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Dodging Children and Salesmen and Moto Drivers

Posted by Stuart at 01:22 PM on July 13, 2008

As luck would have it, as soon as I wrote that post last night about how Phnom Penh hasn't been as annoying as I expected, a walk down the tourist area next to the river last night proved me wrong. It wasn't completely terrible, but it was interesting how many more beggars were out on the streets at night, and how often I was asked if I wanted a tuk-tuk or moto ride or a watch or sunglasses or hat or book or flowers or...

But that's ok. I think the key for me in coming to a place like this I have to consciously work very hard at being jai yen yen (as the Thais say) or cool-hearted, smiling, calm, collected. And for some reason, I was able to stay cool and calm all night last night, even though I have been known to get quickly frustrated when multitudes of people are actively trying to separate me from my cash!

The night ended up ok after all. I ate at a fantastic Thai-Khmer restaurant where I had a very delicious sweet and sour pork with ginger, and a couple of Angkor beers. I also enjoyed walking the streets away from the tourist strip and just watching the local crowd enjoy their Saturday night eating "street food" and drinking and laughing as they sat on plastic stools and temporary tables on the sidewalk.

But when the trash started piling up and the rats started coming out, I knew it was time to head back to the hotel.

This morning I walked about 6 kilometers through town, visiting Wat Phnom (a old temple on the only hill in Phnom Penh) as well as walking through the very uniquely designed Central Market. I will try to upload some pictures when I return to Bangkok shortly.