Overview
** PHENOM PENH, CAMBODIA TOURS **
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Phenom Penh is heavily rich in culture! I am in love with seeing new countries, learning about different cultures, and embracing new people. This is one of the reasons I wanted to travel here. There are many different temples to see and even just driving around in a tuk-tuk you can see the immense culture and the history of the country all around you. The Royal Palace is a cool place to visit and costs $10. If the blue flag is raised that means the current king is staying there, which I think is really cool he stays there from time to time. Within the Royal Palace, you are able to see art, statues, temples, previous royalty costumes, swords, jewelry and so much more. You can get a guided tour for an extra $5. You also get free entry to The Silver Pagoda. This place houses some other cultural artifacts of the royal families and the city. It’s named for the floor being completely made of Silver. If you choose to visit here or any other temples do note that both men and women have to cover your shoulders and knees out of respect and per their religious beliefs. Also, you cannot wear scarves in the Royal Palace and some areas are unable to be photographed. You also have to take your shoes off in the Royal Palace and when visiting temples. Another cool temple to see that is not very far from the Royal Palace is Wat Phnom pagoda that cost $1. very beautiful and there are sometimes a few monkeys around. I also took a tuk-tuk ride around the city for about 45 minutes which only costs me $5. The tuk-tuk driver was literally my tour guide and just drove me around showing me different cultural buildings and sightings as he gave me the history of it all. he even stopped so I could take photographs or walk around certain areas. There are many other places to visit here that are great to learn more about Cambodia, it’s culture and history.
I’ve visited Phnom Penh twice. My first visit was as a student on a visa run and I had a number of assignments due. Once that was done and out of the way I spent a few days exploring the city. My second trip was as a digital nomad, exploring by day and working online by night. Phnom Penh is excellent as a digital nomad. Look no further than Outpost Cambodia if you need a place to work and a sense of community. It’s a co working and co living space in a penthouse overlooking the river. I spent many marvelous afternoons there and am still friends with the people I met at Outpost to this day.
If your trip doesn’t involve work then here’s a list of things not to miss:
1. The Genocide Museum and Killing Fields trip. Try to do both trips in one day. There are tour companies that sell this trip as a package. This experience will educate you on Cambodia’s history and give you an understanding of the challenges that Cambodia is overcoming. This was the most life changing travel experience to date. And after this experience I have a deeper appreciation for the country.
2. The Royal Palace. Be sure to hire a guide for this experience or else you won’t get much out of it. It’s easy to find a guide as they are standing at the entrance to the Palace and they don’t mind if you group up with strangers and split the cost between each other. You might be lucky enough to spot some monks at the palace and they may even ask YOU for a pic :)
3. The night market. The market itself might be a good place to buy some items in Asia that might fit non Asians. I struggled for years to find shoes that fit me but that was not a challenge here. There are also food stalls where you can buy a meal and sit down and have a pic nic. You may find that some kids or families may come up to you and ask for food, and the food is really cheap so it’s an opportunity to share a meal or buy a family in need some food.
Safety Tips:
Be vigilant at all times and use an app called PassApp for your transformation in Phnom Penh. The tuk-tuk drivers roaming about are relentless! PassApp has a fixed fee so no matter what, you know that you are not going to be taken advantage of. Always keep an eye on your belongings and try not to take tuk-tuks too late at night.
I hope that you find this information useful and I’d like to wish you an amazing stay in Cambodia.
When I travelled to Phnom Penh (the capital of Cambodia), I visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. It is notorious for being the home of the many crimes of the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge was the political party for one of the worst mass killings of the 20th century. What is surprising is that the events that took place occurred less than 50 years ago, so the history behind this genocide is still quite fresh to an extent. The museum itself is based on the prisons where innocent men, women and children (including babies) were held as captives and killed. I recommend that you visit the museum if you truly want to learn about one of the most (if not the most) important events in Cambodia’s history. Definitely pay the few extra bucks for the headphones, as it makes the self-guided tour more interesting. But be warned: the experience may be distressing and disturbing for visitors. During the self-guided tour, the narrator took you back in time and painted a vivid and graphic picture of these terrible events. I am myself am not generally an emotional person, but the experience really hit me. I felt the pain and the suffering of walking around the museum examining the sites, monuments, prisons, paintings, photos and lots more. Definitely worth visiting. It is a real shame that many people (especially those of the West) are not aware the Khmer Rouge. Personally, I hadn’t heard of this until I visited Cambodia
Stop over here on my way to Siem Reap. Probably won’t be back. I stayed a the mad monkey which was a nice hostel. Very safe nice pool and facilities. Centrally located. While in phenom penh make it a point to visit the killing fields. It will make you appreciate Cambodia so much more and understand what they really went through.
Phnom Penh in Cambodia is one of the most rich countries in terms of modern history. Having experienced a catastrophic ethic cleansing in the 70s, nearly three quarters of the population were wiped out. The effects of this genocide are still felt in the Cambodia’s capital today. For the history buff, Phnom Penh is the ideal way to start your trip in Cambodia.
For a three day excursion to the city, I recommend stating your tour at the Choeung Ek genocidal centre (The killing fields) which is about 30 minutes out of town. Having been to Auschwitz in Poland, I can earnestly say that the killing fields have been produced and maintained very well. You’ll be given a headset with survivors from the genocide talking you through the whole centre…it honestly feels like they are stood right beside you. To help you better understand the brutality of the Khmer Rouge, I would suggest following up this trip with the genocide museum. The second day around the city should be spent with somewhat more levity and the best way to see the city is via tuk tuk.(Remember to barter the price of the tuk tuk before you get in). Today, go to the Independence Monument and the Royal Palace and be sure to stop and eat some local fare. The Khmer curry is EXQUISITE and if you like the flavours used in Thai food, you will adore Cambodian food. Day three should be spent shopping and my advice is to head for the Russian market – unique and fun, it won’t let you down. Ultimately, Phnom Penh is a bustling and vibrant city and I learnt a vast amount in my time there.
TIPS:
– Whilst the day is safer, don’t be out on foot alone at night.
– Only take out with you exactly what you need. Keep valuables in concealed pockets and generally try not to look to flashy.
– Despite what people say, DO go out on a night out in Phnom Penh, it’s really fun.
– Be weary of scams involving children asking for money.