Fast
resuming its former status as the Pearl of Asia. this French Colonial
city has one of the most
beautiful waterfronts in Asia. The mighty Mekong meets the Tonle Sap
and Bassac Rivers here.
Phnom Penh is the
commercial Heart of Cambodia. With over a million population and in
area about the same size as my home city Southampton England, it
is not a big city.
Those coming to visit will find Phnom Penh a very colourful
and enjoyable place to spend a few days.
Silver Pagoda
Independence
Monument
National Museum
The low
rise architecture on Phnom Penh is refreshingly different to other
major cities in the region.
The wide boulevards with immaculate parks, the French colonial
architecture and palm fringed Sissowath quay makes one think of the
Cote d' Azure in the south of France as it may have been thirty or
forty years ago.
Fishing boat
Tonle Sap & Mekong
Elephant; Sissowath Quay
Faded French Architecture
Tonle Sap Sunrise
Underlying
this is Phnom Penh's Buddhist culture with Wat Phnom as the religious
focal point.
The grand Royal Palace with its Silver Pagoda and the
street life is as exotic as anything in the far east.
The
Killing Fields and Toul Sleng S21 Extermination Camp are two
attractions which are worth seeing to gain an idea of the horrors of
Cambodia in the Pol Pot Years 1975 to 1980.
The pseudo
communist Pol Pot era saw 2 million people exterminated; or die of
disease; exhaustion or war.
Here are
photos taken in Cheung Ex; the Killing Fields and S21: the Toul Sleng
Prison.
An S21
cell
Being led to the
Slaughter
Photos of the dead
Victim
of a revolution
Killing Fields Memorial Skulls in
Killing Fields Stupa
Here are a few of our favourite
hotels and eating places.
Bright Lotus: immaculate small guest
house near to the National Museum and adjoining the
Rising Sun a/c double $15
Rising Sun:
20 St 178 Australian run pub with good British style ambiance &
grub. Even has HP sauce and Marmite sarnies!
California 2 : American
run bar and GH on Sissowath Quay; good rooms some with waterfront
views, a/c double $20
Anise Hotel
A new small boutique hotel opened in
January 2007spacuis and attractive rooms with full range of facilities rooms
$20 to $30
Tonle Sap Hotel.
St 106 A stones throw from the quay; this friendly place has good value
rooms; (not restaurant; but there is a nice Thai Cafe on the Corner for
breakfast a/c double $10-$15
FCC Cambodia: just about
the best views on Sissowath in a charming colonial style building. The
food is pricey; but its worth it just for the quality and impressive
photo gallery.
Royal Highness;
Nr Wat Ounalom; not as grand as the name suggests; but its a very
friendly and helpful . Diamond Guest House across
the road does good western breakfasts. a/c doubles $10
River House
Lounge: Upmarket restaurant and nightclub on Sissowath Quay.
Regular live bands and jazz on Sundays; classy with great river views.
Dara Raksmey
Hotel. Friendly if slightly eccentric small hotel with a loyal
expat following. a/c double rooms $15.
Garden Centre
Cafe 23 St 57 . Cool shady outdoor dining in a topical garden
setting with pools and fountains. known for Sunday Roast dinners.
The
Killing Fields and Toul Sleng S21 Extermination Camp are two
attractions which are worth seeing to gain an idea of the horrors of
Cambodia in the Pol Pot Years 1975 to 1980. 
