A Frizzy Experience… Phnom Penh

First Impressions

I reached Phnom Penh with a sour taste. I entered Cambodia from Vietnam and for the first time in my life crossed into a country via coach or foot. I was nervous about the crossing because I’d read online about others experiences and it seemed touch and go. Plain and simply I was conned by the Cambodian Chief of immigration. He made me pay for a visa on my British passport even though I had a valid passport that allowed me visa-free access to Cambodia. He refused to recognise it. Now $30 doesn’t seem like much, but he vexed me. However, by the time I’d pulled up to my hotel my good vibes energy had returned. And the energy in my hotel was on point.

Money

Dollars are the main currency used in Cambodia. They also have Cambodian Riel, which I made sure to get during a transaction for souvenir purposes as the currency is really weak and using dollars works out better for you.

What I Did In Phnom Penh

S21 and the Killing Fields

The Khmer Rouge regime is a large part of Cambodia’s recent history so I visited the Killing Fields and S21 as a day trip. They are on different sides of the city and the journey itself takes up a lot of time. One of the most intense and heavy days of my trip but also one of the most educational.

The Killing Fields is one of many sites in Cambodia where more than 1million Cambodians were killed and buried. Many had been in prison camps and lured to the fields under the impression that they were being transported elsewhere. You have to step on set paths because the site still has bones and fragments. In the middle of the Field, there is a memorial building, filled with skulls pulled from the site.

S21 or Tuel Sleng Genocide Museum is silently frightening. Originally a primary school during the Khmer Rouge era was converted into a Security prison. The original equipment has been left on display to showcase the horrors that the prisoners went through. Metal beds, and barbed wire placed around the entrance of the building. Prisoners were tortured and forced to confess to crimes that for the most part were made up.

Both places charge an entrance fee and then you have the option to pay for an audio player that talks you through the experience. Don’t move tight, I can’t recommend them enough. One, the information is so thorough. And two, it allows you to take things in and process your thoughts and feelings at your own pace.

Markets

Phnom Penh doesn’t play around when it comes to markets. The night ones I visited, in my opinion, are much better than the day ones. More lively, with live music and large food stalls. If you want to avoid tourists and experience a local market then Orussey Market is a good shout. If you want to be in with the mix up then visit the Central market. I got lost in there.

Riverfront park

Firstly, I’d say the park is a real stretch! But along the river, there are wide paths that allow you to walk or jog with the view of the river. It also curved around so you can see bars and restaurants. I went there at night time, and it was a good unwind. You can also venture into the river on a boat and have dinner. My hotel hooked me up with the river cruise.

Aeon Mall

The Aeon Mall is a large shopping centre, mostly involving food. I spent about an hour hovering around a sweet store called Sticky. They make hard candy in their store and you can watch the process. Plus you can taste the goods. I bought some rock candy back with me. Visiting shopping centres in each city throughout South East Asia became a requirement on my South East Asian trip. (Not my idea, but I can’t lie I grew to love it)

Royal palace

The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda is something worthwhile seeing in Phnom Penh. Firstly, the grounds are so beautiful. Come on a King lives there so you’d expect 10-10 presence but the landscape is so impressive. The greenery and flowers are a whole vibe. The King lives in the grounds so tourists are restricted to certain zones. But the architecture is fire.

Food

The food in Phnom Penh was hmm… iffy. I’m not knocking the flavours of the food that I ate, but some of the setups were questionable. For example, when abroad I usually get meals from locals on stalls but I wouldn’t suggest doing it with meals in Phnom Penh. Cleanliness didn’t seem like a priority out there. Rubbish bins hanging around by the food stalls all across the floor, fly and rodent central.

There are plenty of other options, but I always take pride in eating from stalls and I just couldn’t do it in this city. I’m a risky gal, but my belly said: “hold up... tek time.” Night market food gave me the closest thing to the stalls. How it works is you pick up from the line up what you want and put into a basket. Each item is $0.50, and it is then cooked for you.

Joke O’clock… One evening, my friend bought some Cambodian jelly looking sweets from the shopping mall. I tried them and my mouth was stressed. Moral of this story, don’t fast yourself to eat snacks you didn’t buy!

Food Recommendations

Amok fish curry: A creamy curry with coconut milk as a base which is seasoned with turmeric, lemongrass and other ground spices. You can have it with chicken but it’s just not the same.

Khmer Curry: A chicken curry stew with carrots and potatoes inside.

Deep-fried prawns in batter

Small-Small Tips

• If you are crossing the border into Cambodia get your visa in advance. Hassle-free.

• Wear suitable clothing when visiting the Royal Palace. Arms covered to your elbows and legs to your knees. A shawl/scarf/poncho isn’t accepted. I tried and was sent to buy one of their T-shirts.

