My apologies to Tuk-Tuk drivers in Phnom Penh

In my previous message regarding my blasting of Jetstar Asia I inferred Tuk-tuk drivers are thieves.

I was wrong. Moto-riders are criminals. The tuk-tuk riders are not the problem.

Well the news of my final night in Phnom Penh for those who did not hear.

I was mugged.

I'm not going to burden this blog with the evil that beset my trip. Instead I point you to a photo of where there are some spare cells for them. Not far from where they robbed me. The photo is of S21. The famous site of a makeshift prison for those who were persecuted by the Khmer Rouge and Pol-pot.

Sadly the cells are of a not so fond time in Cambodian history. But time here would give the moto-riders time to reflect upon their crime.



I hated Phnom Penh because of many things. These moto-riders were just another reason. But thanks to their team effort they are now my number one hate in the world at this very moment.

Looking at the funny side of the incident. How was I to know that the Cambodian Moto-riders had bought the now defunkt Australian Tourism campaign. Sadly their poor English meant that they took a literal adaption of the "where the bloody hell are ya" campaign.

And the other result of the night. I did get a decent game of charades in with the local Cambodian police. Unfortunately when it came down to it they were not good at guessing in English. Whereas I was trying to signal there was 1 moto-rider who took a tourist down a side street to be joined by 2 other moto-drivers friends to rob the tourist of $50. They were still stuck on why I didn't scream. Gees, even I knew you can't talk during charades.

As a gesture of goodwill to my new moto-friends I'd like to make a recommendation to them. They should take my $US50 down to the local petrol station and each suck a bottle a bottle of scotch just like in the photo below. In fact they should spare no expense. Make it a JW Black Label. Bottoms up fellas.

Ode to Jet Asia : Worst Airline in the World

Jet Asia... Stupid airline! They're a joke. And their public relations persons should be shot.

This morning I checked in at the airport here in Phnom Penh for my flight to Singapore. I paid my departure tax or be it, Cambodian Party member enhancement fund contribution, and went to the boarding lounge. Heck I even managed to send off a postcard or two.

Well after an hour of waiting for a start of boarding we get a message.

'"Jet Asia wished to advise there will be a delay to the boarding of the flight"

Then 15 mintues later, "Jet Asia apologises for the flight delay due to technical difficulties in Siem Reap. We expect to know more in about an hour." (Flight was doing a triangle between Singapore, Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh.)

We then start to see the first signs of bad news. Some airport guy talking to a tour group. I then overhear something suggesting the fight was being canceled. Finally we get confirmation. Flight canceled until tomorrow. Jet Asia will put everyone up in a hotel room for the night and fly everyone tomorrow.

The irony is that Friday was my original flight day until 2 days before I left. When they canceled the flight.

I'm stuck here overnight. And I still hate this city. It's dirty. The tuk-tuk drivers are thieves. The hotels are ordinary. And the atmosphere is lacking.

We then had to get back through immigration. Get our our Cambodian Visas back, and political party contribution departure tax, before finally collecting our luggage for a cattle ride back to a hotel they had booked for us.

About now I'm a reaching for my travel insurance policy to read the rules. Read the fine print. It tells me they'll cover $200 of expense for 24 hours delay. Only I know they're a pack of bastards too. So now I'm wondering how I get a confirmation from them that they canceled the flight etc. Sufficient to pass the tight arses paying out.

Oh and it just gets better.

The hotel they've booked. The New York Hotel. It's supposively 3 stars. Yeah back in the 1970s it was. You know when Pol Pot was around. He must of designed it. It had that 'designed by communist dictator decor' chic to it. Original wood pane from the 80s. Heck even the drinks in the fridge were in original condition.

Being Jetstar Asia they only paid for the room, a ride to and from the hotel, and breakfast in the morning. Forget that we were being delivered at 11am Thursday to the hotel. So no lunch, dinner, snacks nothing. Talk about a joke of a airline compensation.

Anyway it still gets better.

We get to the hotel are about 80 of us are standing around waiting for a room. Rumour leaks that they want us to share. "You're F*king what!". You're kidding aren't cha!.

The airline expected people to find a pair. Hhahahaahaaaaa! NO.. not funny.

