Cambodia Ladyboy Guide - Where to find ladyboys in Cambodia

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Well, we are sorry to report that if you are going to Cambodia looking for ladyboy action you are pretty much out of luck. It's getting better each year and they are coming out of the woodwork... The people that we talked to at Martini's bar, which is the most popular bar/pick-u joint in Phnom Penh, told us that Ladyboys stopped going there a while back because it was too dangerous for them. They were always getting beat up by the lady hookers there and it seems as though they went away to greener pastures or back home to Vietnam. Now, as it stands entering 2006, it seems as though there is no real place for the ladyboys to hang out in this country [if indeed there are any] and it is pretty much a dead zone for ladyboys. There was a ladyboy bar for a while but alas it is no more.

With that said, you can still have a great time in this crazy country, which is like the "wild west" of southeast Asia. Heart of Darkness isn't as good as it was in the old days but it's still a decent place to have a few over-priced beers and chat up tourists from other countries. Not many hookers hang in here but if you want to pick up on fat, dumpy, bitchy white girls from the UK and the USA, this is where you will want to go. Have fun; last time there we heard Michael Jackson from the Juke Box and saw a bunch of trendy backpackers with too-cool attitudes. Not really our idea of a good time.

Heres some helpfull general info for those of you who want to travel the wilds of Cambodia.

Cambodia is a poor man'sThailand and is well worth a visit for those who want a unique experience.

Accom. Phnom Penh

Hotels we recommend...

BILLABONG HOTEL

No 5 street 158 Phnom Penh
around $36.00 aussie per double per night but can be bartered down. Nothing flash but clean, safe and has pool.No problems with guests.
mailto:info@thebillabonghotel.com

SUNWAY HOTEL
No 1 street Sangkat Wat Phnom Penh.
Bit more modern, safe, clean and has good fitness centre.
20 Minutes to the airport. Can't remember what i payed but I think it was over $50 aussie per night.

Drinking and eating.

Foreign Correspondents Club
363 Sisowath Quay Phhenom Penh.
Housed in a 3 story colonial house and is well worth a look in the afternoon before you go out for the night.
A liitle more expensive but well worth it. Food is great.
The fish and chips are fantastic and the local food is well above average.
The place is very safe, clean and the staff are very helpfull with local info.

Khmer Surin Restaurant
Authentic Cambodian food and housed in a traditional Khmer building. Food is about $3 per plate and is safe, clean and very good food.
Number 11 st 57 off sihanouk Blvd, across from the Goldiana Hotel.

Wilheim Tell restaurant
no 13 Street Phnom penh. Phone 023-430-650 and they will collect you from your digs.
Great Western and Asian food.
The pork knuckle is as big as a whole chicken and falls of the bone and the skin is extra crispy.
6 of us had 2 courses, 4 beers each and the total bill was $75 aussie total.
A great night out before you go bar hopping.

Transport

There are a lot of ripp ofs in Cambodia so be careful.
I can recommend Sam.
Phone + 855 (0) 12762290
e.mail: sameth9@yahoo.com

Sam has a air con late model Camry. He speaks excellent English and will look after you. He can arrange a van if you give him enough notice. I would trust Sam with my life and that is a rare thing in Cambodia.

Markets

Central markets
Cnr. street 67 and street 136 Phnom PenhCheap everything here from fresh food to western size clothing.

The Russsian Markets
Cnr. 163 street and street 444.
The best markets i have found in asia.

Jewellery is the biggest plus here. I took Sam the driver and he got me some of the best bargins i have ever had in Asia. I spent around $500 aussie on assorted bangles and gold rings and sold them back in Brisbane on E-BAY and got $1230.00 for the lot. Cheap clothing is good quailty and cds, dvds and play station games are cheap and very good quality.

Street 240
This street has heaps of restaurants, art deco shops and has great bargins. Well worth the look.

Bars

The Gym Bar at street 178 is a good place to have a few warm up ales before you go on the town.
Nice safe place, very cheap beer and the locals will look after you with good info about the night life beyond there doors. Tip a few USA dollars and you will get the right info.

Pontoon Lounge is at street 108 on the river front.
Another good placee to lounge away a few hours. Cheap beer and free darts and pool.

MONEY
Take a mix of USA dollars and traveler checks. Visa and master cards are no problems in the bigger hotels and stores. If you use debit cards make sure your cards have cirrus and maestro on ther back.

Here is a list of ATMS that always seem to work.

