Phnom Penh (Ah!) Travel Tips - Faces & Places - June 2004

Martini's Martini's owner Charlie stands in the rubble of his old club.

Wednesday June 16, 2004

Martini's Ends An Era - Lucky Markets Prices Continue To Climb - Changes At Phnom Penh's Riverfront - Phnom Penh To Bangkok For $14 - NAGA Casino Boat Gone - Who Is Teaching, Training and Influencing The Youth Of Cambodia? - Phnom Penh's Traffic Barriers - Khmer Dining

MARTINI'S ENDS AN ERA - MOVED TO NEW LOCATION

If you've ever been to Phnom Penh and arrived by airplane its more than likely that the taxi driver pitched you with DO YOU WANT TO GO TO MARTINI'S?

Martini's has been a well-known landmark and has been the best-known club on the Phnom Penh scene for the past eleven years. Those that love the nightlife and the combination of babes, booze and song have frequented the clubs location opposite the Intercontinental Hotel during that time.

Well that was then and this is now….. MARTINI'S HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED!!!

May 31st was the clubs last night open. The good news is Martini's partners Charlie and Jackie have relocated and had their grand opening Friday June 11th. The club was packed.

The new location is not far from the old. Located off Mao Tse Toung Boulevard near the Chinese Embassy at #110a Street 173.

The new facility is not as warm as the other but considering the club had a long way to go 48 hours prior to the grand opening its understandable.

The new club has a feel and look of concrete. The disco is a bit larger and not as dark. The game machines are missing with the exception of the pool tables. The table sitting area is larger. The food vendors from the old Martini's weren't there for the opening. The club continues its old format of a large screen for films, food stalls and the famous Martini Girls.

Check it out. As things progress over then next few months Charlie and Jackie should have this new location up to speed like the old.

LUCKY MARKET PRICE EXPLOSION

The ongoing saga of the Lucky Market pricing continues.

We've pointed out how minced pork prices rose from $3.90 a kilo to $5.00 and then back to $3.90. The price has now exploded to $5.20 a kilo.

Other items include a package of 25 Lipton Tea bags that has risen this past year from $1.00 to $1.40.

Here's the good news an 18 oz package of Quaker Oates has DROPPED from $3.40 to $3.10.

You win some and you lose some. GO FIGURE.

PHNOM PENH'S RIVERSIDE AMUSEMENTS

Three years ago we advised travelers to come to Cambodia within two years before it lost its natural charm and became westernized. . In most areas that time has come to pass.

Phnom Penh has been going through development changes and for the good. A place to have fun and an opportunity to forget the problems of the region has emerged in the city.

Reclaimed land at the end of Sihanouk Boulevard at the riverfront is now the home of the Naga Casino, the Black & White Gym and an amusement park. The Chaktomuk Garden Amusement Park is attracting large crowds of Khmer families.

The amusement park has numerous Ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds, trains, bumping cars, a roller skating rink and other rides for all ages.

Naga Casino relocated this past year from the boat they occupied to their own building housing a hotel/casino. The hotel remains under construction.

The old Naga boat is moored in the Tonle Sap River directly in front of the Black & White Gym.

There are numerous eating-places on the amusement area grounds ranging from food stalls to two indoor restaurants.

PHNOM PENH TO BANGKOK FOR $14

Ho Wah Genting has a $14 ticket from Phnom Penh to Bangkok. The expected time of arrival at Bangkok's Khao San Road is 9:30pm. Departure time from Phnom Penh is 6:40am.

At the time of this writing there is no direct connection from Bangkok to Phnom Penh.

If you have time and prefer to see Cambodia by land this could be a good deal particularly when you factor in that departure tax from Phnom Penh's airport is $25. We'll keep you posted.

TRAFFIC BARRIERS STOP TRESPASSERS

If you've been to Phnom Penh and observed the chaos that existed on the corner of Monivong and Sihanouk Boulevards with traffic cutting across the road through the Cal Tex gas station causing traffic jams and danger…. that problem has been eliminated.

Concrete barriers have been erected to prevent that from happening. The intersection is now safer to cross the street and more importantly for Cal Tex/ Star Mart customers not as dangerous to access their business.

KHMER DINING

During the Khmer New Year Phnom Penh was virtually deserted. A couple visiting Phnom Penh visiting for the first time were wandering around Sihanouk Boulevard looking for a Khmer restaurant THAT WAS OPEN. This is a difficult task during the New Year since most restaurants and businesses are closed.

