It's fantastic to be back in Cambodia

Andy Hill

My unexpected jaunt to the kingdom of wonder has been fantastic, as I enjoy fewer places more than the charming metropolis of Phnom Penh

Because of several randomly-timed events in my girlfriend’s life, as well as the need to leave Indonesia because of my visa, and also because it’s perhaps my favorite place in the world, I’ve returned to Cambodia for a short sojourn.

The reasons why I wanted to come back are ephemeral. I like walking around in the Central Market. I like walking down the riverside. I like the simplicity of the currency. I like being able to hop on the back of anyone’s bike and get where I need to in five minutes, for less than a dollar. I like how friendly it is, how gentle it feels. I miss seeing films at the Meta House, and eating insanely good Mexican food at the Alley Cat.

I found a ridiculously cheap flight from Bali which included a night spent convalescing on recliners in front of CNN at the Singapore airport.  

I’ve been at the guesthouse I normally stay at on the heavily-backpackered Street 178 for several days and am pleased to say that the city has lost none of its charm, and everything still costs the same amount at all the usual places.

A plate of fat, handmade noodles fried with beef, chili sauce, greens and an egg still costs seventy five cents, and you can still get your tooth extracted for $30 (including the consultation).

I’ll make my way down to the coast soon to see what Otres Beach looks like, and stomp around up at some of my favorite bars in Siem Reap as well. I also intend to see the Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus in Battambang.

On Monday September 2 the bi-monthly “Nerd Night” is happening in Phnom Penh, where people make presentations about things they are passionate or nerdy about. The format comes from the Pecha Kucha system, where presenters have 20 Powerpoint slides to use for twenty seconds each. I will be doing a presentation called “Evoking the Creator Within: What I Learned About the Creative Process by Writing a Book.”

I will also drop in on some old friends, as well as try to do some major promotional work for my book, Mystic Fool (like stumbling around the streets, passing out flyers, and saying ‘hey man- buy this!’)

Ok, I’m off to get a ride down to Toul Tom Poung, a notorious market in the south end of town, just to see what kind of bizarre shit is for sale.