Phnom Penh Cambodia

Busy Phnom Penh

The adventure began as soon as we arrived at Heathrow. The tandem created quite a stir at the check in desk and getting through security was no mean feat. Hats off to Max though for being completely unflappable and for convincing the man on the check-in desk that the bike box weighed less than our 40kg limit (according to the bathroom scales it weighed a bit more !).

Checking in at Heathrow 

We arrived safely in Phnom Penh only to discover that the bike was still stuck in Singapore! My hopes of an early escape were quickly dashed though when it arrived at the hotel the next day, delivered, would you believe, on the roof of a tuk tuk 🤣. The apple tag Max has fitted to the bike has already proved its worth 👍

We are staying in Phnom Penh for 10 days, allowing us to acclimatise to the heat and abit more wrist healing time for me. I've seen a really good physiotherapist a few times which has helped - his face was a picture though when Max told him he'd got 3 sessions to "fix" me so that we could cycle 2,000 miles round SE Asia!

The hotel we're staying in is very luxurious - I'm loving the rooftop pool (complete with 4 poster pool beds) and jacuzzi in particular. We've made use of the gym to try and build up our fitness 💪(too little too late maybe??). 

Outside our hotel (Anik Palace) 

Relaxing on the rooftop pool bar

Max contemplating another swim

Other than that we've done a fair bit of exploring and trying to immerse ourselves in the local culture. We started with an evening food tour around the city which was great fun. Our local guide, Jackson, was excellent and we had his undivided attention as we were the only ones on the tour that evening. We were driven by tuk tuk to numerous local street food stalls sampling a whole range of Khmer delicacies. Unlimited beer and water was supplied along the way but it's actually quite tricky drinking a can of beer in the back of a tuk tuk so I only managed one. 

Street food tour - the night market

Amazing fruits and vegetables 

Max with Jackson, our tour guide, having a mocktail.

Our next experience was a morning cooking class (thanks for the early xmas present Clara 🙏) led by our lovely guide, Emmy. She took us round the local market first (inhabited by a troop of playful monkeys) and then back in the kitchen we made three local dishes. This time we were joined by one other guest, a really friendly Ukranian guy who'd been travelling in Cambodia for a month who gave us a few good tips based on his experiences 😀 

Cooking class - exploring the local market 

Monkeys everywhere

Tucking in to an Amok curry, mango salad and tapioca banana pudding

Cooks hard at work! 

Although we really enjoyed both of these food experiences it's fair to say that we've not been completely blown away by Cambodian food yet and our most regular haunt has been a small wholefood cafe near the hotel. Lots of healthy eating should stand us in good stead for the challenging days that lie ahead though 👍

We've been out on the tandem once so far - it was early Sunday morning when we set off and thankfully the streets were "relatively" quiet. We cycled to the nearby Silk Island, a rural area that we reached by taking a ferry on the outskirts of the city centre. Once on the island it was easy and relaxed cycling all the way. The island boasts a cottage silk making industry and a completely different pace of life to the centre of Phnom Penh. We were greeted by smiling children running out to wave and say hello and needless to say the sight of the tandem raised more than a few smiles and bewildered faces - from children and adults alike! It was only a 30 mile round trip but has definitely helped to build our confidence a little. 

The tandem gets its first outing 

Silk Island countryside

A quick pitstop for some iced passion fruit juice

Max boarding the ferry home

Yesterday we did a cultural tour of the city which included a trip to the genocide museum and one of the main Killing Fields sites. We'd debated whether or not we wanted to go there but felt that, however grim, we'd regret it if we overlooked it. The tour took in lots of other sites too - no doubt the first of a great many Buddha temples, the Grand Palace and the National Museum (a particularly beautiful building and an oasis of calm) - and again we had a charming guide who drove us round plying us with water and trying to ply me with beer 🍺 🤣

The National Museum 

The Royal Palace

One of many pagodas

"Diamond Island" - where four rivers converge

We've really enjoyed our stay in Phnom Penh  and whilst we've probably stayed here longer than most tourists normally would, we've definitely acclimatised and we're feeling abit more prepared for the next, more challenging, leg of the trip (Max moreso than me, it has to be said 🫣). We're aiming to leave the city very early on Sunday morning heading for Siem Reap. It's four days of cycling between 45-70 miles a day. We'll return to the blog once we arrive and will let you know how we've got on 🤞 🚴‍♂️💪

Bye for now,  

Sarah and Max xx