KenW Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Packing now, with the usual pre-trip jitters. No matter how hard I try when I travel I always manage to forget something crucial. Last time camera battery charger. Time before: passport pic for visa. Etc. On the bus from Saigon to PP on Monday. Booked into Golden House 136 St as usual. They know me so well now, it feels like home. Mey, the manager, asked me in email: would you like your usual room? Lovely. As far as an old man's blurred memory recalls, it's about my 8th trip to the kingdom, but since I have not been on forums long, went always in straight company on earlier trips, and have done only 2 TRs for LBR, I'll call this thread #3. Hope to enjoy it, and hope readers do too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiamSam Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 I for one am looking forward to reading all about. You can call it the "Model Helicopter Tour". What I wouldn't give to be checking into the Golden House also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTel Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 I too am looking forward to reading your adventures in Phnom Penh number 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepthroat Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 I always enjoy reading your educated ramblings Ken. Looking forward to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xyzzy Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 No matter how hard I try when I travel I always manage to forget something crucial. Time before: passport pic for visa. When I go to cambodia I spent the extra $5 and get an E-Visa before I arrive. However unless you are crossing at Bavet (Svay Rieng) then it isn't good from Vietnam. Too late now I guess anyway. http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/evisa/ I would be interest in knowing more about Golden House. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kahuna Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Well I for one don't give a rat's ass....Cause I'm stuck here is America (the northern part) and your out having a good and/or great time in Cambo... Violating all the pretty Cambo boys...That ain't fair KenW... I am envious as hell my friend...Have a great great trip... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dixon cox Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 It is pretty quite here in Phnom Penh at the moment following the death of the King's father, the country is in mourning. No music playing for several nights already in the bars, although that's not a bad thing, and the streets seem light on people and there is an air of quiet contemplation. It is rather tranquil, but very sad for the country and it's people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted October 21, 2012 Author Share Posted October 21, 2012 When I go to cambodia I spent the extra $5 and get an E-Visa before I arrive. However unless you are crossing at Bavet (Svay Rieng) then it isn't good from Vietnam. Too late now I guess anyway. http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/evisa/ I would be interest in knowing more about Golden House. The bus company I travel with does visas for passengers. You pay on the bus, they take your passport, and viola, at the border they return it with visa installed. No hassle. I'll keep the thread posted about Golden House. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted October 21, 2012 Author Share Posted October 21, 2012 Well I for one don't give a rat's ass....Cause I'm stuck here is America (the northern part) and your out having a good and/or great time in Cambo... Violating all the pretty Cambo boys...That ain't fair KenW... I am envious as hell my friend...Have a great great trip... Thank you my friend. I'll have one for you (violation, that is)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacman Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 You pay on the bus, they take your passport and viola... What if you don't have a viola? Will they accept a violin? A guitar? Never knew the visa application had strings attached... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacman Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Thank you my friend. I'll have one for you (viola - tion, that is)... Still going on about that viola!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacman Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 I think the word you were looking for is VOILA. (Just a little fun Ken, I know you can take it... ) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted October 21, 2012 Author Share Posted October 21, 2012 Just a little fun Ken, I know you can take it... ) Ah pacman I've finally discovered the nickname of my third grade teacher after all these years. Yes I can take it. If I can take Lulu from midnight to 4am or whatever, I can take anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazedandconfused Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Ken, you have a rare eye for the story and and paint pictures with wonderful words and phrases. Some of the very best stuff here on the forum. Looking forward to this report very much.