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Phnom
Penh (Ah!)
Travel
Tips
- GETTING AROUND PHNOM PENH - Sihanouk Boulevard
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July 2007
DJ Ken - National Radio Text Service - Tuesday July 31, 2007
Independence Monument represents the center point of the activity.
PHNOM PENH'S SIHANOUK BOULEVARD Former Electric Flag Band member Buddy Miles had a hit song with the lyric "Well My Mind Is Going Through Them Changes." With that lyric and melody in mind we observed the changes taking place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia as they work towards rebuilding a city and nation torn to shreds by war. In December of 1998 there were only three streets that had streetlights. Why? Good question. As my driver explained the city didn't pay its electric bill. This was at a time just prior to the Khmer Rouge signing an agreement with the government to officially surrender. The few banks that were open were closing, ATM machines weren't available and credit was a word that was seldom used or available. Well that was then and this is now. Phnom Penh showed signs of really making major strides to rebuild in 2001 when they began paving the roads and the Sorya shopping center was being finished off with its construction that sat still for a period of time. It was a ghost of a structure that began to show life as the busy sounds of men at work began. The ghost structure represented an indication that all was not well in the mental security department regarding the countries future commitment to rebuilding. As the lights went on the recovery began it now seems Cambodia is in full swing and building a new Cambodia is in process. Sihanouk Boulevard represents a beacon of light in that rebuilding effort as it starts to gleam in the sunlight with new buildings and businesses. Old buildings are being torn down and new structures are taking their place. Independence Monument represents the center point of the activity. If you were to stand on its steps and look towards the park and then walked in that direction you would be heading to the refurbished waterfront area of the Tonle Sap River. Along the way are several restaurants, Internet shops and photocopy businesses. At the intersection is a shopping area that houses the Anana computer sales and repair store as well as Build Bright University and several fast food shops. Continuing towards the river is the Naga Casino. Naga is also building a hotel on the site but that has been years in the making and at this time is in the stagnant mode for completion. At the riverfront construction continues. At this time a towering green fence that conceals the riverbank construction cuts off the river view. Many people picnic or rest in the now grassy park area. The Cambodiana Hotel is accessible by walking along the riverfront walkway. SHOPPING The shopping area is in the opposite direction from the riverfront from Independence Monument. This is where the major Sihanouk Boulevard development is. From the monument you will come across numerous photocopy and film development shops. The Mobitel cell phone company is also on the boulevard as well as a large Nokia phone sales store. IBC Books is a major source for books and office supply needs. Continuing towards Monivong Boulevard are beauty and clothing shops. In the block between Street 63 and Monivong Boulevard there are banks, the Lucky Super Market and a Lucky Burger fast food shop. Opposite Lucky is an electronics store that sells cameras, TV's and appliances. CD World is the place to go for audio and video CD's. Next to it is Cal Tex Star Mart a 7-11 type shop and gas station. Across the street is a new car dealer. Also in that block is a post office. Depending on your activity you can walk and see the entire area within an hour. How much time you spend in the vicinity depends what suites your fancy… it's up to you.
CAMBODIAN ALL-TIME TOP 10 NR STORIES April 2007 marked the 10th anniversary since our launch of the National Radio web site in April 1997. This followed 10 years of supplying radio programming that has aired on seven networks on more than 1000 radio station in the USA. Since the NR web site launch we have posted over 1000 stories with 650 stories currently on the site that are listed by the Yahoo.. Surprisingly three Cambodian oriented stories made the NR All-time Top 10 list that indicated worldwide readers interests. The results varied with a travel story topping the list. The story on the Cambodian Royal Palace ranked second overall. That was followed by a Human Interest story/Feature about Dr Beat Richner who founded the Kuntha Bopha Hospital's in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Sports rounded off the worlds Cambodian selections with a feature story on Hok Sochetra the former star of the Cambodian national football team. While thinking back about all of the stories that we have done regarding Cambodian subjects we have our pick as our all-time favorite. It's a sports and human-interest story that turned into a comedy. We're referring to the re-opening of Olympic Stadium after years and years of closure due to renovations. The event featured a boxing match of Cambodian vs. International fighters. What resulted was due to the fans displeasure with their local hero they indicated that they were NO HAPPY (as they say in Asia) and threw plastic water bottles (full and otherwise) to the ring. That sent the fighters and their supporting staff scurrying for cover that they found by ducking under the boxing ring for safety. That created a stampede of fans rushing for the exits. As I was holding on to my camera taking pictures the onrush was like being in Pamplona with the raging bulls coming to trample me. I wasn't afraid for myself my primary concern was to save my camera. After a few minutes the disturbance settled down and those that were left near the arena returned inside. At that point the arena was virtually empty when the fights resumed. This event was televised and is worth of being televised on believe it or not. So why is this my favorite story. As a friend of mine that was the one of the largest high school English departments in the USA said, "I can't imagine people smiling in Cambodia." Well this event made and still does make me smile. It's the funniest thing I've ever seen in sports. As for the Khmer's they are smiling more than when I first landed on Cambodian soil in 1998. It's event's like this that bring a smile to one's face particularly when one considers that the year before in 1997 Cambodian's were throwing hand grenades and not water bottles. Nuff said…
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