Cambodia - Mushroom Point (Hostel), Otres Beach, Sihanoukville

Finally back from the long hiatus, having the motivation to blog about my recent trip to Cambodia. I have been back for 1 week, but I am still experiencing Cambodia withdrawal syndrome. Or maybe because I just dread work so much that I would rather stay in Cambodia.

We went in a group of 6, early morning flight on a Saturday to Phnom Penh. Once we arrived at Phnom Penh, we took a taxi, which cost USD85 for a 3 1/2 hours journey to Sihanoukville. Sihanoukville is a lovely beach town, which many Malaysians (at least among my friends) haven't heard about. Anyway, the car journey to Sihanoukville was crazy. Cars/lorries/motorcycles could use opposite ways and even the same at the tol plaza which is COMPLETELY INSANE. I see no point in having the yellow line dividing the opposite ways. We also saw many of the lorries with their booth opened, completely filled with goods and people, like tuna sandwich. Some even have motorcycles strapped at the end. 

Interior of Phnom Penh International Airport

It was a great relieve that we finally arrived SAFELY at our accommodation called Mushroom Point on Otres Beach. Me and Elaine, who took turn sitting at the space in between the 2 front seats experienced some butt-ache and I vowed I will not go on a taxi again for our journey back to Phnom Penh. 

The "seat" me and Elaine took turns to sit

Anyway, this is the view which greeted us when we got out of the taxi. 

Front view of Mushroom Point
Still no idea why F**king Pizza

The road (surprisingly not a proper well-maintained road)

Just some extra information, Otres Beach is the quieter beach in Sihaknoukville. The happening beach, which is very similar to Patong Beach, Phuket and Aonang, Krabi of Thailand will be Serendipity Beach. 

The sun was glaring hot on that day. The few minutes spent paying the taxi driver and moving our luggages already made us sweat a little. I fell in love with the interior of Mushroom Point the moment we stepped into the receiption/bar/chill area. We were also greeted by very friendly people, mostly Americans. For a few seconds, I thought I was somewhere in America instead of Asia. 

Reception of Mushroom Point

Chilling Point

Bar Area

I think this is the Mushroom Bungalow for 2 person
the red clothes on both side are hammocks

We booked the dorm which has 7 beds, so 1 bed will be for someone else we don't know. The dorm is not equipped with air-conditioner, only table fans. But, it is not that hot to sleep in at night maybe because it's by the beach. And science told us that night time by the beach is usually cooler.

The stairs up to the dorm

The 7 beds dorm

So we settled down, changed - girls into bikinis and guys into shorts with extra clothes to cover up and then we headed straight for our lunch at one of the restaurants along Otres Beach.

To be continued...

Limablas, Changkat

I went to this restaurant last Wednesday for a farewell lunch for my friends who came from thousand miles away. A good choice to have a farewell lunch for them, to let them have a taste of Nyonya food. 5 of us and we ordered 5 dishes including 2 set lunch and dessert. We could barely move after the satisfying meal.

The owner of Limablas is a Chinese uncle, who usually sits outside in the open air area of the restaurant during lunch time. I have been told by my friend that all the food are prepared by the owner himself. Limablas serves really tasty Nyonya food and the interior of the restaurant is designed and decorated to be like an old school grocery store, which is pretty cool. Great for photos as well, if there is no one sitting nearby.

As set lunch are meant for one person, the portion of the chicken that come as part of the set lunch is quite small to be shared among the 5 of us. But in our case, it's probably for the best because of the amount of food we ordered. It's best not to waste the food. We ordered the set lunch for Tamarind Chicken and Chicken Pong Teh. It was so good. The sauces, were perfect. Sweet, yet savoury at the same time. I could finish the whole rice with just the sauces. The cincaluk omelette were good as well. We ordered an ala carte dish of the Cincaluk Omelette. It's good, but its a bit salty if it's only the omelette without any rice.

 



Tamarind Chicken Set Lunch with Cincaluk Omelette 



Chicken Pong Teh Set Lunch with Cincaluk Omelette 

We also ordered Nyonya Fried Noodle and Nyonya Fried Rice. The Nyonya Fried Noodle feels very much like Hokkien Style Fried Noodle. It's only mediocre for me, not my favourite. The Nyonya Fried Rice was the boom! All 5 of us love the Nyonya Fried Rice. I strongly recommend the Nyonya Fried Rice. Unfortunately, I have no photo of the Nyonya Fried Rice, you could see it at the background of the first photo of this post though.



Nyonya Fried Noodle



 After that, we decided to order ABC and Cendol. The ABC was disappointing, would not recommend it at all. It was bland, almost tasteless. The Cendol was one of the best I have ever tasted. The gula melaka was sweet yet not to the extent that I would feel like getting diabetes soon. Perfect for a hot weather!

ABC and Cendol

Limablas

15 Jalan Mesui, off Jalan Nagasari

Kuala Lumpur

Tel: (+6)03-2110 1289





Hostel - Roommates Penang

I went to Penang last weekend, showing a few friends around my parents' birthplace and the country's food paradise. We stayed over at this hostel in the town called Roommates Penang, which I discovered on hostelworld. 

I like this cosy little hostel. It is located very near to all the main wall arts and bicycle renting shops. Apparently they just renovated or revamped their rooms. When I booked, they had four (4) beds mixed dorm. But when we were there last week, they have changed the rooms into eight (8) beds mixed dorm. I think they changed it, that's what I gathered with the little conversations I had with the chinese uncle at the reception. I might be wrong.

I like staying in hostel because it is always a good place to meet good friendly people. The reception of Roommates opens 24 hours, so we didn't have any problem checking in at 12.30am. The man from Kedah at the reception is a very funny and friendly guy, made me felt really welcomed. 

The beds and the efforts they made to ensure that we have some privacy in a dorm are really welcomed and heart-warming. Each and every bed has its own curtains, study light and plug points. Towel and blanket are provided as well. By the way, the rooms are very well air-conditioned, which should be a very big plus point as Penang is hot and humid. One wouldn't sleep well without an air-conditioner.


One side of the 8 beds mixed dorm
Look at the curtains

My bed, with a comfy pillow, personal study light on and blanket

The showers are good. Clean and the water was just right. You could adjust the temperature of the water. I didn't manage to take any photo of the toilets. I forgot about it. 

Breakfast was simple, but satisfying. Although the note at the reception read "2 eggs, 2 toasts and coffee or tea", we are allowed to have more than 2 eggs and 2 toasts. We can choose to have half-boiled eggs or hard-boiled eggs. The chinese uncle at the reception would do it for us. We only have to make our own toasts and pour ourselves the cup of coffee or tea that we prefer.
 

Breakfast

Roommates Penang is definitely an acommodation worth staying and it is definitely on the top of my list of favourite hostels. Did I say it only cost RM30 per night?

The Communal Area

Roommates Penang

Lorong Chulia,
11200 Georgetown,
Penang

Tel: (+6)016-384 8828

 

Click here for their website