This morning, I ventured into Sangkat Orussey 4 where I heard that many bicycle shops and travel agencies are centered. I wanted to kill two birds with one stone.
First order of business - visa extension. As my 30-day Ordinary/Business (E) Visa will be expiring soon, I need to extend it to stay in the Kingdom. The good news is I don't have to do a visa run (i.e. leave the country to get a new visa) as I can extend the E visa from within through a travel agent. The options are a 30-day, 3-month, 6-month, or one-year extension (which is my preference). Walking along St. 182, I came across Discover Travel & Tours (#11Eo, St. 182) and stopped inside to ask how much it would cost to extend my visa for a year. The lady there said US$288. Next to me, a courier guy was handling a few passports - all visa extensions it seemed. I thought the price was reasonable (having already done some research) and it looked like they knew what they were doing so I went with it and gave her a passport photo along with my passport (to be collected 4 days later with the payment) - the process was swift and painless.
Second order of business - buy a bike. Tired of haggling with tuk-tuk drivers and missing my own freedom and mobility, I decided it was time to buy a bicycle. So while I was at the agency, I asked if anyone could recommend a place for me to buy a used bicycle. Hong Ti, a staff there, so graciously offered to take me across the street to a bike shop nearby. There, he asked a staff in Khmer for the best type and price. We eventually picked out this red beauty, priced down to US$40 with bells and whistles thrown in: basket, bell, front light, and an elastic cord. A new lock cost an additional US$3. It's a breeze to ride and I love it! It's heartening to find good people around who are ready to assist without asking for favors in return.
Above left: My red riding hood
Above left: Staff at the bicycle shop fixing up my new ride
Other scenes from around Phnom Penh:
Above left: What?; Above right: Dinner at Sesame Noodle Bar (US$6.00 with drink)
Above left: Lunch (US$4.50) at Eleven One Kitchen; Above right: Dessert at Aeon Mall
Above left: @ Digby's Grocer Butchery Cafe - a piece of San Francisco in Phnom Penh
Above: Cooling down with fresh coconut juice (US$0.75/coconut - best price I've seen)
Above left: Tuk-tuk drivers playing chess; Above right: Street vendor peddling gasoline to motorcyclists (about the same price as the regular gas station, ~US$1.04/liter) - their selling point: convenience
Above: Beard Papa's in Phnom Penh ~ the durian flavor puff was scrumptious! (US$1.70/cream puff)
Above: Dinner at L'Orchidee ~ fried noodles with tofu (US$3.50) and creme brulee (US$2.00)
Above left: I feel sorry for the adorable fluffy one who must bear this weather in that layer of fur; Above right: Banana shake (US$1.75) and the so-called fight of the century at Riverhouse at the Riverfront
Above: Sunday brunch at Metro at the Riverfront - poached eggs with mushroom, potatoes, tomatoes, and zucchini hash (US$5.00)
Above: Cambodia Post Olympic Branch on Preah Sihanouk Blvd (between St. 173 and St. 163) - unlike coffee and tea houses, post offices in Phnom Penh are few and far between; this branch was a US$2.00 tuk-tuk ride away from my place
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