Euro Travel & More

I remembered the first time I landed in Cambodia – it wasn’t such a nice day – in fact it was raining.  But Cambodia is definitely breath-taking and at that time – everywhere we turned there were steel buildings and high rise coming up – not just the industrial area.   I didn’t mind the steel buildings but traffic was horrid because of all the construction work going on then.

Cambodia is not as modern as it is today – but there are many villages and countryside that one can visit – without the bustling.  But the Cambodia today – is definitely economically more stable and flourishing with lots of tourist visiting this place yearly.

What I love most about Cambodia then?  everything were so cheap then.  Not much branded shopping center – and mostly street finds and lots of good eats.

Cambodia has got nice beaches too – and a great place for scuba diving.

A village near the border of China – we took a drive out there one day.

Phnom Penh has changed quite a bit since I was last there according to a friend who had just got home from there.   She said there was a  steel building just at every corner they turned in a cab.   So yes – not only is Phnom Penh a touristy place now – it’s pretty industrialize too.  Check out the evening market at Sisowath Quay but they were more for food – if you are into trying local cuisine but if you have a weak tummy – i think you should skip that.

Don’t be too surprised if you are frisked when you visit the Heart of Darkness – the security is really tight there and it’s not about the terrorists that they are afraid of – but more like the locals trying to gun down each other in a dispute – so i heard.  For those who loves their drinks – Phnom Penh is the place to be – because they are dirt cheap – we had our filled that night and went bar hopping till wee hours in the morning.   More on Phnom Penh in another post.

While going thru’ my emails and reading up on some atro phex reviews i cannot helped but was in awe when the girlfriend who just came back from Phnom Penh send some pictures it.  Phnom Penh had changed so much since i was last there – the last time i was there some 20 yrs ago,  i had to be evacuated by a special task force because of a civil war there.   It is a feeling of exhilaration and also sadness because alot of the old charm of Phnom Penh is phasing away as new buildings like the ones on top are sprouting up just about everywhere in Phnom Penh.  Soon Phnom Penh is gonna look very much like Ho Chi Minh city with lots of tourists, pollution and also lots of vehicles.

The thing that really troubles me is that all these mega buildings are constructed and financed by China – they are to be the art of facilities and technology equipped and this convention center that i keep hearing and reading about is also financed by China.  One has got to wonder whats up with the deal there eh.  Phnom Penh is not gonna be the old and cheap, easy place that we go to for the weekend anymore – soon i see Phnom Penh as another over populated tourists destination – if you are looking for the old charm – you won’t find it here that’s for sure.