Thursday, July 31, 2008

Sophie's Bar Phnom Penh - a touch of darkness


Entry by Ty Spaulding

This Phnom Penh landmark is located on an unlit side street. It is not easy to find. The taxi motorcyclists on the sidewalk eye your entrance as you’ve had your ticket stamped by the devil. You climb up a decrepit set of stairs, which look like the Khmer Rouge might have executed cadres against the walls. The second floor door is double-bolted. A knock opens it. The main room is a bar about the size of a Holiday Inn suite. Only there’s no bed, just six stools and a few tables.

But you didn’t come here for the decor.

The girls are 18-30. The number about 20. The attire is flimsy. Young and old, beautiful and ugly. Something for everyone’s taste. They swear to be Khmer and not Vietnamese, as if working at Sophie’s fulfills a patriotic duty.

Once inside the red-lit bar four hostesses will seat you before auditioning to star in a remake of DEEPTHROAT. Your permission is not asked. Resistance is futile.

At this point the old hag behind the bar asks if you want a drink.

You order a beer, because you can’t tell who’s been drinking out of the glasses.

The male clientele are NGO pervs fighting off a heroin habit, incurable drunks, balding sex tourists on a Viagra binge, Euro-trash libertines, and missionaries seeking to save souls somewhere other than Sophie’s.

You exchange glances. This is a very compromising situation and you check the ceiling for VDO cameras to make sure you aren’t being spied on by the NSA or worst your friends porno surfing the net.

I couldn’t find any.

About two minutes after your first breath in Sophie’s (the smell of cigarettes, cheap liquor, and man sweat) the girls break their crotch huddle and ask who you thought was best and do you want to retire to a side room for more research.

As sinful as it may seem, saying no was more damnable than saying yes. Two or three girls will drag into a back room, where you will be their darling for however long it takes. The shabby rooms are decorated with cracked walls and soiled sheets to maintain the atmosphere. You can hold conversation with your friend in the next room or at the bar. The walls are thin as cheap pizza and almost as greasy.

The ménage-a-trois cost $20 and beers at $2.

The price for your soul. Eternal damnation.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The price for your soul. Eternal damnation."

The last line says it all... really enjoyed your write up, brings back memories - gave me chills!... I hear the doors are now closed forever?

Anonymous said...

i was there in Jan through March of 2009 and Sofie's was closed? is it open again or is this the author's old posting?

Anonymous said...

also, for us, um, regulars (and not all of us are viagara pill poppers, NGO employees or old dudes, just enjoy the sleeze), it's $10 for the head...this dude was way overcharged.
basically the deal for us regs is: $1 for each girl who touches your head and $5 for the girl who makes you blow the load...

MANGOZEEN BLOGGER said...

The $20 was in the backrooms. I blew two loads in 20 minutes sans viagra. Got back and my beer was still cold. sadly I haven't been to Phnom Penh this year. BUt I'm heading that way within the month

sirmarjalot said...

I had a great experience in Sophies best blowjob bar of the world

I hear it is closed down now?

MANGOZEEN BLOGGER said...

sadly sophies only remains open in the shadows of my mind. My agents have reported the doors closed. I loved walking up those steps and knocking on that door, knowing wickedness waited in ambush. Not many places like that in this world now, but despair not for in these unsettled times there is always hope for the wicked

Big man said...

When where u there? Thx

MANGOZEEN BLOGGER said...

last time was in 2008

Rigal said...

Closed for a long time, no real replacement, Cambodia is not really worth going to anymore.

Big man said...

Hey Peter do u remember the street Sophies was on? Near russian blvd?

Anonymous said...

Sirmanalot, I don't know where you are these days but I would like to have a beer with you and perhaps we could cry, her that I am missing Sophie's bar a lot. I now live in PP permanetper and I can tell you that the city is full, the nightlife now is just bullshit more raunchy bars 😂

The