Anyway I get to the front and they tell me their policy. I tell them it's not acceptable. Myself and another few travellers hold our line. I argue that my fellow travelers are an axe murderer, a thief, and a rapist. Pointing to all 3 with a smile.

Unless the airline could prove to me otherwise, in written format, with personal guarantees that my fellow travelers were not criminals there was no way I would sharing. Jetstar Asia would need to provide me with my own room.

I got my own room. As too the 3 criminals.

How to say hello in Khmer

This is how a guy says hello in Cambodian:
"Hello Mister want a Tuk-Tuk"

However that seems to be more Angkor Wat. If you're down south it's more:
"Hey mister you want a Moto"

If it's after dark then it's followed up with
"Wanna a girl"
Or
"Want a smoke"... and I'm a guessing it ain't cigarettes they're offering.

Females. Don't stress I've found out how you say hello too. And it's easier. It hardly changes:

"Hello mister you want massage".

But then again if you're at the beach it changes to:

"Hey mister you wanna buy a bracelet".


Sadly the comprehension courses in Engrish taught in Cambodian schools is in need of help. What part of "NO" they're not understanding is hard to fathom.

And what really gets me is when I say no to mister tuk-tuk driver. Their mate not more than a metre away will repeat the hello script. Leaving thought that the number 2 guy is either deaf, or stupid.

Anyways here's a bit of the Cambodian coastal town of Sihanoukville. As seen through my eyes. Not surprisingly food has featured greatly. Considering a Amok curry like below costs $3 who can blame me.

And how about the view?

Wat where they thinking when they hired the builder

Here I am in Siem Reap. I made the flight the other day.


In the travels of Chad there is no time for resting like tomorrow. Hence I was straight off the flight, dropped off the bag, and straight off to Angkor Wat.

Now for the uninitiated, or the culturally ignorant, like me, I won't try to bore you with the Which Po or the Wat Po is that tour. I've no idea. All I knew is I hired a tuk-tuk driver, for the day who cost me $10 that knew the ''small tour' route. Whenever Sarin (as in the gas), my driver, stopped and said get out I did.


First port of call was of course Wat Po, the crowning jewel of the whole area. First impression. I'd get a second quote on the renovation job. Whoa! It's gonna take a while. The previously tenants left this place in ruins. Or perhaps that's how they liked it.


Second impression going around the sights. When you're looking for a builder of your monument make sure they are clear on the instruction. No use building a monument with 2 foot high stairs if the people expects to climb them are only 4 foot high. I mean how the building site inspectors didn't see this as an issue in the 13th century I can't fathom.

End result was the ruins were about 10 times more challenging than the stairs in Malaysia. Not just because for the second day my driver found more monuments to send me up in the hope I'd take a while.

More KL

Just before I ove onto the next blog entry I thought I'd just share a bit more from Kuala Lumpur.

The time stamp don't lie

Oh. I forgot to mention. It took me less than 5 minutes to climb the 272 stairs to the top of the batu caves.

That's according to the time stamp on my camera.

Whoa that was a fair climb...

I'm surrounded by Koala Bashers

Yes I'm in Kuala Lumpur.

Well the good news is they don't have Koalas here to lump, but needless to say their own discount airline doesn't trust them. Air Asia was tell us all not to steal the life jackets on the plane. Gees... I didn't realise how big an issue it was. It could also explain why you don't get anything on the flight unless you pay. I didn't see the nails in everything, but did notice they do microwave meals for everyone.. I'd say that's a new low in quality of airplane food.

The first thing I've noticed about KL. The air quality is poor. Must be those big fans pushing the air out of Beijing for the Olympics.

The second thing. Sometimes the owners of businesses chose badly when they pick an English name.

That's just poor form.

Although this one did get a giggle.

Spent today on a half day tour. Out to the countryside. Or well the tour name suggested it was. I'd call it the stop at a major factory, then shops before making it to the Batu Caves Tour.

This afternoon I walked myself out around the shopping centres. It was tough but I only bought a few t-shirts. Gees you've gotta love the Aussie dollar at the moment. For all those shoppers out there. Forget spending at home. Go, go, go... Think of what you'd spend in Australia for clothes and then divid it by 3 in many cases.... It's a pity I only get a 15 kg bag limit, and have 2 weeks of travel ahead. (or well that's my excuse)