• Check with different providers how long they give you in the S21 and Killing Fields. Mine was on a strict time limit and rushed the day.

• Be mindful of your interactions whilst on your phone. There are lots of motorbikes and people are fast with swiping.

• The hotels don’t generally deal in GDP/ £’s mine tried to exchange £1 for $1 which is incorrect so bring your dollar-dollar bills with you into the country

• Ordering tuk-tuk drivers from your hotel isn’t a big difference in cost from securing it yourself so don’t break a sweat trying to save dollars!

Wrap Up

Phnom Penh is a city that I don’t regret visiting. Will I ever visit again… unlikely! But I really wanted to learn about the genocide that took place during the Khmer Rouge era and I did that. The places that I went to were very thorough. I’m clearly drawn to historical knowledge and drama! Phnom Penh gave me culture and history, but an ingredient in the sauce was missing.

One side note: I managed to take some beautiful flower photography throughout Phnom Penh. When I was at S21 and it all felt very heavy, a flower fell right beside me and it distracted me. For a solid 5 minutes, I just stared at the petals.

A Frizzy Experience… Siem Reap

First Impressions

The first thing I noticed after a 6-hour coach ride into Siem Reap was how dusty Siem Reap was. I have never reached for a bandana so quick in my life.

Money

Dollars are the main currency used in Cambodia. They also have Cambodian Riel, which I made sure to get during a transaction for souvenir purposes as the currency is really weak and using dollars works out better for you.

What I Did In Siem Reap

• Partied at the Cambo Beach Club. A man-made beach in Siem Reap, that serves food and drink and is a really chilled location. I fast myself there because on their website they said it was Afrobeats day. I was extremely excited but the joke was on me because, I got there and all I heard was some dance-ish, techno music. I wanted to cry. A couple of sweet words later, it became my Afrobeats beach party. The end.

• Spent the afternoon at the local school, Stung Themy, teaching English to the local children and playing games with them.

• Experienced a Khmer massage at the Secret Corner Residence. If you think Thai massages are hardcore, wait until you have one of these!

• Visited Angkor Wat, the biggest religious monument in the world. I bought a 1-day pass, and I underestimated how much there was to see and take in.

Food

The food in Siem Reap was amazing. Rice is the go to. There is an abundance of fruit available. Fresh smoothies and juices are available in every restaurant. You will have to get used to some of your meals coming with a fried egg on top of it, even when it isn’t mentioned on the menu. But when I say amazing, the food was always well seasoned, not spicy but flavoured, and the curries were extra saucy. I hate going places and they are stingy on the sauce. I’m extra I know, but I don’t like eating dry rice!

I didn’t hold back with eating in Siem Reap. I was in a constant state of hunger and forever ready to eat a curry, (even in 30 plus degree weather). Pub Street ,also known as Street 8, is known for its luxury and high-end restaurants that naturally give you less for your money but I really wanted to eat my amok curry out of banana leaves so I was found there at dinner times singing along with live bands. You can get funky dishes like frog there. But at all other times, I was a regular on Sok San road. I would eat 2 lunches there daily and I also grew an unhealthy obsession with fresh avocado and coconut smoothies.

By Siem Reap’s ‘Art Center night market’ there are food stalls. The stalls are on the side of the road, and there is a dining area on the pavement. No joke, my dinner there hit the spot. It worked out being noodles, with some greens and King prawns. With a fried egg thrown in for extra measure, of course! But that meal sweet me so good and the sauce was litty! The food isn’t ‘Instagram pic worthy’ but the flavours were everything.

Food Recommendations

Amok fish curry: A creamy curry with coconut milk as a base which is seasoned with turmeric, lemongrass and other ground spices. You can have it with chicken but it’s not the same. For aesthetic purposes get it in banana leaves, it’s the traditional way and it just looks nicer.

Lok Lak: Lightly fried strips of beef, with salad on the side and a fried egg on top. It comes with granules on the side and a wedge of lime which makes the sauce.

Khmer Curry: A chicken curry stew with carrots and potatoes inside.

Wrap Up

Siem Reap really has my heart and for sure it is somewhere that I would go back to. My friend described it as a hippy city and they aren’t my exact words but I agree that it really is that chilled, “everything gon’ be alright” sort of place. Bohemian would be my one word. Yes, Siem Reap is bohemian. Everyone, there is friendly, community-focused and give off positive energy. It’s not an expensive city yet allows you to experience the good-good life with spas, delicious food, boutique hotels all being accessible to you. If I ever have to skip the UK, I’m pretty sure you’ll find me in Siem Reap pretending to be humble.

