One of the great things about Asia Hotel is the location. It's right around the corner from Psar Thmei, the Central Market. You can't miss the monolithic, kinda scary looking building.
The building is surrounded by stalls with interconnecting swatches of tarp, canvas, and other materials. I love the drainage system!
The market itself is an impressive array of goods, though I just scratched the surface since we didn't have much time.
Phnom Penh itself is a bustling city, if you wonder where all of the folks live, you just have to raise your eyes above street level.
As for the streets…… if Hanoi was controlled chaos, Phnom Penh was just chaos…..
There weren't as many motorbikes, but many more cars and Suv's, the lanes are wider, and folks drive faster.
We saw at least half a dozen accidents during our very short stay in Phnom Penh! Some of them looked pretty bad.
You know it's tough when we saw a Red Cross truck drop off these folks to direct traffic……at a traffic light no less!
And yet, it was on these streets where I had my favorite meal in Phnom Penh. Even though it was pretty early, my stomach was rumbling. We noticed a young man hauling a cart down the busy street. Every so often we'd see a signal, or hear someone call him. He'd stop, and prepare some noodles on the spot. And by the way folks were chowing down…….
We hailed the young man, who gave us a wonderful smile, and through sign language, indicated what we wanted. And he was off to work.
It was simple fare, reconstituted packaged noodles. But it was what the regular folk ate, so you know it would cure the hunger pangs. The noodles were stir fired on a metal pan, mixed with seasonings, fish sauce, and crowned with that necessary topping….a fried egg!
I remember being satisfied, and it filled me up. I may not recall how the noodles tasted, but sometimes that's not important. What I will always remember is the young man's kind and gentle demeanor…and even though we didn't speak each other's language, the smile says it all.
And it's what we'll always remember…..
One thing was pretty clear by this time. We always say, "it ain't a vacation until I fall or get bad sunburn." So I guess it was time to go home.
In Siem Reap, I made sure to put on sunblock……..but I think I missed a spot……
ow for the sunburn…but yum for the noodles, loving these comc posts π
What’s packaged noodle Kirk? Is it like instant noodle reheated and then stir fried with veggie and topped with an egg?
Hi Kat – Well, it ain’t a vacation until yoso gets sunburn somewhere….
Hi Michelle – That’s exactly what it is….. it’s what the regular folk eat.
A freshly fried egg on anything automatically makes it better.
Ha – I love the tiffin carriers wrapped in plastic π
Ouch – all the food will ease all the pain away π
Hi Lynnea – I couldn’t agree more.
Hi Meemalee – I loved them too! I was tempted to buy one.
Hi Bill – Yes……food will do the trick!
I always forget to put sunblock on my feet when I wear flip flops… I want those noodles for breakfast!