"Phnom Penh" Phnom Penh by Penelope4

Phnom Penh Travel Guide: 1,426 reviews and 3,751 photos

centre of celebration of the Cambodian new year.

Wat Phnom

My primary objective of visiting Cambodia is to learn what happened to the country after its Khmer Rouge period which took place from 1975 to 1979. It is said that more than 1 million Cambodians passed away either through sickness, hard forced labor, starvation or execution as they were forced to work in the fields and were separated from their loved ones. Those who were able to stay with their families in the rural areas struggled to have something in their stomachs and managed to suppress their affections towards their loved ones. I will leave the facts to the historians but I'll mention some details in my Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum page.

When I arrived in Phnom Penh, I just freshened up a bit and off I went to Wat Phnom, the tallest religious building in the city with its height of 27 metres. It was built in 1372/3 to house the four Buddha statues found on the banks of the Mekong. A kind caretaker welcomed me inside the temple. It was so peaceful inside, you must believe me. Beneath the temple are a countless sellers - but they are not too insistent.

National Museum - lovely garden and pond inside!

Wunderbar! Sehen Sie die Fische?

It is known that the building has been designed by a French archeologist and painter, George Groslier, in Khmer style in 1920. It is so beautiful from the outside that you can't help but to look at it for a while before deciding to get inside. It is located to the North of the palace grounds, on the opposite side of 184th street. The museum is open daily from 7 to 11:30 am and 2 to 5 pm, except on Mondays. They were renovating a room when I visited it but that didn't bother me at all because when I went out of the inner building, I enjoyed looking at its beautiful garden and ponds! You'll have to pay extra though for taking pictures of these. Entrance fee by the way is around two US Dollars.

from the Killing Fields to the Toul Sleng Museum

I wonder if there are fish in there too...

I will write something about the Choeung Ek Memorial and the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum under "Things to do". In here, I will simply recommend to ask your Tuk-tuk driver to park when you see the farms. It is so refreshing to see greenery (and to take a break during the long journey) and bring your ear plugs or MP3 or iPODs because the Tuk-tuk can be too noisy. I must say that the pajama-like clothings of the Cambodian women who I saw along the way made me wonder why they don't change during the day. Later, I realized it is normal for them to wear such clothes outside the streets.

Pros and Cons

Pros:I love Phnom Penh as a whole particularly the sights of the streets (with all the Tuk-tuks and motorcycles!)
Cons:The Tuk-tuk drivers along the Sisowath Quay somehow scared me.
In a nutshell:Cambodian people with good hearts and forgiving ones at that!

Last visit to Phnom Penh: Jan 2008
Intro Updated Jan 28, 2008
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Reviews (9)

A great Vietnamese Resto in Phnom Penh - Phnom Penh

A great Vietnamese Resto in Phnom Penh Restaurants (3)

The restaurant looks quite alright and food is superb. Pho Bo - beef noodle soup and Bo Bun Cha Gio - vermicelli mixed... more travel advice

bring the right shoes and a hat with you - Phnom Penh

bring the right shoes and a hat with you What to Pack (1)

It is hot in Cambodia. When visiting Siem Reap, wear open, hiking shoes so you can visit as much as you can. You... more travel advice

Try the smoothies and exotic fresh juices! - Phnom Penh

Try the smoothies and exotic fresh... Restaurants (3)

This small but excellent shop was recommended to me by a colleague who has lived and worked in Cambodia. Aware that my... more travel advice

Phnom Penh's A-hotel Hotels (1)

Hotel Cambodiana looks grand from afar. Inside, it looks fabulous as well. Its pastry shop offers the best goodies in... more travel advice

Things to Do (4)
See All Best foot massage ever

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Written Dec 10, 2009

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inside the Chan Chhaya (Palais Royal)

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Comments (8)

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ViajesdelMundo Sep 6, 2009 at 11:50 AM

Due to so much of my Asian trvl being in the 70s, I never got to Cambodia, but hv always wanted to. Some interesting tips!
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Dester Jun 19, 2009 at 6:56 AM

Enjoying Your pages, but those pedicures arent just for you ladies are they?
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hopang Jan 30, 2009 at 1:24 AM

Interesting Phnom Penh travel page. Independence Monument looks great. Your restaurant tips are excellent. Thanks for sharing. ~ho & Pang
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globetrott Dec 26, 2008 at 9:53 PM

an interesting page about an area that is totally missing on my map still ;-((
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timada Sep 16, 2008 at 11:48 PM

Beauty treatments , relaxation , massage .....paradise ? Everything looks very nice in your pictures ! :-)
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mvtouring Apr 6, 2008 at 10:20 PM

Loved the way you wrote about Phnom Penh and had to laugh about the tea ;-)
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Toshioohsako Feb 5, 2008 at 9:22 AM

Very interesting nice Phnom Pehn pages. It must be an exciting place.
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SLLiew Feb 1, 2008 at 11:56 PM

A wonderful page of Phnom Penh. I enjoyed the river promenade but the past horrors are still chilling.