On transportation in Phnom Penh

Without proper public transportation, two of the most common ways to get around Phnom Penh (and probably other cities in Cambodia) are motorcycles and tuk-tuks.  Tuk-tuks are those carriages that are pulled by a motorcycle that makes you feel like a princess for just $1-2.  They are everywhere...I mean EVERYWHERE.  They will wait for you at every street corner to get you to where you want to go.  They will even ask people who have just gotten off another tuk-tuk if they need a tuk-tuk.  Another remarkable thing is that once you ride on someone's tuk-tuk, they kind of "claim" you and there is an unspoken understanding that that customer belongs to that tuk-tuk driver.  It seems pretty common for everyone to know the phone number of tuk-tuk drivers they like and call them to schedule a pick them up anywhere they are...which goes the same for motorcycles.  I think there is a sense of security for foreigners to know the driver too, especially when you are riding one at night.  My Canadian friends I met during my first week here introduced me to Mr. Serey, who speaks amazing English and has a dream of becoming a teacher, so hopefully I can rely on his tuk-tuk when I need to go far :)

Their ability to remember faces is amazing too -- Ben and I had the privilege of riding on a tuk-tuk driven by Mr. Seung in Siem Reap, who took us around several temples including Angkor Wat the entire day.  Among hundreds of tourists and tuk-tuks, he always identified us and came to save us from walking.  Granted I was wearing a bright blue t-shirt and was one of the few Asians walking with a white guy, I was so impressed by his spotting ability.  We liked him so much that we also asked him to drive us to the airport next day, which turned out to be really eventful!  We first encountered a severe sand storm, which is pretty painful when you're on an open carriage driving straight into it, followed by a monsoon which lasted for about 10 minutes. But no problem - there is a plastic cover on all sides of the carriage that prevents rain from getting in.  It was ingenious!  But it definitely didn't protect the driver, so by the time we got to the airport, Mr. Seung and Ben's shoe was soaked.  Thank you Mr. Seung, I gave your phone number to my friends going to Siem Reap in a couple weeks!

On to motorcycles.  Those are for people who are traveling alone or want to look cooler like me.  I was pretty hesitant to ride on the back of a motorcycle considering the traffic (and nonexistent traffic laws) and that I don't yet have a helmet.  But one ride on the back of a motorcycle changes your life!  It's faster and cheaper than a tuk-tuk, and you blend in better so you don't get curious looks from bypassing motorcycles.  It's pretty amazing to see Cambodians sharing a motorcycle -- I have seen 4 people max on one vehicle, in including a small child who was sandwiched between two adults.  But if I plan to continue riding a motorcycle, I should seriously consider getting a helmet -- though I am sure that won't do much against the oncoming traffic.  I'm loving the ways to get around already.