Independence Monument 100 Preah Sihanouk Blvd.

Russian Blvd 20 Kramoun Sar.

Total Garage - Total avenue De France.

Most Caltex gas stations have ATMs that work and if your card is swallowed you have a better chance to get it back straight away. Some times when useing US dollars you will get Riel back in change. Make sure you use it before you go home as it is just about worthless any where else.

SIEM REIP
The gate way to Angkor Wat.

ACCOM.

I have only stayed at
Day Inn Angkor Resort.
Taphal Road, phone (855) 63 760 500-502. Its 15 minutes from the airport and 10 mins to angkor Wat.
About $70 aussie per room and is modern, clean, safe and good value.

Food and eats

The Deadfish Tower is a surrealisticc place with live crocodile pitts and the food is cheap and good. Its on Sivatha Blvd and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Kampuccino restaurant
Here is a great pizza, Italian, coffe shop come restaurant. Great food at VERY CHEAP PRICES./
Two of us had 4 beers, 2 garlic breads, 2 main couress, 2 coffees and cake for $17 aussie.
Its at 362 Pokombor Blvd.

Markets

The Old Markets at Phsar Chas are easy to find and is the place to find out about tours etc. Cloths are very cheap and the food is clean and cheap.

Angkor night markets are in the heart of Siem Reip and sell the usual stuff that Asian markets flog.

For better hunting, go down to the Sharky's bar or the already-mentioned Martini's. Sharky's is a great place; 2 or 3 pool tables, great music, great western food [does anyone know what Khmer food tastes is?], and cheap prices. Also, this place is filled every night of the week with about 25 young Vietnamese and Cambodian hookers in all age groups, from about 18 to 25. You can take a very cute girl from here anytime until abouut 3AM for about 20 US dollars. Martini's has even more; every night you will see a mix of Khmer and Viet hookers in this place, as many as 50 of them and some are absolutely stunning. The going rate for sex in this country seems to be 20 dollars, whether short time or all night, and you can have your pick of some real beauties. Ask any tasi or moto-taxi driver to take you to either of these great places; everyone knows where they are. Less Vietnamese hookers than ever now, the goverment seems to be cracking down on illegals and keeping them out; most of the whores we saw in Martini's and Sharky's and some were real cute but some were real skanks.

Kilometer 11 has all but died in these last few years since we were last in Cambodia and in March of 2005 was officially closed once and for all. This once-great brothel alley used to be filled with row-upon-row of houses teeming with young Viet girls of all ages. It seems as though the Hun Sen government has cracked down on this aspect of Cambodian culture in an effort to clean up the image of that country in the eyes of the world. The Tool Kok brothel village by the big lake just north of the city has all but dissapeared as well; we drove by there in March and it was just about deserted. The brothels on 63rd street also seem to have gone belly-up, but you can still find sex on this street, usually in a brothel fronted discreetly by a beauty salon or such. Again, ask your taxi driver and he will know where to take you for sex. But really all you need is Sharky's and the Martini's; you can have your choice of almost 100 girls in these 2 places most nights.

(Siem Reap)

Of course this city is famous for one thing; the huge Angkor Wat Complex just outside of this charming little town. This place attracts thousands of tourists every year and whereever there are tourists, hookers are sure to follow. Martini's has a branch here, and this place is also filled with hookers every night like its counterpart in the capital, but in the 2 trips we took inside this place we never saw a ladyboy. They may be there, as well as in the one in Phnom Penh, but it seems as though if there are they prefer to keep a very low profile.

A good little hotel in Siam Reap is Golden Orange
http://www.goldenorangehotel.com/
Rooms from $25us and quite nice and new

Confirmed by us to be LB friendly

As for cash,

ATMS are getting better now since ANZ (Australian) and Royal from cambodia teamed up to form ANZ Royal Bank in Cambodia - ask the local for ANZ Royal ATM and you should be okay.

And take USD if you are travelling there as USD is actually the main currency, despite the fact they have the local stuff which is often in appalling condition.

Word of caution:

Never accept any USD notes in Cambodia that are torn or in any way damaged - the locals tend not to accept them for payment and even the banks apparently wont change them over.

In conclusion, Cambodia is a great place to go to soak up the culture, do some touring, and to see the great angkor Wat complex. You can also get great regular sex here [although even that seems to be on the way out these days with the crackdown by the government], but as far as ladyboys, well. it's getting better... a lot better... but it's not Thailand.

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