NGO

16.01.2014

Phnom Penh gets mixed reviews, and we weren't quite sure what to expect of Cambodia's capital, only knowing that it was a bustling, chaotic, big city. It also has a bit of a reputation for not being the safest place to travel, making us a bit leery, especially after having been mugged in Thailand, and being warned by an expat couple at the airport to be very careful in Phnom Penh. It's a shame in a way, because that perhaps resulted in us not fully taking advantage of all that this city has to offer.

Phnom Penh is actually a pretty cool place and surprisingly cosmopolitan, full of some great restaurants and cafes that cater to the international expat crowd, and a variety of neat little shops and boutiques. There are a number of NGOs that have set up shop here in Phnom Penh, and though they are widely criticized for a number of reasons, there is no doubt that they have left a mark on this city. For travelers, NGOs are one of the biggest reasons that they find this city so enjoyable, because of the international flavour they lend to the city.

Our time is very limited in Phnom Penh, and having landed here in the afternoon, we didn't have the chance to do a whole lot more than have lunch, do a bit of boutique browsing, and take a dip in the hotel pool. We didn't sample any of the city's cultural offerings, such as the Royal Palace and National Museum, or browse the Central Market, or stroll along the riverside. Part of it was a lack of time, but part of it was also the feel of sketchiness in certain parts of Phnom Penh, or perhaps it may have been our hypersensitivity to it after our Phuket Town experience.

It was a shame in a way, taking extra precautions to avoid a repeat incident, as we didn't allow ourselves to get to know the real Cambodia that is to be found in Phnom Penh - but we really didn't want anything bad to happen during our last two nights of the trip, as that would undoubtedly have ended the trip on a very bad note. So we played it extra safe tonight and holed ourselves up in our hotel, leaving us feeling somewhat trapped and unable to enjoy Phnom Penh's nightlife. Of course, trapped is probably too strong of a word, since we were stuck in a five star hotel with a gourmet restaurant - thank you, NGOs ...

Courtyard at the Plantation Resort