I spent nearly a month in Phnom Penh, Cambodia mostly playing poker at Naga World Casino. I played decent, not great and ran very poorly taking 7 sessions to hit my first draw (sick!) but managed to break even overall. Not the expectations I had but such is the life.
As of several years ago nearly 60% of Cambodians lived on less than $2 a day. It's a poor country with a very dark recent history. Leaving the casino is the first time in any of my travels I have ever not felt safe. It is a vulnerable feeling getting into a tuktuk late at night with 1-2 years salary in your pocket for the average Cambodian. While in Phnom Penh there was a string of robberies involving foreigners leaving the casino late at night. Then the police caught the suspect in the act, a chase ensued as he fled on a motorbike. He then pulled over, shot and killed both police officers and escaped. I had planned to stay a few more weeks in Phnom Penh but I decided to skip town. Phnom Penh certainly has an edge to it, truth is I loved the city and all its craziness. I want to make clear the only time I felt unsafe or vulnerable is when leaving the casino.
Sunrise on the Mekong River
