Cambodian Ferris Wheel? It’s Safer to Pet a Cobra

No country I’ve ever encountered in the 32 I’ve visited takes life to a weird and what-the-fuck level quite like Cambodia. This past weekend, I was reunited with my favorite Cambodian friend Chaly in Phnom Penh. If you’re familiar with this blog, you’ve read about Chaly already multiple times. If not, click here or here. On a dusty Saturday, we were cruising around, weaving in and out of insane Phnom Penh traffic on his motor scooter “Scoopy,” when Chaly posed a genius, very Cambodian activity idea. We had a little conversation that went something like this: Chaly: “Want to go to our amusement park? It’s so shit. The rides break and people die and things. You want? I take you!” Me: “Hell Yes! I’m terrified already! Let’s go! Let’s go!” (This was yelled from the back of Scoopy … basically a carnival ride in-and-of itself)

Part of what makes bouncing around as a traveler in Cambodia such delightful yet-occasionally-horrifying experience is the people. They’re pretty bonkers. And they are fully aware and genuinely excited about this fact.

There are a few things you should never do in Cambodia. 

No. 1 – Don’t wander off the path in rural areas. There are landmines.

No. 2 – Don’t wander off the path in rural areas. There are cobras.

No. 3 – Don’t get on a six-story ferris wheel in a country that still uses Water Buffalo as a mode of transport and has legit issues with landmines and cobras. Again, if you didn’t click that link earlier, click it now. A woman dies at 7:15pm after falling out of a ride. By 9pm, the ride is operating again and the only official comment on it is: “We wanted to show we do not have a technical problem.” Nope. No technical problem. You’re just in Cambodia. And … well … that’s technically the problem. Chaly, Scoopy and I arrived at Dreamland Amusement Park around sunset. We had a fantastic time. We always have a fantastic time. I will say that going through a Haunted House with a bunch of Cambodians screaming in Khmer and shoving you blindly in the darkness is way scarier than doing so in the American version. My Cambodian cursing continues to improve via these daily activities. Here’s a few images of our trip to Dreamland.