Urban Tales Phnom Penh

Once again, together with fellow hospitality professionals from Amanjaya, iRoHa Garden, Pavilion, Plantation and White Mansion hotels, we joined Urban Tales, an experience created by Ubiquest that sits somewhere between a walking tour, a treasure hunt and a life-size investigation.

The adventure begins at the National Library, one of those buildings in Phnom Penh that you may have passed many times without necessarily stopping to look at it more closely. From there, the story quickly takes over. We are sent back to the 1880s, during the time of the French Protectorate, following the traces left behind by a mysterious French explorer to find a Khmer artifact hidden somewhere in Phnom Penh, Asia's little big city.

The game takes us into narrow lanes and along small streets that most visitors would probably never enter. At one point, chess players may even have an advantage, with an opportunity to try Ouk, an Asian version of chess. Wat Phnom, a Chinese temple and a Buddhist pagoda all become pieces of the puzzle as the investigation draws closer to its conclusion.

I will not say much more about the story because discovering what happens is obviously part of the fun.

What makes Urban Tales interesting is the way the game gives you a reason to look more closely at old Phnom Penh, where historical layers are sometimes missed amid new buildings, traffic and construction.

Phnom Penh is a city that, despite the construction of high-rises in recent years, retains its charm and remains home to many places steeped in history.

For visitors, this treasure hunt offers a unique introduction to the city. For those who already live here, it is an opportunity to see Phnom Penh from a different perspective and to visit places you might catch a glimpse of from a tuk-tuk but do not necessarily take the time to explore.

More information: ubi-quest.com