China - week 14

Well I'm a bit late on this one, but I'm glad that I waited...the last week had some low points and it was good to get some perspective before blurting out a bunch of stuff on this little blog. While I don't want to gloss over the bad stuff, with a bit of time and some good people, it really doesn't rate a mention (other than the fact I've just spent this last paragraph mentioning it...)

Alright then. A week of getting back into the swing of things after my holidays and feeling happy to come home to this apartment and to all my GZ peeps. Also. Hello internet grocery shopping! It's okay to divide everything by six still isn't it? (here is a tip for those playing at home - the answer is absolutely not).

A new yum cha find followed by some fun exploring through an older part of town and I was lucky to catch up with a friend from home (not once, but twice). A very fancy lunch of a toasted sandwich made of processed cheese, plus a trip to the wet market and my weekend was complete. 

The weather is cooling which is lovely. Such a change to walk outside and not be greeted with a wall of heat - there was even a dreamy light breeze.  I don't know, thinking back to the week that was, life kind of feels pretty normal and alright.

Trunkh

Very much my kind of store. Great mix of beautiful handmade products and kitsch homeware.  I visited in Siem Reap, but there is also one in Phnom Penh (which I purposely stayed away from on my last day...you'll understand why when you get to the very last photo). 

Add it to your list of places to go when in Cambodia - and in the meantime check out their online shop: http://www.trunkh.com/live/

PS here are the few little bits and pieces I bought...

Royal Palace ticket

Phnom Penh - what I did and how I did it

The first thing I did was hit up a friend who had lived in Phnom Penh some years ago. She sent me a great long email with lots of things to do, see, buy and eat. Plus I found my own things, so now you can hit me up here!

I stayed at Rambutan Resort:http://rambutanresort.com/theresort/

It was a little out of the way, but after staying amongst it all on my last night back in town - my preference. Tucked away and quiet with a great pool, even better cocktails, good food and helpful staff.

Do get a tuk tuk driver for the day. Rambutan organised this for me and it was much easier and probably more cost effective to have someone on standby if you have limited time in town.

Aside from the sights I'd recommend shopping on street 240. I helped the Cambodian economy a lot in that little street.  There are also some great not for profit shops that help victims of people trafficking, filled with handmade wares and hope. 

Food options - dinner or lunch at Friends restaurant near the National Museum. Again an organisation worth frequenting given they are set up to train street kids in hospitality - plus the food is great. And while you are at that part of town, go back to street 240 for an iced coffee at The Shop. If you ever need a good baguette or breakfast, I'd say this is the your go to place. Down near the river? Have lunch at the Foreign Correspondence Club. Colonial vibe with good food and cocktails. Also worth going to is Malis for an authentic (albeit fancy) Khmer restaurant, but if you are travelling solo I'd pass on that. Not geared up for tables for one and inflexible about modifying portions given my lack of ability to share with my imaginary friend (who just wasn't feeling very hungry that night).

Want to read more? This is an excellent article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/travel/things-to-do-in-36-hours-in-phnom-penh.html?_r=0

Cambodia - cocktail set

Some of these don't have alcohol okay? I also *may* not have photographed all the cocktails.

Cambodia - tuk tuk set