Deliciously Me

Continued from the previous post, we went down to the Capital Hotel’s reception to negotiate on available tours for the next day. Then we bargained with the tuk tuk drivers on the price to Sisowath Quay. We read that we had to bargain first before alighting any tuktuk, so we daringly bargained with the tuk tuk drivers. Finally, they gave in for 3USD per tuk tuk. We took two.

It got dark pretty quickly that I didn’t get to snap decent photos along the way. Most of my photos are either dark or blurry. Grrr!

Earlier, before coming to Cambodia, I’ve imagined Sisowath Quay full of bars, restaurants and pubs, lots ang mohs and foreigners like us walking, partying…Real noisy, yet happening place. Just like in Phuket.

but when we reached there, it wasn’t noisy at all. There were local stalls, where local patronised the stalls…

… the Chan Chaya Pavilion… the big garden in front of the pavilion, the promenades at the riverfront decorated with poles bearing coutries’ flags…

and err nothing else…

Well, we weren’t despirited with what we had seen. I’ve read and been told bout the swinging bar in Sisowath Quay and all those Happy pizza, beers and stuffs – so I believed it’s somewhere along the street. Just that I didn’t know where.

Everyone in the group was extremely hungry and after knowing that there wasn’t much to eat there, Kurubee asked the tuk tuk driver to recommend us a place for food. Few walked around – not too far from the group, checking the local snacks; while me and Leemay, well.. goofed around.

I vaguely remembered what the tuk tuk driver said (as I was standing near enough to hear the conversation),

“Let me bring you… this place. Their amok fish.. fuish.. very good! *show both thumbs* .. Many foreigners.. go this place… eat… very nice..”

When the rest asked bout the price,

He said.. “oh… around 3 dohlar, 4 dohlar.. but must order.. amok fish.. fish!”

Kurubee asked if everyone was okay with the place, we didn’t have much opinion. It was the first day in Cambodia and we didn’t know what to expect, so just agreed with the idea.

Our tuk tuk was the first to arrive at the restaurant. It was very old yet airy restaurant with lots testimonials from people who had dine there before, decorating the walls. We waited outside first as the other tuk tuk took a longer time to arrive because was out of petrol (or was it diesel?). Lol!

We walked in, sat on their long table and stared blankly on the menu. True enough, it was around 3-4 dollar per plate and I was looking at the cheapest option I could get. I didn’t want to eat like a king on the first day and eat like a begger for the rest of the trip. I don’t mind ordering lavish dish if that’s the last day of the whole trip. Lol!

Then someone suggested ordering few sets and share among the 7 of us. Everyone was okay with the idea and so we ordered 3 sets, 2 glasses of chocolate/mocha thingy (can’t recall), and a jug of Angkor beer for 4. I shared a glass of beer with Kurubee as both me and Kurubee doesn’t drink much beer. To me, it was an absolutely fantastic idea until the food came.

Goodness – the portion of one set was so so so small, barely enough for me alone! Like it or not, I ate as minimal as I can for I afraid that the rest didn’t have enough to eat. And drinking beer with not a full tummy is not good. I ended drinking water from my own bottle to make myself full. And I think Aaron was very very hungry after the meal. In fact, everyone was still hungry. Haha!

The food was good, just that the price was a bit steep for poor backpackers like us.

We paid the bill and left the restaurant for Sisowath promenade on foot. Along the way, we saw the bars and the restaurants that I read about, but then we were no longer interested in going to the bar/pubs. We only have eyes on their local snacks.

We walked about 15 minutes from the restaurant to the place where the tuk tuk drivers dropped us earlier. As our friends weren’t full after the ‘wonderful’ dinner, they decided to get themselves a packet full of local snacks at around 1 or 2 USD if not mistaken. Lol!

It was at here, on this pedestrian street… something happened, that drew many flashes from cameras… and curiousity from the local…

Let the fear factor began.

I realised Emily was not in the picture! Emily, mana u stand!!!

The participants of this fear factor : makan local snacks were William, Aaron, Ailing and Leemay!

I wanted to try but then I was too ‘chicken’ to do so.

After the fear factor session, we walked around the garden in front the pavilion and then the guys decided to take pictures of the pavilion. So we joined in the fun, but after like 3-4 satisfying shoots, we sat at the side talking to each other. Suddenly we realised something – many local were standing near us and looking at what we did.

At that moment, I was abit intimidated by the amount of people looking at us. I remembered telling Kurubee to quickly finished taking the pictures and chow. But luckily the local didn’t do anything like scold us or halau us.

One thing I found ironic in Phnom Penh is the weather! I didn’t know that it will be cold there. I was told that it’ll be hot like mad in Cambodia, so I only brought shorts and knee length pants. But that night at Sisowath Quay, the strong cold wind blew against our improper clothed body – and mind you, we were all in shorts! And Emily’s was the shortest! I wondered how she withstand the cold as I was trembling nonstop despite wearing jacket. It was really cold!

That time I wished Kurubee could hug me to give me warmth but obviously he can’t. We behave properly in front of friends one okay. Bleks

The guys satisfied with their pictures after like taking a gazillion shoots of the pavilion. -.-” We then walked down the street.

By then, the earlier dinner was already digested and I could somehow feel my gastric attacking.

As we walked by a stall selling corn, I asked the soft spoken lady for one, paid her 2,000 riels and shared with B.

And boy, it was the SWEETEST CORN I EVER HAD! YUMMEH! Haha!

As it was getting late, someone suggested to retreat to our guesthouse. Since we had nothing much to see and do there, we left the place.

Along the way we spotted this ‘petrol station’. Haha!

As we got down from our tuk tuk in front of the cafe owned by the guesthouse, we smelled food and it made our tummy growled! We turned around and saw few stalls operating in front of the Orussey Market. Without hesitation, we crossed the road, checked out the stalls and ordered food from one of the stalls there.

I didn’t order as I didn’t feel like eating because I knew that I was going to sleep soon. So, I stole 2 scoops of rice from B to ease my hunger pang. Haha!

After a filling and cheap supper which costed 3,000-4,000 riels (USD0.75-1) per plate, we walked back to our guesthouse.

As we passed a parked van, a man with black ski-masked suddenly appeared in front of us and my heart seriously STOPPED for that moment! I was about to scream when Kurubee who was walking beside me that time, suddenly just walked in front of me, protecting me. I realised that Aaron noticed the guy too, was about to whip out his ‘whacking stick’ (can’t recall what’s called d).

Thank god, the man didn’t try to do anything. Kurubee quickly asked me to walk to the guesthouse as fast as I can. As I was walking, I took a quick glance behind and I saw the rest were still talking to each other. Lol! They said they only saw a man walking by like that.

The incident did make me to be aware of surrounding especially in foreign country. I was thankful that nothing happened that night. We walked to our room with escort from the guys, washed up and climbed to our bed for good night sleep.

And that’s all bout first day in Cambodia. Stay tune for the day 2 in Phnom Penh.

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