438 replies to this topic

[xyzzy]

I know where three Smiles are located. I found some decent packaged ham at Smile that was better than what I could get at Lucky. Actually the best bread I could find was the hotdog buns at Smile.

I don't think the need for certain flavours from home ever fades. As much as I enjoy foreign food I still yearn for farang food often. I love bread and Thai bread is appalling. However, in Cambodia bread is readily available anywhere in the form of gorgeous baguettes and I consume a fair few of those, plus the sliced bread is more or less the same as back home and it's lovely toasted.

I recall one of the other Smile stores being further up Street 136 (away from the River) on the corner of Street 19, but the location of the third Smile escapes me. But there are several other similar stores operating in much the same way too, plus Lucky Supermarket at the Sorya Center near the Central Market.

I thought the sliced bread was dreadful, thick and dry. The sliced wheat bread you can get at 7-11, and almost everywhere in Thailand, is excellent IMO. But different strokes I guess. I don't usually eat white bread at home just whole wheat. I'm not really a baguette lover. But in a former French colony that is the most logical. Barang groceries in general might affect my decision to spend as much time in PP as you. Otherwise Cambodia is about the only place left in SE Asia I might actually consider moving to some day.

The third Smile (I think) is on street 51 a few blocks from Roundabout? Just past the school. I think that is a Smile but I might be wrong. It has been a while. Whatever it is it was about the only real convenience store around in 2008. There are a couple more Smile listed in the Yellow Pages and neither are the two we know on 136.

[dixon cox]

Another day, another morning walk. It's coming towards the end of May 2011 now and the daytimes could become very hot indeed, so unless I had something specific to do during those hours I'd tend to get it done in the morning.

Late afternoons and early evenings were prime time for the heavens to open and the power-cuts to happen during the hot season, much the same as Thailand. That's when I stay indoors.

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[Nick Bullseye]

DC, the photo of a dad with kids, all on a motorbike, beats everything! Best picture I have seen so far from Cambodia.

Even if I do not react after every batch of your photos, I appreciate your Cambodian thread very much. It brings back memories, since I travel at least once a year to Phnom Penh, usually for a week, with a possibility of a one-day trip at the end of my stay.

[dixon cox]

DC, the photo of a dad with kids, all on a motorbike, beats everything! Best picture I have seen so far from Cambodia.

Even if I do not react after every batch of your photos, I appreciate your Cambodian thread very much. It brings back memories, since I travel at least once a year to Phnom Penh, usually for a week, with a possibility of a one-day trip at the end of my stay.

I'm really pleased you're enjoying this thread Bully and that 5-on-a-bike picture is one of my favourites too.

I've seen 5 a few times and a 6 once, but it's so hard to capture as they zoom by. In this instance Dad kindly stopped and all the boys waited onboard.

[dixon cox]

There are currently no passenger train services in Cambodia, although there is a planned regeneration of their neglected railway system underway.

Even the bamboo railway at Battambang bid a final farewell last year as the short run was finally closed to allow the tracks to be rehabilitated. I was lucky enough to get a ride on a "Norrie" when I visited Battambang, which I will cover a little later.

The railway station in Phnom Penh exists but is currently used only for freight. For anyone interested in the Khmer railway system I found this article.

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[petesie]

Some nicely composed shots there DC.

[Bumblebee]

I am with you totally DC on taking a leisurely stroll around PP or any urban area in SE Asia for that matter. Having a camera with you should be a requirement as you just don't know what will confront you on your travels. Good to keep seeing these shots, they bring back good memories now.

[dixon cox]

Some nicely composed shots there DC.

I am with you totally DC on taking a leisurely stroll around PP or any urban area in SE Asia for that matter. Having a camera with you should be a requirement as you just don't know what will confront you on your travels. Good to keep seeing these shots, they bring back good memories now.

Many thanks lads

All these pics were taken with my trusty Canon S90, perfect for the pocket. However, just before Xmas I bought myself a Nikon S8200 which is also perfect pocket-sized too but has a 14x optical zoom as opposed to the S90's 3x zoom. So hopefully I can get a few more close-ups without having to walk towards the subject.

I also have a Nikon D90 DSLR but found that I hardly ever used it. I can't be doing with the bulk and weight and it's not very subtle to carry around, especially in Cambodia, so I'm looking to sell that.

[petesie]

Around 6 cameras later I miss my D90 and found the best pics I've ever taken emanated from yon beast.

I went out last night to a concert taking 2 cameras and was disappointed with the results so at least one of them is moving on...

Loving the thread DC.

[pacman]

Dixon, I remember you telling me you found your D90 too much to carry around. I agree with you, a large DSLR does get in the way.

But I didn't agree that you should sell it. And I haven't changed my mind. The D90 is one of the best developed cameras ever made. It is over 4 years old & Nikon have kept it in production. It is perhaps the only camera of its type never to need a firmware upgrade. It is the biggest selling DSLR ever with over a million sold. And it is considered a workhorse, they are reliable for 10's of 1000's of shots.

Keep it for the time when you need to take pro-like shots. I used mine at a wedding last year & the results were amazing. I have a camera phone for candid stuff but there is no current point'n'shoot to replace my D90.

My other suggestion is to replace the 18-55 kit lens for something with more reach. That will make it so much more versatile. I have the 18-105 myself but the Nikon 18-200 might suit you better. Even better for travelling is the Tamron 18-270 PZD, an amazing lens not much bigger than what you have.

I think the D90 is knee-capped when fitted with the 18-55, it sounds good when you buy it but it doesn't allow the camera to show what it is capable of. And no, I am not proposing you carry it around Pattaya at night, your S90 is ideal for that.

And going by your efforts on this thread, you have the eye of a true photographer, ditching such a nice camera is damn silly IMO.

[dixon cox]

And going by your efforts on this thread, you have the eye of a true photographer, ditching such a nice camera is damn silly IMO.

Thanks for your kind words I definately appreciate them. I've been thinking and I'll be honest with you pacman, your death-row plea for my D90 has made me reconsider and I think you are right. I was not certain I was doing the right thing by wanting to sell the D90, afterall, I'd probably only get half the money back that I'd spent anyway so what you said I needed to hear.

Investing in another lens (probably a Tamron 70-300mm) and just keeping the D90 for special days out and balcony shots might be the best way to go. My kit lens is the 18-105 too, so like you I also got the better of the two kit lens possibles.

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[Pad Thai Boy]

Enjoyed this report so much Dixy.

Thanks for taking the time and notes over such a time, and of course the excellent photos.

When I do get around to Cambodia in 18 months (I hope) this report will be a referance.
Great stuff