Arrived last March 2006, not knowing what really lies ahead but just the feeling of excitement of a new adventure. So true, and thank God, Cambodia was really an adventure that I won’t forget and will never stop blabbing about. So here are 5 key things worth sharing about the Kingdom of Wonder.
UNO
Since I arrived, a lot of things have changed in this country. From being a simple city to a chic- modern urban dwelling. Before, my Friday nights would mean after dinner drinks at Riverhouse then Pontoon and the usual last stop is at Heart of Darkness. 5 years after, a good night starts with an après-work drinks at Metro to dinner to Fly to Pontoon then to Heart. But even if Heart and Pontoon is still part of my weekend agenda, there’s still a change. Heart now has 2 floors—which gives customers more space for breathing. Pontoon has moved to a safer place from the riverside to almost near Heart. That then makes bar hopping easier (no need for a tuktuk ride). Now I think these would explain my drinking habit.
DOS
I know people think that I just party here in Phnom Penh. That I am paid to do that! (I WISH!!). But that’s not what Phnom Penh offered to me. It’s actually eating. Good food isn’t that hard to find especially with new places just springing out of nowhere. Whether Vietnamese (Magnolia or Ngon), Italian (Pop or La Volpaia), Japanese (Mr. Sushi or Yumi), American (Freebird or Score), French (Comme’ La Maison) , Spanish (Pacharan), Lebanese (Le Cedre), Russian (Irina) or even Khmer dishes at Khmer Surin, I think everything is here in Cambodia. So these places explain why ALL people who comes to Cambodia gains a bit of weight.
TRES
With the absence of really big malls in the city, a shopaholic may think she’ll die here. But no! Hello to Russian Market—the sauna/shopping haven for everyone. From souvenirs, to furniture and to cheap clothes from Zara, Gap or Abercrombie, everything you will find there. Looks like half of my closet came from there. But this doesn’t mean that there’s only one place to shop. We also have Psar Thmey, which have just been recently renovated. These two are actually considered tourist destinations.
QUATRO
Holidays!! Who doesn’t like holidays? Here in Cambodia, (and I’m sure everyone will agree) we have the most number of holidays. To be strict about the numbers, we have about 21-25 days. That’s almost a month, which gives us 11 months to actually work. But then, each company will give you your annual leaves, right? It’ll range from15-18. Then add the weekends. You do the math! So taking advantage of these long holidays, visiting neighboring countries becomes easy. Got to see Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos and Singapore.
SINGKO
I think I wouldn’t be able to survive and enjoy my 5 years without the people I met along the way. Some may have left but there’s still more that are here. From colleagues, friends, housemates and even boyfriends. The good thing is these people come from different parts of the world! To be honest, I would have a really long list if I will write their names here and I might forget some (which isn’t nice, right?) But all I know is that each of them made an impact in my life.
Who would have thought that I would last for 5 years when I only wanted to TRY a different life outside the Philippines? Who would have thought that this country would teach me so many things, which I may not have learned if I’m in Manila? Who would have thought that Cambodia literally brought me life?
Leaving Cambodia is a mixed of emotions. It’s hard to leave the great life it gave me and the people I learned to love. But at the same time, it’s exciting to look forward to another adventure. Where? I even don’t know.
Okurn Chran!
