Cambodia: Kratie > Phnom Penh

Dec 5-9 2022 |

Onwards to Phnom Penh. Overall a fairly dull highway ride from Kratie. But great to be riding into PP, one of my favorite cities since I first visited in 1999 and a number of times thereafter, the last time in 2012.

And there's some pretty serious change going. Many new shiny buildings. The Canadian International School is humungous. But, overall, PP continues to be a refreshing vortex of sights, smells, and scenes. Stayed 4 nights, in the heart of one of the more illustrious areas, Rue 130.

One highlight was visiting Bikes and Nature, a great hipster-style adventure bike shop, run by Frost ZK, the leading moto ADV Youtuber in Cambodia. Though I was just planning to stop by for a look, I ended up getting my rear shock rebuilt, full service job done, along with a thorough power wash. The bike was a whole new sparkling machine when I departed, all done at a decent price.

Visited some icons while in town, including: the National Museum; Pizza 4P (a legendary place in Saigon, now has a branch in PP); and Oscar Bar, the top live music venue that had a great band playing 90s classics (near Oskar Bistro, the new PP outlet of one of my favorite bars in Bangkok).

One thing came clear while in PP: the overall cost of travel in Cambodia is considerably higher than in Laos, with little additional value - not a great dynamic.

Ride: 240 km | 4 hrs

Stay: City Lodge Hotel | $20 | 4/5