Looking forward to Tet
While Christmas is not yet generally celebrated here in the Kingdom of Cambodia, it does mark the beginning of a month and a half of general celebrations and parties, along with a major influx of tourists escaping less hospitable climes and over-crowded shopping malls. It is a time for old friends from around the globe to converge on the capitol here and strain its limited infrastructure while providing an economic boost to businesses and independent workers alike. Good cheer and merriment was in much evidence and the quantity of hangover medicines dispersed reached an all time high.
Many venues offered Christmas Dinners in varying formats. Rory’s, Green Vespa and others offered traditional set dinners, while yours truly was invited to Sharky Bar for a Christmas Buffet. Turkey, Ham, Roast Pig, and all the trimmings including Eggnog and Pecan pie for dessert. All in all, a fine, great tasting feast, although the Turkey was a little too quickly vanquished. As it was a case of the early worm gets the bird, rest assured that I was in the lead crew that managed to sample this rare treat in Cambodia.
After dinner, many a game and entertainment ensued, including a horizontal bungee jump and a Tequila shots crawl that few managed to navigate. These events were repeated with even more enthusiasm on New Year’s Eve along with a most generous free supply of Champagne. A fine start to the many New Years that are celebrated in this country. The next one is Chinese New Year at the end of this month, also celebrated as Tet in Vietnam.
My many visitors lately have played havoc with the old Bamboozler’s liver this past month, as we visited and revisited many of our regular haunts. DV8 was visited often to keep tabs of the fresh crop of ladies inhabiting the premises, and as always, we were rewarded with generous drinks and attentive service. Their sister bar One Zero Four also continues to be a solid choice with many ‘Playful Staff’ making it a personal favourite of mine.
Shanghai Bar now has over 50 hostesses and a successful formula supported by many visitors, while the Walkabout has had a good crowd as of late as well, although the owner says that overall, business is still down from last year. There are now so many new bars opening that it would be full time job just to visit them all. I did however manage to find a few unreported venues for this month.
Down in the rapidly growing 104 Street bar area, the Darlin Bar has opened, but so far nothing evidenced of clientele or attraction, while at the top of the bar area, I revisited Chez TonTon. Overall, a very pleasant atmosphere, with 8-10 ladies, some Khmer, some Vietnamese. Definitely worth having a look in when in the area. At the bottom of 104 on the Quay, I popped in to Fleur d’Asia Café, which also has a few good looking staff and friendly service.
Next week another, well-publicized operation, Wooly Rhino opens on 102 Street, and a very high end 5 star Italian Pizzeria has recently opened that will get my attendance after I win a small lottery. Also opening this weekend is the newest, largest Entertainment Complex in the city. The ROCK opens this weekend at the southern end of Monivong Blvd. With seating for 5,000 and 100 karaoke rooms, it is obviously not aimed at the Barang market, although it will no doubt be visited by many who ask their dates: “Where you want to go tonight?” Whereas ‘Spark’ was the high-end answer before and ‘The Heart’ is still the most popular dance venue, and Gold Star Disco is also getting a crowd, no doubt many will need to see and be seen at ‘The Rock”. Keep your wallets open gentlemen.
One more small unknown place worth a visit is L’Asiate on Street 118, not far from Sharky Bar. The décor is different with a couple of large couches and armchairs and a very attractive staff of Vietnamese origin. The owner is French/Vietnamese and while his English is limited, he is a friendly and gregarious host. Nice to have different bar snacks offered, but be warned that the little tasty meat sausages come loaded with a mind searing chili on the end. Definitely helps if you speak French here, but these are some of the best looking hostesses in the city IMO.
Out of the city in the border town of Koh Khon, an old friend has resurfaced with a new venture. Kiwi Bob, formerly from Sihanoukville, has a new guesthouse that should be on everyone’s agenda. 29” Color TVs, hot showers, all aircon, clean and with great food at good prices, the KKK Guesthouse is only 40 meters from the port and highly recommended. (And no, you redneck Yanks, KKK only means Kiwi in Koh Khon) As always, Bob is happy to show visitors around the local venues including those mostly hidden from view. Tell him I sent you.
Down in Sihanoukville, the concrete traffic dividers have claimed the live of another Westerner on a motorbike. These things are hugely dangerous, even in the daytime, but at night and with a few drinks in the operator, these are proven deathtraps. If you MUST drive a bike here, be smart, be careful and be sober. Bike accidents kill and injure more visitors here than anything else.
On a much more happy note, one of Phnom Penh’s most eligible bachelors has been taken out of circulation by a beautiful young lady. DJ Brett Angel for Heart of Darkness, and Love FM Radio fame became engaged on New Year’s Eve. The former gallivanting party man is totally besotted and will soon be ball and chained. The nuptials are planned for June 10th and rumour has it that a massive Bachelor party will be held a week before to allow sufficient time for recovery. The very best to both of them from the old Bamboozler.
Next month, we’ll report on all the new openings in town. Until then, Xin Nian Quai Le (Happy New Year in Mandarin).
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