Phnom Penh Things to Do Tips by balhannah

The Royal Palace Royal Palace Review

You really shouldn't miss this, it is just beautiful.

The Royal palace was built in 1866, as the residence of the King of Cambodia, his family and foreign dignitaries. It is the home of the current King...... King Norodom Sihamoni.

The Royal Palace complex and attached 'Silver Pagoda' compound consist of several buildings, and beautifully landscaped gardens all located within walled grounds overlooking a riverfront park.

In 1863, a temporary wooden Palace was constructed a bit north of the current Palace site in Phnom Penh. Many of the buildings of the Royal Palace, were constructed using traditional Khmer architectural style but also incorporated European features and design as well. One from this period is the Napoleon Pavilion which was a gift from France in 1876.

King Sisowath (1904-1927) made several major contributions to the current Royal Palace.

From the time of the coup in 1970 when Cambodia became a republic, through the Khmer Rouge regime, and the communist regime of the 80s, until 1993 when the Monarchy was restored, the Royal Palace alternately served as a museum and was closed.
During the Khmer Rouge regime, former King Sihanouk and his family resided and were held as prisoners in the Palace.
In the mid-90s, many of the Palace buildings were restored and refurbished.

Except for the area of the actual Royal residence, the Khemarin Palace, most of the Palace grounds and Silver Pagoda are open to the public.

Enter from the gate on Sothearos Blvd about 100 meters north of Street 240.
Guide pamphlets and tour guides are available near the admission booth.
Multi-lingual tour guides available.

Leave yourself plenty of time to look around, I took heaps of photo's here.

It is only open from 7.30 to 11.00am and 2.00 to 5.00pm.
Admission is $6.50
There are EXTRA charges for CAMERA & VIDEO CAMERA.
The Palace grounds are closed during official functions.

Directions: Enter from the gate on Sothearos Blvd about 100 meters north of Street 240.

Website: http://www.canbypublications.com/phnompenh/pproyalpalace.htm -

National Museum National Museum Review

The museum is an eye-catching structure, and is the country's leading historical and archaeological museum. The Museum buildings are inspired by Khmer temple architecture, were constructed between 1917 and 1924, and are a Rust Red colour, very attractive looking.

Inside is one of the world's largest collections of Khmer art, including sculpture, ceramics, and lots more. The Museum’s collection includes over 14,000 items, from prehistoric times to periods before, during, and after the Khmer Empire.
There is also a collection of important Buddhist and Hindu sculpture.

Pieces date back to the 6th century. I found this museum to be very good and interesting, and should be on your places to visit list.

PHOTOGRAPHY IS ONLY ALLOWED IN THE COURT AREA.

OPEN 8 - 5PM DAILY Closed for lunch

ADMISSION IN 2008 was .....$3.00 per person.

Address: Between the 178. and the 184., in the 13th road

Directions: It's right by the Royal Palace.

visit the Central market Central Market - Psah Thmay Review

The Central market is in a large ART DECO building.

There are heaps and heaps of stalls, inside and surrounding the market, where I think you could find virtually everything, including, gold shops, money changers, electronic shops, & more.....
You can buy a Khmer scarf from here if you wish.

All roads seem to lead here, and it is very busy. I thought the items that I bought here, were very reasonably priced. These were a couple a pair of shoes and some nice bags.

WELL WORTH A BROWSE AROUND!

Address: Kampuchea Krom

Directions: Cross with Monivong Blvd.

genocide museum Tuol Sleng Museum Review

Prior to 1975, Toul Sleng was a high school. When the Khmer Rouge came into power, it was converted into the S-21 prison and interrogation facility.

Inmates at this prison were held in tiny brick cubicles and systematically tortured, sometimes over a period of months, to extract the desired ‘confessions,’ after which the victim was executed at the killing field of Choeung Ek just outside the city.
S-21 processed over 17,000 people, only less than a dozen survived.

Much has been left as it was, when the Khmer Rouge abandoned it in January 1979.
The prison kept extensive records, leaving thousands of photos of their victims, lots of these are displayed as well as paintings of torture at the prison done by a survivor of Toul Sleng.

The Tuol Sleng compound is now a museum, a memorial, a place to wander around and wonder how people could be so cruel to another human life!
It certainly is full of sad memories. Take your time to wander through the buildings and to look at the exhibits and reminisce.

Tuol Sleng in Khmer means "HILL OF THE POISONOUS TREES" or "STRYCHNINE HILL".
It was NOT a real long time ago that this all happpened...

ADMISSION IN 2008 was $2.00 per person.
OPEN 8AM-5PM -daily Closed for lunch

Address: Corner of Street 113 and Street 350

Wat ???

I don't know the name of this Wat, but we passed it on the way to the killing fields. If you wanted to see it, I'm sure your driver would know where it is, as it was different to any others I have seen. It had Swans everywhere, which I was told, was their symbol.

Wat Phnom Pagoda Monkey's Wat Phnom Review

Around the base of Wat Phnom, you will see a lot of wild monkeys. There are people there selling food for you to feed them with. They ask $1, you do not have to pay that, as the correct price is 2000 rial.

Address: Norodom Blvd.

Wat Phnom Pagoda Wat Phnom Review

This Pagoda is on a small hill. It marks the place where Phnom Penh began. The story is, that years ago, Lady Penh discovered 4 Buddha statues in a Koki tree floating in the Mekong River. In 1372, she built the small hill and placed a Shrine on it in which to place the artifacts she had found. The Temple has been reconstructed many times. The large Stupa contains the remains of King Ponhea Yat (1405-1476) and his Royal family. King Ponhea Yat constructed the city and named it Phnom Penh.
Inside the pagoda, music was being played. Admission to the grounds is $1 per person.

Address: Norodom Blvd.

Massage by the blind

I had a full massage by the blind. The young man was very nice and caring. I just want others to know, that I had a medium strength massage and ended with a bruise, it wasn''t relaxing at all. Next time, I would choose light, then maybe I would enjoy it. I would go back as its for a good cause, and it only cost $5, and I tipped the massuer as well.

monument Independence Monument Review

The monument was built in 1962 to celebrate Cambodia's independence from the foreign rule. It also serves as a monument to Cambodias war dead. It is the site for celebrations and services.

Address: At the intersection of Norodom and Sihanouk