Phnom Penh Part Deux

The Travelling Beruang

Well,  hello again.

Look, I've told you that I'm such a sloth when it comes to update the blog. But, I will surely get it done. As promised, this is the second part of my so-called adventure in the land of Tomb Raider.

Where was I... I've covered the arrival and the airport and how to stay connected. Now, let's move to accommodation and others.

1. Always, always (repetition here meant it is significant) do some background check and research on the place you are heading to. With internet, there is practically no excuse at all not doing so. Worst case scenario, there's twitter, FB and other social media accounts with whom you can interact and get some information. Imagine what it's like back in the 80s or 90s where the internet was still unreliable and inaccessible. I had that experience and trust me, it takes double or triple the effort to look for information. What more the latest ones.

The Tuk Tuk

2. Ok, enough ranting. I've booked the accommodation through Agoda.com (you may also want to try trivago.com or booking.com - both are reasonable good). Since the payment and confirmation has been made in advance, the check-in process went very smoothly. I stayed at New York Hotel for good 7 days and 6 nights. The good thing about NY Hotel is that it is situated at the heart of Phnom Penh. So, you won't face any problem going in and out. Plenty of tuk tuk around for short excursion and the receptionists are exceptionally friendly. More importantly, they can understand and speak English.

3. IMPORTANT: I forgot to mention this. From the airport to the capital; on a normal, hassle free day it's going to take you 30 minutes. Since we arrived during peak hour (about 5 pm), the traffic was bad (well, not as bad as Bangkok). It took us 1 hour to reach the hotel.

NOTE: Leave early to the airport especially during peak hour. Trust me, you don't want to miss your flight.That is just bad.

4. Did I tell you about what happened to our taxi driver on our way to the hotel? He made a daring move by making an illegal U-turn in the middle of the main road. Perhaps, he didn't realize that there were few Traffic Police by the road side. As you guessed it, our taxi was stopped just when he made the turn. To our surprise, everything was settle in less than a minute. He gave the traffice USD1 and called it a day. Efficient deal but ethically wrong. Hmmm.

The helmet free motorists.

5. For motorist, helmet is a requirement but not a necessity. I would say, more than 80% motorists that I saw were without helmet. And the police seem to care less about it. So, why bother?

6. Here in Phnom Penh, there is no such a thing as one way or two way road. Anything and any way works. Motorists, again, happily ride in every direction. The best thing about this whole experience is, there was no cursing, no middle finger, no angry face and not even a honk. It's more like a mutual understanding and everyone give way to one another. Well, so long you don't hit anyone. hehehe.

7. Like Vietnam, it's a challenge to cross the road. The motors are never ending and waiting to cross  is like an eternity. Just be brave and use the power of hand to stop and stall and slow the traffic. Trust me, they'll happily oblige. You will be safe.

To be continued.... again.

apekTravels

EDINBURGH, Part II (because one entry is not enough)

Ok, this time, I shall not rant too much. Instead, I'll be posting photos (warning: lotsa 'em) and will write a line or two information bout it. Boleh? Sikit2 je la... ehehek.

Ok, bangunan ini adalah sangat obvious if you are across the the old town. From new town, these three famous lines of building mmg eye-catching. 

Yang ini pulak, the 300++ years old apartment where we stayed. Terletak betul2 sebelah St. Giles Cathedral. Keluar2 terus jumpa cathedral ni. Apartment ni korang kena ascend down a lil bit and its on the 2nd door to your left. ada 3 bilik. Don't be fooled by its age, because interior dia adalah sgt hype okeh. Yang cantik lagi, dlm apartment ni penuh dgn lukisan2 klasik age between 100-200 y.o. Kat sini lah kitorang lepak n tido n masak2 (jimat belanja pls). 

TIPS: kalo nak travel, make sure sorang dua geng travel tu pandai masak. untuk okeh! dlm kes ni, REZAL and HUSNA terrer gila masak. gua terrer makan jeh. hehehe. 

Ni among old road, nooks and corners at the Royal Mile. Aihhhhh pegi la 100 kali pun, you will never get bored and tired of Edinburgh. 

This one, my personal tribute to Scottish great poet, Sir Robert Ferugsson. Being an art graduate, I cannot help but appreciate and pay homage to those who have contributed significantly to the world of literature. Below excerpt taken from Wiki (where else kan!) about him:

Robert Fergusson (5 September 1750 – 16 October 1774) was a Scottish poet. After formal education at the University of St Andrews, Fergusson followed an essentially bohemian life course in Edinburgh, the city of his birth, then at the height of intellectual and cultural ferment as part of the Scottish enlightenment. Many of his extant poems were printed from 1771 onwards in Walter Ruddiman's Weekly Magazine, and a collected works was first published early in 1773. Despite a short life, his career was highly influential, especially through its impact on Robert Burns. He wrote both Scottish English and the Scots language, and it is his vivid and masterly writing in the latter leid^[1] for which he is principally acclaimed.