A Frizzy Weekend In… Ho chi Minh

I go-go gadgeted to Vietnam during my month-long Southeast Asia trip. I figured if I was around that part of the world why not visit. Hanoi worked out being far off my route so I visited Ho Chi Minh.

First Impressions

I arrived in Ho Chi Minh really miserable I’m not even going to the front. My plane was delayed, and when I eventually got on the plane there was some child behind me acting unruly. Plus I had been feeling sick since the morning. Potential food poisoning before a flight is stress. Whilst travelling through the city, it was way more advanced then I thought it would be.

Money

When I went in February 2020, it was 29,000 Vietnamese Dong to £1. They use notes, no coins insight. I struggled to adjust to the Vietnamese currency because rather than saying 20,000 they cut the extra so say 2,000 so I was forever left guessing.

What I Did In Ho Chi Minh

• I visited the War Remnants Museum. There is some really graphic images and documents highlighting the horrors of what went down during the American- Vietnamese war. The effects of Agent Orange, you won’t be able to get out of your head!

• Attempted to visit the Pink Cathedral. It was under construction when I visited so I couldn’t even get in the grounds. Across the road from the Catherdral is a sweet spot though. The Pink Moment Cafe serves fresh juice and smoothies with the best view. Each floor has a different theme. (The Cathedral visits are always to make my Ga’mama happy, I was more interested in the cafe)

• Went and send postcards to my loved ones in Saigon Central Post Office. The building and architecture are beautiful.

• Chilled in Cong Vien Bach Ting Diep park. The scenery is everything there. Ho Chi Minh, in general, has a lot of green space.

• Haggled in Ben Thanh market. The market staff there are RUDE. You don’t have the option to look at their items, think about it and then come back later. They cuss you on the spot if you don’t buy. They take their potential sales very seriously, and their ego even more seriously.

Food

I felt so fragile when I arrived in Vietnam that I could only manage plain spaghetti on the first night. And I’m pretty sure I paid extra tax for being “a basic westerner”. I was a write off when it came to proper meals. I tried Pho, fresh spring rolls and random food at the night market and I wasn’t impressed one little bit. I’m usually a big-time foodie. The one thing I can recommend though is boiled cassava with shredded coconut on top. You can get them from stalls around the city. Sticky coloured rice is a thing in Ho Chi Minh. Anything goes hahaaa.

I’m guilty of being basic but I promise to always give it to you straight, I went to KFC in Ho Chi Minh. I was feeling so sensitive that I needed something to remind me of back home. #sorrynotsorry

If you’re feeling experimental there’s a whole leap of live seafood that you can buy from Ben Thanh Market, snails, crab etc. I saw a turtle and switched right off. I’m not on PETA level, but I think that turtles are my friends not food!

Ouuu also, if you want good dessert make sure you visit Roseice parlour. A cute pink shop that I randomly found. The layout reminded me of a scene from the Greece lightning movie. Premium gelato, boujie ice cream I’m here for all the way with the prettiest designs.

Say What Now!

One pull factor for me booking my hotel in Ho Chi Minh was the spa facilities. Swimming pool and sauna. Turns out the swimming pool had a pipe in/around it, so I swerved on that. And when attempting to check out the sauna there was a man right next to it sleeping. I don’t need that sort of stress!

I would avoid local restaurants in the party areas. Tourists that aren’t paying for the drinks of the women that work there get pretty much ignored. The woman who should have brought the drink you ordered 10 minutes ago could well be sitting on the lap of whatever westerner bought her a drink. The vibe is off. On one occasion one of the owner’s tried to stroke my hand and do the most after my meal.

Swipe Left on Cons

Learn from me not being on my A-game. I fell victim to the coconut con. It happened so fast that by the time I realised it didn’t add up it had happened and the man was gone. I was charged 150,000 Dong for a coconut (About £5.20) A small coconut as well. £5 weren’t going to break my bank, but my man legit made a nice killing, and he did it to like 4 of us at one time. It’s the principle. The taxi driver also tried to pull a fast one, but I don’t play round 2 to stupidity. The taxi fare will say like 20,000 Vietnamese dong and they will try to add another 0 to it as the fare. He got dismissed.

Wrap Up

Ho Chi Minh had some good places to visit, but the vibe just didn’t light my soul. The energy was off, and the motorcyclists were so unruly out there that crossing the road was problematic and basically a stunt mission. Unless I went with someone who was Vietnamese I wouldn’t fast up myself to visit the city again. There’s nothing magical about the city. The only great thing to come from Ho Chi Minh was my £3 hair cut. Actually and I bought some £2 jeans from a random store. They are really cute. Watch my mini Ho Chi Minh vlog here to get a proper feel of the vibe.