was walking out a rat the size of a cat stood before me and would not move, I decided the best option was to go around him, he had my measure. The currency is a strange one, ATM's give out USD, everything is quoted and paid for in USD, change is given in the local currency, the "'real''. The rate of 4000 to the USD, but is the real, real. The locals will get around 4200 for each dollar at the money changers, so they do like the USD and try to avoid giving USD in change.

A tuk Tuk and it's laid back driver
We took a tuk tuk to the river, I was keen on a few beers, a lounge bar at street level gave us a view of passing traffic and the river, Hilde slipped into a G & T while I concentrated on getting a good number o 75 cent mugs of beer in to counter the oppressive heat. This time we had a guy standing alongside Hilde the entire time, I took him as  a Tuk Tuk guy waiting us out, but he was taking directions from a local lady seated in the centre o the restaurant, she looked like she ran the place. It turned out he worked there as a waiter and was keeping undesirables from us. Was I getting confused or were the beers working their magic too well. At one stage I though it was the case amongst the throng of tuk tuks, motorcycles, people, trucks and cars along came the biggest land mammal.

   I think Hilde missed the Elephant, too busy getting ripped off by the cute little girl.

As soon as it was dark we headed to the nearby night Market where again the local shop keepers enjoyed our company. Dinner with a local Tuk Tuk man at our side saw him return us to the guest house. We had a coach ride to Kampot the next morning.