Recently I have been to Cambodia for an assignment to complete a garment company audit for a week - hell of a short period of time. I stayed in Casa Hotel, where the second floor is a prostitution hub, 3rd floor a karaoke VIP lounge, a casino and a dance club on the ground floor. If any guys are going for a tour, this hotel is superb. With a USD6 massage parlour at a very nearby, this hotel does not suit for a person going there to complete an assignment in a short period of time.
Cambodia is by far an undeveloped city living on its own real flat land. By looking from a plane, this place is real good for mass development of paddy fields. Due to the flat land i guess they have no hydroelectric plants that generate power. They do not have resources for nuclear power as well, and therefore, we are living in deem lights at night. Natural resources like electricity, water and gasoline is expensive compared to the cost of living. People are poor and children begs for money and child labour is abundant. For me, I live like a "king" there with my couple of hundred US Dollars on hand for a week. I even had a driver too! Haha..
Cambodian bus
Their public transport is - motorcycle bus. Unlike Bangkok, you can hardly see a taxi on the road. Most of the transportation is motorcycle-d. In the morning and evening, due to lack of law and order, the roads are so chaotic. As I cannot even stand the traffic situation in Kuala Lumpur, I will not be able to live in Phnom Penh. Facing the transportation situation everyday, I will die of an heart attack. Cars, trucks, lorries and bunch of motorcycles are coming from all the directions, and they do not give a shit about the traffic lights and even basic roundabout laws. I thought of where were the policemen? Then I knew, most of them parked their bikes at tree-shaded areas to sleep and enjoying their lives!
Chaotic at roundabout and junctionsNot everything is bad though. Some of the sceneries in Phnom Penh are great! Discover Phnom Penh:
The infamous Mekong River - ancient trade route for the Cambodians
Phnom Penh One
Phnom Penh Two
Phnom Penh Three
Phnom Penh Four
Naga CasinoAccording to my client, there were no casinos built in Cambodia in the past years. The only casino available is a floating casino in a ship moving along the Mekong River. So the government then granted a gambling licence to the boat owner and they started a luxurius casino called Naga. It appeared a normal building from the outside and once entered, you can hear birds chirping with the typical chinese environment with trees, mini chinese bridges on top of a small pond and artificial chinese-flavoured buildings. Above all the gambling tables, there a ceiling painted in blue and white immitating the true blue sky, which was so real as being presented. I wished I could take pictures. Due to the support of my client and my colleague, and with the good environment, I have won some USDs from the casino too, Yeah! It is a must go for anyone in Phnom Penh.
Shavy and Grace - Colleague and client
Mr. Virak - HR and Admin Manager
"Ei.." - that's what he's being called as. Our driver
The Russian Market - local handcrafts and motorcycle spare parts market
The Central Market - Replicas for your thrift
Going up to a temple - They said to pray for the God, and you will eventually get a husband/wife
Pray here..
Yeah I'm short in front of a tall temple tower
After all the tiring walk, a massage do great effects
Chinese Massage method - a-hole-on-the-bed
Common scene - one family on a bike - Grandma behind, child(ren) squeezed in the middle and the the father drives the family
Common scene - taxi bikeOur client, a public listed company in Malaysia is the main producer for Nike and Puma garments. They have established two garment factories in Cambodia as the labour here is cheaper than Malaysia. Although I am a cheap labour in Kuala Lumpur, I know how these labourors here feel. Stock loss is not uncommon and it is easy to take few home everyday.
The old factory
The new factory in a secluded area
As the electricity cost is high, our client resolved to engage own electricity generator, powered by the rising price of resource - diesel. Is it really economic feasible to run a factory in Cambodia? Hidden costs were so disregarded
The stocks - raw materials
Stocks again - finished goods
Rat loitering around factory perimeter. I noticed that one of the Cambodian woman worker actually threw plastic materials hard towards the rat. I was shocked at the violenceWell er I'd say staying in Cambodia is fun in a short period of time. I cannot imagine living there for some years. Most of the things are cheaply sold as the standard of living is low. Handphones are cheaper by RM300 or more as compared to Kuala Lumpur, but I cannot guarantee its longitivity. Garments are produced domestically and imported from Thailand, and they are extremely cheap. There are no gogo bars and the living here is more or less boring as the entertainments are limited. Food stalls looked dirty and there are no McDonalds or KFC or Pizza Hut outlets. Lucky Burger is what they only have and it is a monopoly of fast food industry in Phnom Penh.
Phnom Penh International AirportWe departed home on 19th and I rushed back to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday.... Happy Happy Happy Happy birthday dear.
Happy birthday to you
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