Phnom Penh and South America

Spending a weekend in Phnom Penh

Preetam, a frequent visitor to Phnom Penh, presented on the Cambodian capital.

Safety and Atmosphere: He challenged the common warning about getting kidnapped, stating that the city is quite safe, especially in the central areas where scrutiny is high. Instead, visitors are more likely to be “held captive by the genuine smiles of the locals”.
Cuisine and Cafes: Phnom Penh offers excellent international cuisine, a legacy of retired aid workers who opened restaurants.

It has a notable number of African restaurants, including nearly ten options within a small radius. He highlighted Ethiopian food, which is unavailable in Singapore, and the dish injera.
The city has beautiful cafés with Wi-Fi. For instance, at the 24-hour Temple Cafe, you can buy a drink for as little as a dollar and stay for hours.
Other unique spots include a Japanese bar that was moved block-by-block from Tokyo, a Burmese restaurant run by recent arrivals from Myanmar, and a popular Cambodian curry dish called amok.

Neighborhoods and Nightlife: He recommended the calm, non-touristy neighborhoods of BKK1 and Russian Market over the more expensive and scam-prone riverside area.

Lanka Lane is a small alley filled with interesting international food and frequented by stylish locals.
For nightlife, Bassac Lane is a hub with dozens of small bars that stay open until 4 a.m..

Young Cambodians are approachable, and many speak good English. Preetam recommended visiting youth centers like FT Gallery and The Factory to meet them and see local art and performances.
A great way to connect with locals is to learn about 1960s Cambodian rock legends like Ros Serey Sothea and Sinn Sisamouth.
A weekend trip from Singapore is feasible, with flights on airlines like Emirates costing around S$220.

Preetam has made a detailed post on Phnom Penh here: https://smallthingsmostly.me/gotoppkh

A Couple of Weeks in South America

Justin shared his recent travels across South America, covering Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil.

Itinerary: His two-month solo backpacking trip took him through Peru (Lake Titicaca), Bolivia (Uyuni Salt Flats), Chile (Atacama Desert), Argentina (Patagonia), Uruguay (Montevideo for a work trip), and finally Brazil (Rio).
Peru & Bolivia:

He visited Cusco, Peru, and Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, where he first experienced altitude sickness after dancing with locals.
In Bolivia, he saw the Uyuni Salt Flats during the rainy season, which creates a stunning mirror effect allowing for surreal photos. He also saw vibrant flamingo lagoons in the Bolivian desert.

In Chile’s Atacama Desert, he visited the Valley of the Moon, a landscape so otherworldly it has been used for filming movies like The Mandalorian. He went on a stargazing tour where he saw Jupiter and its moons through a telescope.
He hiked in Patagonia, Argentina, visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier. He proudly wore a Patagonia jacket while visiting Mount Fitz Roy, the mountain range that inspired the brand’s logo.

He spent a month working in Montevideo, Uruguay, and compared the country’s relationship with Argentina to Singapore’s with Malaysia. He also tried the local herbal tea, yerba mate.
The trip concluded in Rio, Brazil, where he caught the final day of the Carnival’s Samba Parade, an all-night event with incredible energy and elaborate floats.

Travel Style: He managed the entire two-month trip with just two carry-on bags.