AsiaLIFE

If you’re ever in the need for letting off some steam look no further than the dodgems at Parkway Square. Though not for the faint of heart if you’re prepared to take a bruise or two the bumper cars are guaranteed to bring out some shrieks and giggles. Words by Nora Lindstrom.

Bump, Bump Away

It’s just like you remember it from the fun fair you used to frequent as a kid – except Khmer style. That means no rules, no seat belts, loud Khmer music and disco lights. Get into your car, press the accelerator and start steering into others. It’s fantastic. You might however want to bear in mind Newton’s third law of motion, stating that for every force there is an equal and opposite reaction. In dodgem terms this means there are lots of collisions. Bumper cars they may be, dodgems they’re not.

The price for a five-minute ride may seem a bit steep at US$1, but when you are being rammed from every direction at maximum velocity it feels like those minutes drag on forever. If you get the craving for more, several tickets can be bought at once. Buy three and you get one ride for free, buy five and you can have two extra goes. Stay the whole day and the ambulance to Calmette is thrown in for free.

Crash, Bang, Wallop

The best way to take advantage of this bouncy activity is to get a group of friends together, have a drink or two to soften the blows, and take over the place. There are enough cars for over ten people to bump around at once. However, it gets crowded when there are over seven cars on the track at any one time. Alternatively, this can be a great place for taking an anger management session, or brushing up on your localised driving technique.

With no seat belts there is a risk you could be thrown out of your car. You will most certainly suffer a few hits even if you drive like a model Phnom Penh citizen. So, while dodgems are generally for kids, and despite the lack of age restrictions at Parkway, the activity is not recommended for under 12-year-olds.

Open 9am to 11pm everyday, dodgems can be combined with some ten-pin bowling next door, a game of snooker, or a bit of indoor golfing – all on the second floor at Parkway. Who said there is nothing to do in Phnom Penh when it rains?

Dodgem Cars, 2nd Floor Parkway Square, 113 Mao Tse Tung Blvd.