Phnom Penh

The capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, once considered Pearl of Asia - one of the most beautiful cities in Southeast Asia, now is more developing sizeable, largely. The stunning French-designed city mixing with the modern architecture of new building in Phnom Penh feature its attraction. Moreover, the Golden Pagoda, the Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace,… have a lot more to offer travellers than a quick, depressing swing through Toul Sleng Genocide museum and a run out to the Killing Fields.

Phnom Penh was establised at the crossroads of the Tonle Sap Lake, the Bassac river and Mekong river. The system of rivers has featured the breathtaking city, so it was pretty nice to relax as well see Phnom Penh from the water. The best way to soak up the beauty of the river is to take an evening boat cruise on the river, watch the sunset, eat some disks from the food stall outside. The price for each boat cruise is really cheap (you can pay 22 USD for 1.5 hours). What a pretty nice to relax and see Phnom Penh from the water!

As being gifted by nature, the weather in Phnom Penh is favourable, nearly similar to the one of the southern Vietnam with hot climate year round, a raining season and a dry season.     

The Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda have witnessed periods of history and stored historic remnants in the city. You are a nostalgic man about the old days, you will be interested in those places. The palace was built over a century ago. According to the local, it serves as the residence of the Cambodian King and his family, foreign dignitaries, as a venue for the performance of court ceremony and ritual and as a symbol of the Kingdom. From the outsite, the wall sculpted and the golden spired Chanchhaya pavilion stand against the riverfront of Mekong river.

Inside the Royal Palace, streets sound silent, various Royal buildings sit like islands up growing from the tranquil and from the trimmed tropical garden. Except for the area of royal residence, the Khemarin Palace, most of the Palace grounds and Silver Pagoda are opened to the public. Admission fee is about $3/person.

The Silver Pagoda is next to the Royal Palace and separated from each other by a wall. The proper name of the pagoda is Wat Preah Keo Morokat, meaning “The Temple of the Emerald Buddha” which was changed into the Silver Pagoda after the solid silver tiled floor that adorns the temple building. The Silver Pagoda is a compound of buildings like several structures and gardens, the primary building being the temple Wat Preah Keo Morokat and other structures including a library, various stupas, shrines, monuments, minor buildings and the galleries of the Reamker.

The Pagoda is considered as a sanctuary and popular to almost people know Cambodia, because the King came here and saw monks to listen their sermons. Ceremonies are also performed here and historical objects including the Emerald Buddha. Visiting the pagoda, you can enjoy quiet time in the pagoda compound including Wat Preah Keo Morokat – the Temple of Emerald Buddha, Ramayana Frescoes – the interior of the pagoda compound walls, Dhammasala – open hall for Buddhists, Keong Preah Bath – Shrine containing Buddha footprints, the library, Phnom Mondop – artificial hill, statue of HM King Norodom – equestrian statue of the King Norodom, Stupa of HM King Ang Doung…  

Get out of the Silver Pagoda and its compound, you do not forget to reach to the Killing Fields, Cheung Ek. Unlike the visiting to other places in Phnom Penh, you will experience the hard-to-say feeling about the place of mass graves and seeing the devastation. You can learn a lot and be interested in history and where societies come from.

Another experience in Toul Sleng, where there is torture prison makes travelers affecting. Nearby is the Russian Market, a mazelike complex and the best place in town to buy fairly-priced souvenirs and handicrafts.
Traveling Phnom Penh, if you are not much impressed by food, do not be surprised. However, street food like fried bananas are simple enough to always be fresh and reliably good. In the morning, there are plenty of these stands near the Independence Monument, as well as noodle stands frying up Khmer-style noodles, vegetables, meat and a fried egg. Be a true Cambodian when you have breakfast.

(www.cambodiatours.com)