Phnom Penh - Day 1

 1 May 2025 - Labour Day

Work has been taking a mental and emotional toll on me lately. In addition to work overload, I’ve had to deal with irresponsible and lazy people not doing their part, thereby further increasing my already full plate. If only everyone would just do their own damn jobs, I think the world would be somehow just a little bit brighter.

I felt suffocated, and so on a whim decided to book myself a trip to Phnom Penh. A short trip, somewhere nearby, with some activities but plenty of nothing in between as well. The most important decision that I made was not to bring my laptop. If I had a choice, I would leave my mobile phone behind as well. Unfortunately, it contained certain booking information so one evil was with me.

My lovely Garmin watch, which had served me going on 10 years now, decided to give way at the airport and broke into two separate pieces. I had an idea of how to fix it temporarily, but I would have to get a new one once I’m back.

So anyway, I got to Phnom Penh alright. The last time I was in Cambodia was almost 20 years ago (how time really flies) we went to Siem Reap and climbed all the temples there was to climb there! I’m so glad I went to places when I did, as I do not think I can do many adventurous things now with my knee giving way 🙄.

They still have tuk tuks and I took one from the airport to the hotel. People here drive on the right (wrong) side of the road. I saw a white Mustang 😍. I do not think I would be able to drive in Cambodia. Not a traffic light in sight, and the people here seem to be operating under some unspoken understanding on when to stop and for whom. The tuk tuk is open and sometimes vehicles are a mere two centimetres away. Too close for my comfort, yikes!

And then, would you believe it, I just chilled in my room, reading the novel I brought along with me. Ordinarily I would walk around, get a feel of the place, see things, snap a few pictures, but this time I really just chilled and did nothing.

Except answer bloody WhatsApp messages from people who do not seem to understand the meaning of a Public Holiday.

I repaired my watch temporarily by using band aid I always bring with me now whenever I travel, due to a disaster that occurred in Laos some time ago.

4.20 pm I was picked up by a tuk tuk to go on a sunset cruise along the Mekong  river. There was free flow of local beer named Krud which came as a pleasant surprise as I wasn’t aware that it was included in the price 😊 We watched the sunset, beer in hand, while cruising along the Mekong. At some point, the river merged with two other waterways, and it looked as if there were four rivers meeting but in reality there were only three – the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac (also known as the Phnom Penh river).

The Tonle Sap is the biggest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, and at some point it merges with the Mekong river, the fourth longest river in the world flowing through six countries - starting in China (Tibet, I think) down to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and finally Vietnam, where it meets the sea.

Saw many interesting landmarks along the way including the Royal Palace, the biggest and tallest hotel in Cambodia, and a casino. Then took a grab (they have it here and tuk tuk is on the list - makes my life so much easier! 😊) shower, continued reading my novel and sleep.

Apart from the horrid work related WhatsApp messages, this was a nice relaxing day. I wish I had more of these.