17 reasons to come visit…

List:
This is for those of you who said you will visit, who’ve expressed an inclination, or to entice those of you who just didn’t know you wanted to visit yet

Reasons to come visit:
1. You have a room here. It’s true, we have a guest room with your name on it. It has an ensuite bathroom with a shower – we had hot water installed just for you. We also have an office, an art studio and a small dance studio.
2. The roof top. It pretty much has a 360 degree view. You can watch the sunrise, if you so desire, and the sunset, from the same spot.
3. The patio. On the third floor, slightly better positioned than the roof to watch the street bustle and neighbourhood activity. Open air, but covered, where I am sitting now on a big comfy cushioned wicker chair, drinking my coffee…
4. We live in a really Khmer neighbourhood, which means that we are some of the only “barangs” (expats). If you really want a daily dose of Cambodian living, this is it. It also means that people are friendlier (less hustle) and everything is cheaper than the districts where the barangs tend to congregate.
5. “Our boys”: Tubs and Skinny Boy – our night guards. We don’t actually know their names and our landlords insist they are called “The boy” (Singularly referring to both of them. Tubs is quick to smile, Skinny Boy is more stoic. They keep the place secure at night, and will be there to open the outer gate for you when you stumble out of the tuk tuk after a night of dancing.
6. The Boyz. My new co-workers. Very endearing Cambodian- Americans, deported back to the motherland after felony offences. They run the program I work for and are usually up for beer drinking, karaoke nights (and karaoke girls), shooting the shit and story telling.
7. The family next door. The little girl is super sweet and will help you practice your Khmer – as she is eager to practice her English. Her grandmother is totally eccentric, and more than a little crazy. She will most definitely cackle away at you in Khmer, even if all you say in return is “I don’t understand,” she’ll just keep on talking.
8. The market (daytime). We live a short walk from Toul Tompong Market, also known as Russian Market. While it’s fun to shop around in there for silks, pirated DVDs, silver and gold, designer knock-offs, opium pipes or motorcycle parts, it’s also where we go for spices, fresh fruit and veggies and delicious lunches that cost less than a $1.
9. The night market (same location). In the evening the food and drink vendors set up outside. Delicious soups, noodles, fried breads, desserts and drinks such as fresh sugar cane juice… again, all for under $1.
10. We have two tuk tuk drivers named Mr. T and Ara. They pick us up when we call and take us wherever we need to go. They can be your driver too.
11. We have a moto and can navigate the busy streets. It will be a ride like no other.
12. Hip hop. All of the clubs play really great hip hop and mashups. I know this and have experienced it and am still pleasantly surprised each time I go out.
13. Pontoon. We will go dancing on an old pontoon barge. Great music, great location.
14. Tiny Toones. The breakdancing school run by another returnee. Just down the street from our new house – kids who can barely walk yet are learning to dance, alongside the teens and peer mentors who will definitely show you a thing or two. They also perform around town and at Pontoon.
15. Snow’s Place. We sit on a deck on stilts over the river, in one of the most eclectic venues in Phnom Penh – full of strange remodeled furniture, pointillism art and paraphernalia fashioned out of war remnants, oh and hundreds of cowbells.
16. If all this sounds like busy days and nights, you can decompress at one of the reputable Spa and Massage places we have found, with friendly experience staff and no happy endings (if you want that we can help you find the place for you). Massages and treatments are at least a third cheaper than in North America.
17. We’re here!!! And we want you to visit. We moved into this house so we could have visitors. Three years go by quickly, so start saving your pennies and book your ticket soon.

And these are just the personal reasons and offerings. There is also the fact that we live in Cambodia, the history of the place, the people, the temples, the rainforest reserves, the islands less traveled than Thailand, the river that changes directions depending on the season, the floating communities, etc etc etc.