DEATH IN CAMBODIA Part 2

TC in a local Siem Reap Market

The Ei8ht Hotel owners, Jason and Kifi, respond to your email that they do not have a pool. And you'd think they will end their reply abruptly with a "Thank You". But you are wrong:

After reading your email, it’s best for you to stay either at the GB Resort or V Hotel (hotel names changed). Both of these 2 places are near to the city center and have swimming pools. They may cost a little more but we are pretty sure you and your companion will  have a really good time there. 

TC at Ei8ht Bar, which is another story

It doesn't end there. They have attached maps, brochures, and other links you and TC may enjoy. And as the Ei8ht Hotel owners say, "There is more to Siem Reap than temples."

You walk to Petit Villa's front desk by the pond, aftet taking a refreshing bath. While TC prepares for today's unplanned adventure, you try to reserve a tuktuk for half of the day. The tuktuk cost can be put on your bill but the receptionist Boray suggests you pay the tuktuk driver directly. He adds, "If you pay him directly, he can buy food for his family before he goes home." So $12 for four hours is not bad. At least you can just roam around the city, wherever you feel like it.

Superman's Tuktuk

Superman, your tuktuk, is already ready by the time you and TC exit Petit Villa. 

Time for another unplanned adventure!

Tuktuks on Pub Street

Khmer Lunch at Pub Street

First stop is to grab lunch at Pub Street. You really, really wish you were as adventurous as others when it comes to food. You didn't try kangaroo or snake last night, though it could have been an experience. You settle for something familiar - rice, and curry, and spring rolls. It's a little expensive, at $20 for two, but it is Pub Street - where backpackers, mostly Caucasians, stay up till the wee hours to party the night away. 

Snake or Kangaroo?
At one of Pub Street's Restaurants

Next stop is the post office to send postcards to your friends who love receiving snail mail. The post office is tucked away in a quiet part of the city. By the river. Scrap that, by the brown river. Scrap that again: By the DARK brown and murky river. And with the closest seaside being about eight hours by bus away, maybe not a good idea to order fish on this trip.

You ask Superman to bring you to the mall. Petit Villa's manager mentions that there IS a mall in Siem Reap. 

Pinoy Products in a Cambodian
Supermarket

Lucky Mall is about ten minutes away by tuktuk from the hotel. It's not much - Lucky Supermarket on the ground floor, Lucky Burger and Lucky Cafe on the second, and random shops on the third. Everything in the supermarket, well almost, is imported, mostly from Thailand. But it was interesting when you found found Skin White, Purefoods Sisig, and MaxiPeel in the supermarket shelves.

Upon your return to Petit Villa, you ask Superman to pick you up for lunch the next day, TC's birthday.

And so he does. Superman is pretty early for lunch. 

The DARK brown river

You at Neary, a Khmer Restaurant

Deep Friend "Serpant" Fish
 and Shrimp

Superman, highly recommends Neary Restaurant, while driving his tuktuk towards the outskirts of the city, past the DARK brown and murky  river. He'd probably get a commission for bringing us there, which us fine by us. 

Lo and behold, TC, who is celebrating his birthday, orders "Serpant Fish Deep Fried", off the menu. 

TC asks if you want to have some. You just smile, imagine where the fish used to live, and imagine how the serpant fish tastes. Welcome to Cambodia •