PHNOM PENH #1
Independent MonumentIt was a mixed feeling trip. It was enjoyable and yet, there was a nagging feeling of sorry and deep sorrow inside, especially when we visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.
As I was recuperating from my trip since Wednesday night, I still couldn’t sleep. The moment I closed my eyes at night, the tormented look in a woman’s face carrying her young infant, while waiting to be electrocuted, flashed across my mind. I felt so sorry … and yet, I knew feeling sorry is not enough. I couldn’t understand why people could be so cruel. The inhuman torture carried out systematically by the Khmer Rouge is beyond comprehension. It had caused the country 30 years of sufferings, trying to catch up with the rest of the world. I still the evidences of the torture, especially beggars with amputated legs caused by land mines, faces badly scalded, no arms, blind, etc. There were also poor little children, running around naked with carefree attitude as if nothing has happened. Sometimes, ignorance is indeed bliss.
The six of us (6 ladies – myself, my cousin sis, Ms Tambi, Chubby, Amy and Popiah) touched down in Phnom Penh one hour late, after some avoidable confusion. We were actually relieved to get on the plane albeit half an hour late, rather than 7 hours, as suffered by James in his recent Bangkok trip.
Then, an old lady – whom I believed suffering from Alzheimer disease, forgot to hand over her boarding pass. Based on record, her luggage was in the plane but the person was not. She couldn’t even remember her own name when the stewardess called out her name. Well, if my parents named me “SOS ATIKA”, I doubt I would admit that is my name, I guess. It took almost another half an hour to identify this Sos woman.
Our journey there was quite a scary one. The plane took off quite roughly and upon landing, it was even worse. It was a bumpy ride. All of us clung onto our seat belts for dear life, as if it would make any difference if the plane were to crash. I think Air Asia should send their pilots to more simulation training. No wonder some people died from heart attacks while flying.
We headed for our hotel the moment we got down the airport. The immigration checkpoint in Phnom Penh had just newly installed computerized system to check in visitors, it took them sometime to clear the counters. It slipped our minds to fill in immigration forms and we did it immediately when we got down the plane. Always remember to get immigration forms from KLIA or for this instance, the LCC Terminal before flying. Also, to fill up another form – the declaration form.
Not knowing what to eat, we took some pointers from the Tuk Tuk drivers we befriended at our hotel. We had dinner at Sisowath Quay in R. Ponlok, a restaurant specializing in mixture of Khmer, Chinese and Western Food. We had everything Khmer – the curry, the steamed gobi fish in spice, minced pork with noodle, satay beef and fried spring rolls. Their food is rather similar to their neighbours’, the Vietnamese and the Thais, only slightly sweeter. After dinner, we were served fruits and a coconut pastry for free. It was quite a pricey dinner – considered reasonable though by Kuala Lumpur standard. The reception given by the waiters and waitresses here were warm. They showed us some pictures of their boss’ family, trying to chat in their limited English. They were amused to see my cousin’s sis t shirt, showing Nanta cartoons, popularized by the Koreans and claimed that they have similar Nanta show in Phnom Penh – Cambodian style.
There was a misunderstanding among the Tuk Tuk drivers when we went back to the hotel. The two Tuk Tuk drivers who told us that they would come back to get us – one didn’t arrive. So we went on another Tuk Tuk as the other driver said, he was his friend. We were shocked to see the other guy came eventually, just a minute late. He was yelling at the tuk tuk driver who took us. We were alarmed that they might argue because of this. When we got back to the hotel, we paid all 3 drivers to avoid them from arguing with each other. Afterall, it was only USD2 each.
Not a good thing to start a journey, but we believed, there would be a better day waiting for us tomorrow. I was glad it was.
As I was recuperating from my trip since Wednesday night, I still couldn’t sleep. The moment I closed my eyes at night, the tormented look in a woman’s face carrying her young infant, while waiting to be electrocuted, flashed across my mind. I felt so sorry … and yet, I knew feeling sorry is not enough. I couldn’t understand why people could be so cruel. The inhuman torture carried out systematically by the Khmer Rouge is beyond comprehension. It had caused the country 30 years of sufferings, trying to catch up with the rest of the world. I still the evidences of the torture, especially beggars with amputated legs caused by land mines, faces badly scalded, no arms, blind, etc. There were also poor little children, running around naked with carefree attitude as if nothing has happened. Sometimes, ignorance is indeed bliss.
