A totally impromptu decision but there we are, off to Cambodia to scout the location for The Nomad - the cafe we want to open :D and to check out the cafe scene in Phnom Penh!
Being photobombed by this Aunty in the airport who refused to get out of the way and even looked at the camera :<
We had some hiccups during check-in but we still got though in the end but here is our annoyed faces.
AND HELLOOO CAMBODIAAAA! :)
Thus begins DAY 1.
Taking a tuktuk to our hostel - Happy 11
Chilling in our room for awhile after our tiring day. We barely slept the night before and we were rushing about all morning getting checked-in and taking our flight to Cambodia.
Went up to the rooftop bar for awhile and took a paranormic view of the place. Honestly my pictures do not do justice to the place and I am quite sad that I never took a picture of the place at night, when there are streams of people heading in and with the fairy lights all on.
But well, we couldn't just waste our days like that could we? So we went in search of food and we came across the blue pumpkin. I had a lemon tart with strawberry sherbet ice cream and Abbas had a chocolate lava cake. They were both really good but the lava cake was SIMPLY YUMMMZ. It really melts in your mouth and it came with this hazelnut ice cream that just went so well with it. And the best part was that it cost less then $5. It tastes so much better then any lava cake I've had in SG and costs way lesser. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get a photo of it :'(
But I foresee myself becoming really fat during my stay in Cambodia :P
They also have like REALLY super comfy sofa seats. - Someone tell me why SG doesn't have something like this?! It's so nice you'd want to just chill there the whole day. And it so happens that the outlet we were in overlooks the river - SO ROMANTIC ~
DAY 2
It was cafe hunting day! First stop of the day, LOVERS COFFEE ~ which soon became our favorite spot in Cambodia. We were such loyal customers we went back all three days and we drank a total of 9 cups of coffee during our stay there alone.
It is just a simple pushcart in the middle of the road, but the ambiance and the coffee is really good. It is so nice to just see the world go by and drink good coffee. The servers even let Abbas make his own coffee upon request. Where else would you get such service?
Our first cuppa coffee there.
Let us take a selfie!
The really sad thing is that even though we were there for three days, they seldom had any customers. We would be sitting there for an hour or two and no one else would be drinking coffee. And it's really sad because they have such good coffee :'(
On our last day there, the barista went the extra mile and did this really cool latte art for us. Really appreciate the thought :)
Next, we popped into a random cafe because the cafe we were looking for closed down. My thai green curry was really good, and the server recommended a passionfruit-watermelon fruit juice which tasted really awesome, but there were like four or five items that we wanted to have that were out of stock.
And of course, when in Cambodia, we have to make good use of the uber cheap massages! One massage per day! The massages there are only like $10/hour. Totally worth it.
Following that, we coincidentally walked by fluff bakery and decided to head in. They truly live up to their name, having cupcakes that look too good to be eaten. We were so full from coffee and lunch that we decided to take away the cupcakes and by the time we reached our hotel, the cupcakes were all mashed and too disgusting to be eaten :'(
And I don't know what's with the Cambodia and sofas, but Fluff bakery also has the most comfy sofas ever. And it is also one of the few places to have air-con in the smoldering heat of Cambodia.
We also chanced upon a hipster cafe on our way to elsewhere and boy was it worth the climb up a harrowingly narrow stairway.
The owner was really friendly and was giving us tips and ideas on how to do business in Cambodia.
And since we're in Cambodia, we have to live like a local don't we?
So we took a trip to the night market, sat on the floor and ate like a local. A good experience, watching people set up shelters due to the rain. But the food wasn't really to our liking.
We even got our faces drawn by a random person at the night market but we ended up looking like a picture that belongs on the walls of a haunted house.
DAY 3
IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!! :)
Special thanks to Abbas for planning the entire day :)
First stop was to a pet cafe. So many cute fluffy animals but here's a really unglam picture with my favorite dog :D
Then we had the bestest experience dining in the dark. Basically the concept of the store is for the visually impaired. So while we only have to survive the pitch darkness (no kidding) throughout dinner, they have to go through it their entire lives. I really can't imagine.
We had the international course and the food was really really good despite not knowing what we were going to eat.
And the servers even surprised me with a birthday song and a free cake!!!! I was so glad that it was in pitch darkness then so that no one could see my blush.
And yet another birthday celebration - credits to Abbas who went through all the trouble for the surprise :)
DAY 4
The saddest day because we have to go back to SG :'( Camwhoring while we still have a chance to, with the new shades Abbas got from the night market.
Lunch at a Japanese restaurant that only serves two kinds of noodles and afew selections of rice. The food was good though!
Chanced upon one of the most atas, chic cafes in Cambodia - Digbys cafe
Abbas very fascinated by a vintage espresso machine
And the food is YUMMZ. The beef pot pie was to die for. You eat it and the flavor bursts into your mouth. Together with the biscuit, it is heavenly!
And for now, it is time to go back to SG. But we will be back for sure :)
Do stay tuned for more stuff on how to make coffee, best coffee places in SG etc.
<3