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Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

November 11, 2015 by David Herd

 On display at the Foreign Correspondents Club.

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh & in fact throughout Cambodia, is everywhere you look. There is a huge gap between rich & poor. Apart from this I found the people to be some of the nicest I have met anywhere in Asia.

My recent journey in May 2010 from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville was delayed because I was enjoying myself so much in the city I found it hard to leave.

I returned in October 2017 & couldn’t believe the changes, mainly due to Chinese investments.

The Foreign Correspondents Club

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

I was so surprised by the number of quality restaurants and bars, excellent food, good service and nice decor. On the other side of the coin is the poverty, Cambodia is certainly a third world country struggling to drag itself into the 21st century. Like most poor countries the gap between rich and poor is immense.

The foreign correspondents club.

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Relaxing most days in the Foreign Correspondents Club overlooking the Mekong River is like being transported 60 years back in time. Sipping a gin & tonic in the big comfortable leather chairs makes you feel like you are in an Oliver Stone movie covering the Vietnam war.

Shutters on the windows

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Letting in the breeze.

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Here is a lovely family playing cards under a tree on a public footpath seemingly without a care in the world.

Happy face selling sunglasses

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

A lasting memory for me is how nice the people are, sure many of them will try to sell you something, however they do it with a smile on their face and without the persistence and aggression of their counterparts in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Taxi

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

A huge bonus in Phnom Penh which is out of character with every other Asian city I have ever visited, is how slow the Motorcycle taxis travel, there is no stress or haste, you sit back, relax and enjoy the ride, plus as you can see the seats are very comfortable.

Monkeys

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

This photo was opposite our hotel, notice the wire grill on one of the upstairs homes. A simple explanation, it is there to stop the dozens of noisy monkeys from entering the home. Every day they scamper along the rooftops and balconies making one hell of a racket, quite funny really.

Malis Restaurant at 136 Norodom Boulevard, Phnom Penh

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

The Mali restaurant was an excellent example of the high quality restaurants in Phnom Penh, great food and fabulous decor. There is another bonus you can buy bags of Cambodian pepper to take home with you, many people, myself included, believe Cambodian pepper is the best in the world.

Malis Restaurant

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Travel tips. Have dinner at the Mali restaurant and buy some pepper to take home, please click here.

Le Grand Palais Phnom Penh

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

For a very good discount just book through THIS LINK.

Good low cost hotel. The Pickled Parrot is a budget hotel run by an Australian, rooms are fine and there is a good bar & restaurant on the ground floor, the location is excellent. The best hotel booking site is Agoda, you have a choice whether to pay now or later when you check out of your hotel.

Good Phnom Penh information site. Please click here.

Please click on Google + to help my page ranking. 

Long tail boat

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

The mighty Mekong river.

A terrible cruel sight, dying in the heat.

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Heartbreaking to see these poor birds suffer in 35 degree heat.

Hot truck probably owned by a government official.

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Many expats in Cambodia tell me a lot of government officials spend foreign aid money on expensive cars etc for their own benefit, while continuing poverty Phnom Penh prevails.

Pickled Parrot

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

A bunch of Aussies, next to me is Roger Gaffney who now lives in Saigon, then old mate Tony Murphy with his camera locked and loaded. Can’t remember the other 2 guys.

A great way to relax in the heat of the day.

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Life generally is fairly lay-back in Cambodia.                         

The mighty Mekong River

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Mekong River Phnom Penh Cambodia is certainly changing rapidly, not necessarily for the good I’m afraid. However there are still many wonderful experiences to enjoy in this fascinating country.

                  I have been lucky enough to visit some of the worlds great rivers as well as the Mekong, the Nile, the Amazon, the Mississippi and the Yangtze. And of course in Australia the Murry and the Darling.      

Pretty face at the market

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

And I certainly don’t mean Murphy. 🙂

Riverside restaurant

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

A great place to sit & watch the mighty Mekong roll by.

 Thanks for visiting Extreme poverty Phnom Penh post

 
Extreme poverty Phnom Penh
 
Thanks for visiting my Extreme poverty Phnom Penh photo blog. Great hotel discounts here.
 

Plantation Urban Resort and Spa

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Just book through THIS LINK for a very good discount.

 
  Here are some more posts to check out           
A-One hotel on Beach Road

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For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

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               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Pattaya live webcam
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Before we move on to Sihanoukville please watch the Phnom Penh slide show.

 

Without a doubt AGODA is the best online Hotel booking site.


Click on the photo below to see another great post.

 

Before you go check out the LadyBoy show in Pattaya

 

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