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumblebee Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Pity I won't be around PP to have a wander, a beer and a leer with you Ken but no doubt we will get the chance to rectify the situation in Patts. in the coming weeks. Safe travels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted October 23, 2012 Author Share Posted October 23, 2012 Ken, you have a rare eye for the story and and paint pictures with wonderful words and phrases. Some of the very best stuff here on the forum. Looking forward to this report very much.... Thanks dazed&. Arrived in the kingdom late yesterday. Am a bit dazed& myself, in that way that hits many of us when first arriving somewhere (money to be changed, SIM to be acquired, internet connection established, etc.). Big rainstorms last evening hit the capital - symbolically marking the late king's last night lying in state perhaps - knee deep waters keeping me indoors or close by. Still, the sun's shining this morning and another day looms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 Honey, when you buy me iphone? Will you buy me one [iphone]? Honey, today you buy me iphone? Listen to me, iphone ipad laptop new style in Phnom Penh, not have no good. My first 28 hours in the capital. Four assults on me from 2 different voices. Morning afternoon night. OK, we have all heard similar pleas over the years and decades. Kahuna probably has about a million of them from the Naked City. But what is interesting is this new sweep of "electronic" - a word now known and spoken - across the youth and young adults of fashionable PP. In all cultures at all times peer group pressure, conformity and new fashion are important, especially to the young. But it's not so many decades since the first electronic wave targeted households front on: the household wireless, the household fridge, the household television, the household sound system. Now, the late Jobs and his ilk have turned this sideways. These days it is a bomblast of a broadside aimed at individual youth, everyone of whom has to have their iphone or be super uncool. And unlike the first wave (post WWII), this one targets the third world heavily. PP included. Sociological study fascinating and needed. It would be good for someone to map this wave as it spreads, for example, across the LB world of SEAsia through time. And record how many LB sentences are spoken to patrons before this key plea is heard, echoed and re-echoed. [For example: Nice to meet you. What your name? Can I go with you? Honey will you buy me iphone?] 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiamSam Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 If though it is still better than: "If you buy me iPhone I will be happy to meet you; tell you my name; and might consider going with you." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 "If you buy me iPhone I will be happy to meet you; tell you my name; and might consider going with you." Or: iCum, iSore, iStonkered, iPhone iHappy, iGoYou, iHotelYou, iSmokeYou, iMoneyMe, iLoveYouBaby...OK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 I would be interest in knowing more about Golden House. Golden House in 136 St, #23-25, 50m from riverside. mail@goldenhouse.asia www.goldenhouse.asia Here it is, yellow joint in centre: [poor pic, taken from across the road in Nordic House eatery.] A family establishment. Hence excellent security. Underground park, cars & bikes. Smallish rooms for 30 USD. More expensive rooms higher up. Breakfast included. Usuals in room: aircon, TV, bar fridge, hot water, wifi. My third time here. Sometimes they can fall down a bit in professionalism. (That's Asia.) Example: first stay they never told me brekkie included. I found that out second time. Annoyed me a bit but I got over it. This time I emailed saying I would be bringing my girlfriend. I did, and we checked in. But because they know she is a local LB, they are being a bit mean. They informed me this morning that only my breakfast is included. I still have to pay for hers. I pointed out that she is a checked-in guest of the hotel. But, the guy said, only one breakfast for your room. That's pissed me off no end, for the principle rather than the cost. But I made no fuss. Asian face. My principles however - and my dollars - will decide whether I return or no next time. As a regular and generous customer I thought I deserved slightly better treatment than that. I'm not in a good Golden House mood this morning. The goose that's laid in the Golden House may have already flown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdogg Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Ken, before u get too upset with Golden House there's a good chance brekkie was not included at the time of your first stay there. I remember looking at lodging for Sam and telling him that Golden House and Lux were choices at his pricepoint but Lux only had wifi downstairs and Golden House did not offer breakfast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiamSam Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Tis true Ken. No free breakfast at the Golden House when I stayed there. Your first stay with them was not long after mine so probably not available then also. The other thing to be aware of is that it is not uncommon for a hotel to offer just the ONE free breakfast per room even if there are two guests. Usually the price of the room is adjusted slightly higher if two breakfasts are included. At least that has been my experience. Don't be too hard on them. There is not a lot of choice of quality places for that price in PP. AND my Lux experience was downright infuriating. They have never heard of customer relations. My advice is to cool down and stay put. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 Ken, before u get too upset with Golden House there's a good chance brekkie was not included at the time of your first stay there. Tis true Ken. No free breakfast at the Golden House when I stayed there. Your first stay with them was not long after mine so probably not available then also. Don't be too hard on them. My advice is to cool down and stay put. OK my wisehead friends, I'm calm. Thanks. (PS: I was not angry, merely upset.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xyzzy Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 OTOH I hope they are very nice rooms if a smallish room is $30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted October 27, 2012 Author Share Posted October 27, 2012 This is my room, seen from the door: Bathroom (with fat bellied photographer): Lack of window is the downside. But room is, I would say, 4m X 9m. Quite OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.