The six of us (6 ladies – myself, my cousin sis, Ms Tambi, Chubby, Amy and Popiah) touched down in Phnom Penh one hour late, after some avoidable confusion. We were actually relieved to get on the plane albeit half an hour late, rather than 7 hours, as suffered by James in his recent Bangkok trip.
Then, an old lady – whom I believed suffering from Alzheimer disease, forgot to hand over her boarding pass. Based on record, her luggage was in the plane but the person was not. She couldn’t even remember her own name when the stewardess called out her name. Well, if my parents named me “SOS ATIKA”, I doubt I would admit that is my name, I guess. It took almost another half an hour to identify this Sos woman.
Our journey there was quite a scary one. The plane took off quite roughly and upon landing, it was even worse. It was a bumpy ride. All of us clung onto our seat belts for dear life, as if it would make any difference if the plane were to crash. I think Air Asia should send their pilots to more simulation training. No wonder some people died from heart attacks while flying.
We headed for our hotel the moment we got down the airport. The immigration checkpoint in Phnom Penh had just newly installed computerized system to check in visitors, it took them sometime to clear the counters. It slipped our minds to fill in immigration forms and we did it immediately when we got down the plane. Always remember to get immigration forms from KLIA or for this instance, the LCC Terminal before flying. Also, to fill up another form – the declaration form.
Not knowing what to eat, we took some pointers from the Tuk Tuk drivers we befriended at our hotel. We had dinner at Sisowath Quay in R. Ponlok, a restaurant specializing in mixture of Khmer, Chinese and Western Food. We had everything Khmer – the curry, the steamed gobi fish in spice, minced pork with noodle, satay beef and fried spring rolls. Their food is rather similar to their neighbours’, the Vietnamese and the Thais, only slightly sweeter. After dinner, we were served fruits and a coconut pastry for free. It was quite a pricey dinner – considered reasonable though by Kuala Lumpur standard. The reception given by the waiters and waitresses here were warm. They showed us some pictures of their boss’ family, trying to chat in their limited English. They were amused to see my cousin’s sis t shirt, showing Nanta cartoons, popularized by the Koreans and claimed that they have similar Nanta show in Phnom Penh – Cambodian style.
There was a misunderstanding among the Tuk Tuk drivers when we went back to the hotel. The two Tuk Tuk drivers who told us that they would come back to get us – one didn’t arrive. So we went on another Tuk Tuk as the other driver said, he was his friend. We were shocked to see the other guy came eventually, just a minute late. He was yelling at the tuk tuk driver who took us. We were alarmed that they might argue because of this. When we got back to the hotel, we paid all 3 drivers to avoid them from arguing with each other. Afterall, it was only USD2 each.
Not a good thing to start a journey, but we believed, there would be a better day waiting for us tomorrow. I was glad it was.
Comments
haing ngor’s fren | 04.07.06 – 10:53 am | #
wow, nice. i’m planning to go one of these days
Laksa | Homepage | 04.07.06 – 12:50 pm | #
Nice. Phnom Penh sounded rather intriguing and exotic-like. Funny how t-shirt with a familiar cartoon can be a great ice-breaker. Can’t wait to catch the following stories of your trip. Food looks good too…
Poison | Homepage | 04.07.06 – 8:46 pm | #
Haing Ngor’s friend: Not that I am aware of.
Laksa: It’s quite an exotic country to go.. provided you have strong stomach and willing to try anything new.
Poison: Yeah. It was a wonder that a picture could really break ice.
Gina | Homepage | 04.08.06 – 1:06 am | #
i was supposed to go last week too but had a change of plans. the flight that scary huh? now i’m gonna rethink trip!
eternity | Homepage | 04.08.06 – 12:46 pm | #
there was a middle age couple complaining all the way in the plane not knowing that they r paying for a fraction of the price. i can only frown at them…
haing ngor’s fan | 04.08.06 – 12:49 pm | #
…so, i continued reading ‘survival in the killing fields’, very well aware what kinda ordeal they went thru. i guess, life is not always a bed of roses.
haing ngor’s fan | 04.08.06 – 1:01 pm | #
eternity: Phnom Penh is worth a visit. Maybe try to fly by other airlines.
Haing Ngor’s fan: It is not that we should be treated according to how much we have paid. But this is usually the case. If you want better service, be prepared to pay more.
Gina | Homepage | 04.08.06 – 3:11 pm | #