Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Upon arrival after dark at the Capitol Tours family of guest houses (this company operates bus-travel, city and local area tours, and has grown into 5 local guesthouses offering different levels of accomodation from my usual crappy bad-sized room with a fan to full service hotel rooms with TV and AC), I check into a $2 room at the Happy guesthouse. It seems alright here, but I do not trust the streets after dark (acording to LP, it is still not safe to walk alone) so I rest and stay in my room and go to bed early.

Up at 3AM (which happens sometimes when you go to bed at 8), the streets are SILENT. I feel like I am the only one awake at this hour; I feel a sense of magic in this. Until 3 drunken Irishmen roll up in a tuk-tuk and reality comes home to me. That's ok. I appreciate the moment and go back to bed.

Up again at 7, out of the room by 8, I decide to rent a bicycle and tour the city. I found a small local street cafe and order something vegetarian after three tries at clarification from their one english speaking employee (this is a common trend in my travels outside Thailand).

I like the energy in this city. Cambodians will try to scam you a bit like the Vietnamese, but they are quick to laugh about it when you call them out, very much unlike the Vietnamese.