Juliana

Phnom Penh

by keeweechic about Juliana Hotel

Juliana Hotel - Phnom Penh We had a wonderful smorgasbord lunch in this charming hotel. It was in a very quiet spot just out of city center. There was to be further refurbishment to the hotel which was to include more restaurants.
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There were lovely gardens around this hotel.
. There was such a variety of Asian style dishes including local choices and some European ones as well.
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If you want to relax in a...

by bagan

If you want to relax in a beautiful open pool after your tours in the dusty and noisy Phnom Penh, try the 'Juliana' hotel.
60$ for room w/buffet breakfast. I'm sure that you can find less expensive hotel in Phnom Penh, but the proportion quality/rate is excellent! Quite and flowering garden with nice and large pool.
Excellent breakfast buffet with Asian and International dishes.

Juliana Hotel

by keeweechic

Juliana Hotel Phnom Penh We had a wonderful smorgasbord lunch in this charming hotel. It was in a very quiet spot just out of city center. There was to be further refurbishment to the hotel which was to include more restaurants.
. There was such a variety of Asian style dishes including local choices and some European ones as well.
.

My Cambodia Trip

by jinwenwang

"2001 CNY Adventure Started in Cambodia"

Jan23th, 2001 (Chinese New Year Eve)
I arrived in Phnom Pehn by Dragon Airlines from Shanghai via Hongkong on the night of our Chinese New Year Eve, when all the families are supposed to have big dinner either at home or at restaurant, including my family and 20 other close relatives...:-)

Evelyn, Ellen, William met me at the airport since they took direct flight from Shanghai to Phnom Pehn. Juliana Hotel Van picked up us to the hotel.

It is a very nice colonial style hotel with beautiful outdoor swimming pool but pity we didn't get time to enjoy the swimming fun (we actual didn't care...:-) it reminds the time spent in the Riverside Complex in HoChiMing city in Vietnam in May2000. Sihanouk and his wife's big pics are hung on the wall. Like China in 70/80's...;-p However, when you stepped into the hotel, you will realize that we are guests significantly brings down the average age of the total guests :-))

Next, taxi to bar street along Tonale Sap River to have drinks. It is a very lively street with lots of western bar/restaurants, motocylce & taxi driver outside waiting for the customers. It is also crowd with lots of backpackers.

We will never forget the first indulgent Cambodian food we had on the balcony of Ponlok Restaurant with original colonial atmosphere...and since then, I was addicted to the dish of Fish Soup :-))

There, we 4 Chinese celebrated the Chinese New Year...with all Camboidan around.

"Heading for Siem Reap"

Boat set out around 7am in the morning when the boat is almost full of people. It takes 5h (euro25)50% are local people usually sit inside the boat with air-con while young tourist "climb" to the top of the boat (without seats), lying…relaxing…flying...enjoying the venture in different posture.

It's a memorable and exciting boat trip - will never forget. It starts with a nice clear weather then sun rises slowly and then sun shines flows harder and harder as time goes by. The Sun is tracking and watching us...closely. View over the both river sides is so beautiful with different types of trees leaning against the banks, birds flying over head, cows standing in the sun, kids and ducks bathing in the river...in the freshing peaceful air...

With boats turning and turning among creeks, the river view becomes wider and wider till you can't see anything but water all around.

Slowly, the boat driving to the areas where you can see those floating boat house…it suddenly becomes HOT and humid with Salty fish smell at that time when boat approaching to the bank in such slow speed. It's just so crowd on the shore with almost hundreds of people holding name paper to pick up their customers. There is almost no way out to the road…

When we were wondering how we should get out of the place, a guy from Smiley Guest House found me and said that "his brother" (the Taxi Driver) has booked the room for 4 of us and asked him to come to pick up us. (actually we didn't ask, but anyway we wanted to leave the hectic place) Lucky that Smiley is quite ok, friendly for foreigner and good cooking, lots of French backpacker there.

The pick-up track is a bit shabby without air-con and the road is terribly bad! Ellen and I shared the one seat at front and Evelyn and William sat in the back seat in open air with other Frenches...It's Dusty and Hot. After bumping up and down for half an hour, Smiley :) is welcoming us with nice garden view and family atmosphere...it's kinda of payback... but no hot water available in this region... :((

Everything is very slow here...so be patient. We, then confirmed our flight back ticket from Siem Reap to Phnom Pehn city (euro55). Always double check, don't believe everything that hostel guy told you.

We then decided to go to the downtown area and have cafe in the Grand Hotel, the most expensive high class colonial style hotel in the city. It looks like a resort place in a classical way…silver table set, candle holder on every table. Hotel staffs in traditional Cambodia costume. Guests there dress well (like old english or french style) and have good manner. Man smokes Ciga and woman sips coffee and bleats. I felt like time went back to the colonial age...I had a cup of Cappuccino and delicous cheese cake.