Day 4: Poshmoto and the Nightshift

It was so laid-back and welcoming at the River Garden hotel that after a full day sightseeing it was an effort to step outside our comfort zone.  However, as we were moving on the next day we thought we ought to shift our bottoms to go see the nightlife in Siem Reap.  The hotel arranged a lift downtown in a swanky 4-seater motorbike taxi with purple velvet cushions and a gold tasselled canopy no less. These are called tuk tuks, or motos (as in motorbike taxis).  We enjoyed a heady, breezy ride into town driven by Mr Brown (as the sign told us).  At night the Old Market area is alive with music, neon lights and lots of shiny, happy people in bars like Angkor What? (love that name!).  The cuisine was varied, from local street food to Thai, Indian, Asian and French. We chose Le Grand Cafe, which as the website explains, 'is situated not far away from Pub-Street zone, only 100 m away (but it is at the corner of Pub-Street too)'.  We sat upstairs by the beautiful open-air arches that you can see if you follow the link, and did some people watching.  The scene was larger than life - shame the food wasn't as good as the setting.  Everywhere you looked there were motos, many of which were customised.  Our favourites were Mr Brown and his Poshmoto, a Batmoto and a Rolls Royce moto.

The Batmoto

The Rolls Royce Moto

We could see pubs advertising English beer, big screens showing European football, open-air massage parlours, the night market, boutiques and piranha pedicures.  Being without our guide and driver for the evening, we were left to our own devices.  Would we get stung by Mr Brown? Would we get fleeced in the night market? Would we make it back to the River Garden? Take The Cambodia Tourist Quiz to see how you would cope! 

Group Massage

Fish Pedicure

Street Food Stall

The sign says it all...

Louise's ATM and on-hand shrine for a quick
prayerwhilst the cash is dispensing

After our meal we strolled along Pub Street taking in the ambiance.  Louise was overjoyed to see an ANZ cashpoint (the bank she works for) and wanted evidence that 'she woz here' to claim it was all a business trip.  The night market is an Aladdin's cave for tourists, full of wonderful things for souvenirs and gifts.  I bought a pair of earrings and Louise saw some bracelets she thought Alex would like.




Louise:     'How much are these bracelets please?
Stall Girl:   '$2 each madam'
Louise:      'How much if I buy three?'
Stall Girl:    'Then they will be $1.50 each'
Louise:      'Hmmm.  How about $5 for all three?'
Stall Girl:   'OK. $5 for all three.  Madam, you are very good.'

No Louise, you don't haggle up, you numpty!  Here's a You Tube of someone in the same market having a bit more success negotiating the best price.

We wandered back to the corner of Pub Street where Mr Brown greeted us like long, lost friends - I guess two trips from us would be a whole night's wages for him.  We were pleased to see him too, as he knew the way back to our hotel and we knew the price he would charge.  We settled back into Poshmoto feeling very self-satisfied after another perfect day in Cambodia.