The New Year is celebrated throughout the week. Cambodian's return to the homes in the provinces to visit their families and pay homage to their ancestors... thus you and your stomach are pretty much on your own.

To cut to the chase Pon Lok restaurant on the riverfront's Sisowath Quay road has some of the best tasting Khmer food at reasonable prices that can be found in Cambodia.

Pon Lok Restaurant: #319-323 Sisowath Quay - Tel: (23) 212-025

BARS FALLING LIKE FLYS

The bar business in Phnom Penh is like a Ferris wheel where some bar owners get on while others get off.

Word has it that numerous bar/restaurants are up for sale.

Names mentioned include the Riverside, the Gym, the Riverhouse Lounge and K Bar. The K Bar was purchased this past year. The Riverhouse and Riverside have been in business for several years.

SAY WHAT!!! BUYER BEWARE

In a recent edition of Phnom Penh's Bayon Pearnik magazine it mentioned that an enterprising gent bought a bar in Cambodia and soon after taking over he found that the lease was about to run out on the property.

DID YOU KNOW?

Helen's Bakery also has a restaurant on Norodom Boulevard between streets 306 & 302 south of the Independence Monument and the University of Cambodia. The small menu features sandwiches and some hot dishes.

EMPLOYEE RAID

What NGO chief is raiding his former employer to hire some of their staff?

GREED, LACK OF TALENT OR CREDIBILITY?

What radio station manager in Phnom Penh has inserted himself on the only two SPONSORED shows on the station during the first quarter of this year according to the schedule on their web site? It raises the question is the move due to greed, a lack of talent at the station, a conflict of interest, ego or all mentioned?

If there is a lack of talent… WHY? Is the station manager doing his job when there is a lack of sponsorship growth and talent development over a five year period?

The station doesn't pay most of its student employees. They do pay $2 an hour for some DJ's that aren't hosting a sponsored show. Some female DJ's have received more than $2 an hour on non sponsored shows.

Sponsored shows PAY THE MONEY. In this case Cam Shin and Pencil Markets were the sponsors.

The latest posted schedule (March) also only noted two sponsored shows with Pencil not included. Total (gas) returns as a sponsor. That deal was originally brought to the station by the hosting DJ.

Under the Americans watch the station released a CD of pirated songs FOR SALE in CD shops. Could this type of theft factor in WTO agreements? The CD says it's the stations Top Ten requested songs.

With an example like this Khmer youth are led to think this is the way to do business. Do the math, logic and GO FIGURE

CREDIBILITY GAP

What Asia Foundation funded NGO chief is dodging paying a $30 debt that's been due for 2 ˝ years. Other than ducking, hiding, lying and not showing up for arraigned meetings to pay the debut this person is responsible for training and setting an example for his young Khmer employees.

The lack of responsibility is heightened when you consider that the individuals bar bill for a week could exceed the $30 owed as he is seldom seen without a beer when at a bar or restaurant.

It raises the question doesn't a persons integrity factor into the Asia Foundation's criterion for funding? This is one example of what type of individual that is influencing the thinking and actions of young Khmers.

COMPUTER ACCESSORIES

PTC has a large stock of computer accessories for some of the best prices in town. They have a huge turnover and the product moves fast.

PTC is located across from the Pash Thmei (Central Market) @: 75Eo, 77Eo and 83Eo Street 126. Tel: 023- 723-473. Email: PTC.COMPUTER@bigpond.com.kh

RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

One indicator that Phnom Penh/Cambodia is on fast forward catching up to speed with products is finding rechargeable batteries at the Big A supermarket on the second floor.

Some camera shops and computer supply shops also carry them.

A year ago we couldn't find them in a camera shop or computer accessory store. The price is comparable or less than if purchased in Thailand.

DOUBLE DEALING?

If surviving in the restaurant/bar business in Cambodia for a foreigner wasn't tough enough check this out.

A Khmer restaurant/guesthouse owner was friendly with a foreigner who eventually invested in a bar/restaurant on his property. A great deal of expense was made to improve the site.

After spending a great deal of money on advertising and a grand opening the owner presented the new restaurant owner/friend (?) a water bill for $300 and said their customers aren't allowed to use his toilets

In Cambodia $300 worth of water can fill the Pacific Ocean (just joking but you get the picture).

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