Phnom Penh and its surroundings

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the vibrant bustling capital of Cambodia. Situated at the confluence of three rivers, the mighty Mekong, the Bassac and the great Tonle Sap, what was once considered the ‘Gem’ of Indochina. It is located in the southern heard of the country and fully surrounded by the Kandal Province. The municipality consists of the typical plain wet area for Cambodia, covering rice fields and other agricultural plantations. The province also features three of the biggest rivers of the country the Tonle Bassac, the Tonle Sap and the mighty Mekong. It is also one of the gate ways to Cambodia and the city can be reached by various international flights from all around the world.

The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace, 19th century with French technology and the two magnificent pagodas in the Palace Grounds, the Silver Pagoda and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, are among the few public buildings in Phnom Penh really worth seeing, Wat Phnom Temple is on a hill at the center of a small park, Wat Ounalom -one of the Phnom Penh’s five original monasteries (1422), The Toul Sleng Genocidal Museum was a school converted into Cambodia’s most important prison in 1975 are the main places to visit.

The Independence Monument, was built in 1958 to Sybilles Cambodian Independence Day after winning back their independence from the French protectorate on the 9th of November 1953, The Choeung Ek Killing Fields are 15 km from Central Phnom Penh – mass graves containing 8,895 bodies were discovered at Choeung Ek after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime between 1975 and 1979 are also a must places to visit. For those who loves to buy souvenir, Tuol Tompong Market (Russian market) is the best place in town for souvenir shopping, having a large range of real and fake antiquities, miniature Buddhas, silk, silver jewelry, gems, video, ganja and a host of other goodies. It’s well worth popping in for a browse. Orussey Market is much more geared towards locals; hence we can find huge array of foodstuffs is on offer including the wet market with fresh meat, poultry and seafood. Other items in abundance include house ware, hardware and electronic goods.

Sisowath Quay or Riverside

Sisowath Quay or Riverside is an attractive boulevard running along the banks of the Mekong and Tonle Sap. The built-up side of the street is home to cafés and shops and the better class of bar, and is popular with tourists and expat Westerners prepared to run its gauntlet of touts selling drugs, girls and tuk tuk rides.