Phnom Penh

I know that both Tim and I have written at length about how much we loved Siem Reap... but I'm going to have to add Phnom Penh to the list too. In actual fact, I think I'm just in love with Cambodia full stop. It is easy to understand how so many ex-pats arrive in Cambodge as a stop on their SE Asia route and end up living here for years and years.

We've been calling Phnom Penh home for a week now, and as per usual, have wasted no time in establishing ourselves in the ex-pat scene (read: bar). I refer specifically to Fubar which we stumbled upon on our first night in the lake district, and from which we have been stumbling away from ever since. We have even decided to extend our stay in Cambodia by a couple of days in order to take in a bit of crab racing to be held at this classy establishment on Saturday afternoon.

So far, we have had a great time eating, lounging, site-seeing and drinking in various locations around Phnom Penh. One place of particular note is the Friends restaurant, just north of the National Museum. I can not recommend this place enough, and will go so far as to say that you are not allowed to come to Phnom Penh and not dedicate a night to it... that would be a glaring omission.

Let me explain. It is a tapas bar that has in excess of 20 different items on the menu (plus a changing weekly specials menu), which are all equally delicious. The last time Tim and I dined there, we ordered: chinese spinach and cheese filled ravioli in a tomato sauce (divine); baby bok choy and mushrooms in oyster sauce; sauteed squid with green peppercorns and onions (delicious); spicy beef and chili mexican pockets with a tomato salsa (surprisingly delicate); then another serve of the spinach & cheese ravioli (it was that good).
We washed all this down with a glass (or four) of some lovely Chilean merlot (and a glass of Chilean chardonnay), and a daiquiri (each)... we were nice and toasty by the end of it.
The most amazing thing about this place is that everyone from the floor staff to the chefs are ex-street kids who have been professionally trained in hospitality to give them a new lease on life. The Friends establishment comes into contact with over 1,000 children every day and the project also includes workshops, an educational and vocational training center, health care and HIV/AIDS services, and street and squatter based services that fulfill the needs of the homeless and vulnerable children and adolescents.
Not surprisingly, the founder, Mr Sebastien Marot, has received an Order of Australia for services to humanity. If you would like to find out more about this fantastic project, you can visit their website: http://www.streetfriends.org/

Tomorrow, will be regretfully leaving Cambodia (but we'll be back!) for Vietnam via an eight hour bus ride and another dance with the border guards, so wish us luck...