Phnom Penh: Sticky Rice, Street Art, and Seriously Humid Air

okay, so phnom penh. it’s…a lot. i’m a freelance photographer, and honestly, i usually chase light and quiet, but this place just hits different. i landed with absolutely no plan, just a vague idea of finding interesting faces and even more interesting walls.

first thing i noticed? the air. it’s not just hot, it’s…thick. like you could chew it. i just checked and it’s twenty-four point eight six degrees celsius, but it feels like you’re walking into a sauna. eighty percent humidity, apparently. my camera gear is constantly fogging up, which is a nightmare, but hey, adds to the aesthetic, right?

spent the first day just wandering around the *riverside, getting lost in the maze of streets. the tuk-tuks are insane - they weave through traffic like it’s a video game. i swear, i almost became part of a street food stall at one point. speaking of which, the food is incredible. seriously. i’ve been living on street noodles and fresh fruit. found this little place near the royal palace that does the best mango sticky rice i’ve ever had.

someone told me that the night market is where all the real action happens, but you gotta haggle hard. like, ridiculously hard. they start high, apparently.

my accommodation is…basic. a tiny room above a motorcycle repair shop. the constant clanging is a bit much, but it’s cheap, and the owner, auntie somaly, is an absolute sweetheart. she keeps trying to feed me things i can’t identify, but i’m too polite to refuse. if you get bored, Siem Reap is just a short bus ride away, and i've heard the temples are unreal.

been focusing on the street art scene. it’s everywhere! vibrant murals, political statements, just pure creative chaos. i spent hours yesterday documenting a piece near street 240*. the artists are super talented, and there’s a real energy to it all. i overheard someone saying that the government isn’t always thrilled about it, so it’s kind of a moving exhibition. you gotta find it before it’s gone. check out this forum for more info: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g293939-i9380-Phnom_Penh.html.

people here are…intense. in a good way. they’re direct, they’re curious, and they’re not afraid to stare. i’ve had more conversations with strangers in the last three days than i have in the last month back home. i heard that the central market is a pickpocket's paradise, so keep your valuables close. Yelp has some reviews: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Markets&find_loc=Phnom+Penh.

a drunk guy at a bar warned me about the traffic. he said, and i quote, “just assume everyone is trying to kill you, and you won’t be disappointed.”

honestly, phnom penh isn’t pretty. it’s gritty, it’s chaotic, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. but it’s real. it’s raw. and it’s completely captivating. i’m already planning my next trip back. maybe i’ll learn to haggle properly next time. or at least invest in a dehumidifier. you can find more travel tips here: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/cambodia/phnom-penh and https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/phnom-penh-travel-guide/.