Getting around Phnom Penh

I imagine this will probably be the first of a few posts about transport in Cambodia....as it is just such an interesting topic.  I was chatting to someone the other day about how you can tell a lot about a country by its traffic....strange but true.

Phnom Penh traffic

 There isn't really any public transport in Phnom Penh.....I have seen a few bus stops around but not that many buses!  There is however, a variety of other transport options for getting around PP.  But one thing that is noticeable is that people do not walk....not anywhere.....ever!

The closest things to public transport are probably the motos and remork-motos (or tuk tuks). The motos are basically motorbike drivers who just pick people up.  I have no idea if there are actually official motos or if it is just random people who pick people up and take them where they want to go in exchange for a few dollars.  VSO requires us to wear helmets on motorbikes, so I don't use the motos very often.  But I think that the ones I have taken are just random people who have picked me up!  But I have always ended up where I need to be (sometimes not via the most direct route).

Tuk tuks are modified motorbikes with a carriage on the back.  They are a bit more expensive than the motos but a really great way to get around.  Trips are usually about a couple of dollars, which isn't that much but does add up if you use them a lot.  The drivers seem to have patches where they hang out and it is beneficial to have at least one (if not more) tuk tuk driver who you can use regularly.

Phnom Penh Tuk Tuk

 

View from a Tuk Tuk

 You also don't see many car taxis.....they have them at the airport but other than that you really don't see them around.


The most popular form of transport is undoubtedly the motorbike.....they are everywhere and as seen in other parts of Asia they can be used to transport pretty much anything!  

Motorbikes everywhere

Motorcycle truck

Can be used to transport anything

There is also an increasing number of cars and in particular new, big, fancy cars which might not be the most suitable form of transport for PP roads...but there are a surprising number.  You don't see that many old or small cars but an abundance of Lexus (Lexi?!), Range Rovers and I even saw a Rolls Royce the other day and a Rolls Royce showroom has opened near my work!
 

One of the increasing number of large cars

My preferred mode of transport is by bicycle, largely because VSO provide volunteers with a free bike!  You don't see that many bicycles around, they are mainly ridden by barang (foreigners), old people and school kids (although quite a few seem to ride motorbikes).  Cycling in PP is certainly an experience and a little bit different from cycling in Melbourne.  But I think I have adapted well to my new environment and have got quite into cycling around the streets of PP.

My bicycle

New Year in Kampot

So whilst Christmas Day was not a public holiday in Cambodia, New Year's Day was....so I thought it would be a good opportunity to get out of the city for a few days.  Phnom Penh is a great city, but it is pretty hectic and full on - so I was excited for a chance to escape!

One of the other volunteers (Jelena) and I decided to go to Kampot (Adriana is still in the States, so couldn't join us).  Kampot is a small town on a river (famous for pepper), a couple of hours by bus from Phnom Penh.

Kampot Pepper

The office closed early on New Year's Eve, so we took the 1.00pm Kampot Express bus which conveniently leaves from just round the corner from my office.  After a few hours on the road, with the obligatory snack stop, we arrived at our destination.


We had left it a bit last minute to book accommodation, so were a little bit limited for choice, but managed to find a cheap place on the river.  We stayed at the Kampot River Bungalows (or Bungalow Kampot River depending on which website you look at).  The room was pretty basic, but what can you expect for US$6 a night.  It had two beds, a fan and mosquito nets, so pretty much everything that you need (or could ask for at that price).  But the location more than made up for the basic facilities, as it was situated right on the river. The restaurant overlooked the river and you could just jump out of the restaurant into the river for a swim. 

The view from the Kampot River Bungalows

Watching the fishing boats go out to sea

 On New Year's Eve we met up with another volunteer (Wiske) who is based in Kampot  who took us to a nice restaurant for dinner and a few bars for further celebrations.  We saw in the New Year in a rooftop bar, watching the fireworks and drinking free shots!

Happy New Year

The next day we just took it easy hanging out on the river, swimming, reading and relaxing.  In the evening we went on a sunset river cruise, which was lovely - very peaceful and included seeing fireflies once it got dark.  

Sunset river cruise

We ended up back in the town and had a very interesting dining experience!  We randomly selected a restaurant which seemed nice but turned out not to be a great choice.  The food was OK, but the service was terrible....it took over an hour to get our food.  I think that they were just cooking one meal at a time.  Once one was done they would move on to the next one!  No one seemed very happy with the service and a few people got tired of waiting and left.  But we stuck it out.  Strangely there seemed to be quite a few people working there but obviously not in the kitchen.

After we had finally got and finished our dinner, the owner came out to apologise and then proceeded to talk to us in the strangest mix of Khmer, French and English.....we had no idea what she was talking about.  It was quite an experience.

On the Saturday we had organised a countryside tour in a tuk tuk.....or so we thought.  It was a bit of a surprise when a van arrived to take us on the tour.  After some strenuous negotiations...we managed to get our tuk tuk.  The tour included a visit to the salt fields, a fishing village, some caves and a pepper plantation.  The trip ended in Kep where we got to sample the famous crab with green pepper and hang out on the beach for a few hours.  Due to some seriously poor planning, I had forgotten to take my swimsuit/bathers with me...not sure how that happened!  Luckily I had matching underwear on....that did the job!

Caves

Fishing village

 

Kep beach

Not having suitable swimming attire does not stop the Cambodians either, as it seems that you don't need any particular swim wear at the beach.  You just walk into the water in whatever you are wearing at the time......shorts, skirts, jeans whatever....no fancy beach wear required.

The final day was spent hanging out on the river at our guest house with Jelena and Wiske - swimming, reading, relaxing (there is a theme here) before taking the bus back to Phnom Penh.  It was a really great trip.  Even though it was just a few days, it felt like a lot longer and I definitely felt a lot more relaxed.  I think that I will make a few more trips to Kampot whilst in Cambodia!