going to Phnom Penh
My wife told me that we will go to the big city in a few weeks. My task was to get a hotel room for 3 nights. I did that since I get genius discounts on booking.com. Anything about buses, vans, taxis or cars she does. She just does it better than me. And she speaks Khmer.
Last time like this. From the same hotel we will stay in this time. The city is bustling and busy and some say big. It’s not BIG like Saigon or Tokyo. Still bigger than Siem Reap or Battambang.
Then a day walking where I like to go. Down to riverside and to independence monument and the long and nice sidewalks to walk on. I have a few walks I like to do. One is a roundabout way to get to Central Market. I can also walk this road where all the banks are. Maybe we will go to Russian Market. I like it there. This scene is from Independence Monument. I like it there. The sidewalks are long and tuktuks and motos not allowed. Across is the Vietnamese Cambodian Friendship Monument. That’s nice to talk along too.
Riding the minivan
My wife went and got tickets already. Why she gets the early morning tickets I don’t know. I don’t question much either. Some things I know there’s no real reason for and it’s better to just accept it. We like going on LarryTA. The drivers are very safe and will only do the required stops. It’s still 5 hours to get there. Go at 8. Get in by 1pm or so.
Then I usually disappear. I cannot go without a walk each day. I get upset and nervous without it. For whatever reason the same with doing the gentle restorative yoga practice I’ve been doing now 5 years. Amazing really. I started it in Hanoi after suffering lower back pain. The Vietnamese doctor offered pain pills. Told me they would only mask the pain. He then offered me a free thing to try. Some basic restorative yoga asanas. Did not help right away but now it’s been years with no lower back pain. Losing the weight has probably helped too.
Anyways and I digress. Like usual. I must do those things daily or I do not feel right. So I will get to the hotel. Do some practice of yoga and then walk. Mostly just go. Doesn’t matter where. I don’t count steps or distance or time. My body knows what works. I must have it.
My wife goes to the old market to do whatever Khmer wives do at markets.
Hint: shopping.
Food and coffee
Food is good in the city. I am hoping one dinner along the river somewhere. Honestly though we get the free breakfast each morning. They have wonderful western and Asian food. I really don’t like noodles and rice for breakfast unless its in soup. I happen to love Khmer soup spiced up in the mornings. Pho is legendary breakfast food.
Then there’s coffee in the city. Wowzers. Coffee is nice. So I do like here. Walk and find a new coffee place. Or go back to a place or two. There is a small place down the street from the hotel I’d like to visit again. Then Cafe Chiet is a nice stop right close to the riverside.
The whole routine I love now. So I just do it. Liberally accompanied with photos and writing.
Days to wait. And write
Still two weeks or so. So now it’s my Siem Reap days. Coffee out in the mornings. Walking. These days mornings are beautiful. Blue skies and warm. Not really hot. Today it’s Star Coffee which gives me a nice walk afterwards. Now it’s finishing or not this thing. I can just let it go and see if I want to write more when I get home.
It’s another day closer to going. And I did write a little more. Like usual at night it rains frenetically. Last night no exception. Today is beautiful. Rainy season could be habit forming here. Walk to get coffee. Nice morning for it. I was going to try a new place. I’m lazy. Coffee at Ur Cafe just works.
Now I feel like sending this along. I have this other post I started writing too. Maybe tomorrow. I never know.
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