Ni masa aku tgh jalan2 jmpa gadis dan bunga. High probability, tourists from eastern european countries cos they couldn't speak English that well. Despite the challenges in conversing and constant lost in translation, they were quite a chatterbox and very friendly. We ended up having coffee at MacDonald's across town. *Didn't get their details. Things I regretted most. puih. 

Eheh. Abaikan gambar dpn tu. Yang ni betul2 kat bawah Scott Monument. And that gut belakang aku tu Sir Walter Scott, another famous Scottish author. The monument was erected to honour him. 

TRIVIA: The Scott Monument is featured prominently in the movie Cloud Atlas. Chekidout! 

Ramsay Garden ni apartment paling posh kt Edinburgh, terletak betul2 sebelah Edinburgh Castle. Nampak je besau... bangunan ni cuma ada 16 unit apartment je ye. Korang boleh perasan bangunan yang cantik ni daripada Princes Street. 

Yang ni lupa nama apa dah. Rose Street ke apa tah. Banyak jugak butik2 posh kat sini. Jamie Oliver restaurant pun ada kat sini. And, this is at new town. bukan kat Royal Mile.

Ni saje2 fefeling kt scotland travel agency. jakun pls... 
nak jugak yg ada sign scotland. hahahaha

Typical saturday evening. Street Bagpipe player in action. Tipping is expected.

 ok, yang ni bukan Bagpipe player and I donch wear kilt. hehek. 
I was just happy to be there.

This beautiful building is actually Bank of Scotland. 
Kiranya, Bank Negara la kalo kat Malaysia

You typical night out in Edinburgh wouldn't be complete without bar hopping and of course, watching Rugby match. 

Shops and bars along the Princes Street, about 500m to the Royal Mile. Dekat je.

Ni dlm kul 7 mlm depan St. Giles Cathedral, Royal Mile. Pix seround sblm blk apartment. Yup, dawn set real fast when you travel during autumn. 

Idup tak sah la kalo travel tak pegi Hard Rock Cafe kan! hahahah 

There you go, HRC, Edinburgh

Yang ni kt Cockburn Street. Nothing much here, but if you fancy posh victorian architecture, this would be the best area for walkabout. Masa ni kitorg just merayau2 pastu ujan. 
Pastu basah. Pastu pusing2 lagi. 

Penat tapi best. 

Tiga gambar atas tu adalah Edinburgh Castle. Memang cantik untuk amik gambar. You'll get the bird's eye view of Edinburgh from up here. Nak masuk castle ni korang kena bayar around 25 pound. Tp aku tak masuk pun eheheh. Mahai la!

Terjumpa William Wallace wannabe otw down from the castle :)

Levitate much?

Among favourite pictures that I've taken! Dunno why. Simply stunning, in my opinion-lah.

"The world is your oyster. TRAVEL!"

Pirates of Carribean: At World's End. Ring any bell, well it is originated from here.

This pub takes its name from the City Walls which once surrounded Edinburgh. Back in the sixteenth century, following the Battle of Flodden and Scotland’s defeat by the English, Edinburgh had become a walled city for protection. The gates to the City, which formed part of the wall, were situated outside the pub and the brass cobbles in the road outside represent their exact location. As far as the people of Edinburgh were concerned, the world outside these gates was no longer theirs and hence the name, The World’s End.

(source: http://www.scotlandspubsandbars.co.uk/location/the-worlds-end/ )

 

Stroll with Mr. Fergusson

eh eh. this was in front of the Queen's Gallery. At the end of the Royal Mile, whereby behind it is the famous 
Holyroodhouse Palace.

tau penat! hahaha

Lord Cockburn. ahah! just because he could!

Freemason anyone?

This is Scottish National Museum

Playing tourists, yes?

Gambar-gambar ni aku snap masa lepak depan Garfunkel's sambil curi wifi diorang (sebelah dia Starbuck, and wifi diorg suck). heheh. Hari-hari lepak sbb it is located less that 20 feet where we stay. And, along the stretch of Royal Mile, lots and lots of people walking around; be it tourists or local who work there. Let me check later if I have photos of Garfunkel's. If not, jap gua google. eheh. 

ok, jumpa dah. pix kat bawah ni:

Garfunkel's all over Europe, just so you know

hehehe ni la batu bersurat tempat curi wifi free. keh keh.

The Witch Tavern. Another famous pub situated down the hill, very near to Edinburgh Castle.