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| Yoga Phnom Penh |
A booming city at present with a difficult past moving towards an unknown future, Phnom Penh is one destination that has left us intrigued and amazed in every way possible. A colorful scene of monks hopping on the back of the motorbikes, coupled with beautiful French architecture and markets selling almost anything for tourists and locals alike, make the Cambodian capital creates its own set of sights and sounds that you would normally not experience in other places.
When you are new to the place, it might not be that easy to transition, considering the heat of the sun on most ordinary days and the congestion and the dust whirling around the streets, unless you are adept to such situations. But when you get used to the place, and you have ticked off every possible attraction to see here, you could begin to explore the hidden treasures that await you in the capital.
Though our stay in Phnom Penh was shortened, we still got to experience those buildings left during the French colonial years, and socialized, charming cafes that calm our senses. By sunset, street-life by the riverfront was turned on with a long line of buzzing bars and clubs that just encourage people to dance the night away. When your times to come over, absorb the excitement in one of Asia's must-go cities.
How to Get There
For Philippine residents, no visa is required upon entry to Cambodia. For tourists from other countries, you may want to check with your immigration on visa requirements.- By Air. You can fly in directly to Phnom Penh, Cambodia or via a connecting flight.
- By Land. From Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok or other province from Cambodia, buses are available at almost any time of every day. From Ho Chi Minh, the trip takes around 6 to 7 hours including a stopover at the border where you will be met with immigration.
Where to Stay
- By the River Front. Our trip to Phnom Penh may not be as lengthy as we wanted, but based on observations and small talks with the people around, Sisowath Quay (also known as the river front) is a great place to reside especially for backpackers and budget travelers. As you leave from one of the hotels of your choice around, you will be greeted with a ton of restaurants, bars, and lively action of mingling with locals and tourists from almost every corner of the planet. The river itself is already an attraction because of the scenes you experience, day or night.
What to Do
- Walk through Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. One does not simply go into Cambodia and leave without having the slightest knowledge of the nation's dark history. What was once a public school was converted to a security prison (known at the time as S-21) from 1975 to 1979 to house whom the Khmer Rouge considered as "enemies of the state" during the reign of Pol Pot, including their families and the babies who are not even old enough to speak for themselves. Around 20,000 people were kept under very brutal conditions and most of them eventually killed, tortured and brought to one of the 300 mass graves located around the country, one of which is Choeung Ek. This reign of terror is well documented inside the museum, where every possible inhumane act was done, with testimonies coming from the victims, the survivors, and the soldiers. Admission to the museum is US$3; a guided tour may not be necessary.
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| A public school turned prison/execution center, and now a Genocide Museum |
- Show respect at the Killing Fields in Choeung Ek. The lives that were lost and stolen in Tuol Sleng were nothing in comparison to the country as a whole. About a fourth of the Cambodian population - or about 2 million people - was instantly wiped out in a span of just four years. The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek is known as the site of mass graves for these victims - men, women and children - who were killed for whatever reasons. The sight of the skulls and bones, the shreds of clothing these victims wore, the bone fragments that are often visible by the naked eye, bring the events of those years closer to you as you reflect on such atrocities these fellow human beings can do to each other. Such a horrific loss of humanity was commemorated in a Buddhist Stupa, storing human skulls and bones. The site is a 40 minute ride from the city via taxi (cost for the tour may be negotiated). Admission fee to the site is US$3 with a guided audio tour that costs another US$3 to appreciate the place more. Include your tour of the site with the Genocide Museum and you are in for a very hard hitting and depressing lesson on human destruction and atrocity.
- Go on a city tour with a Tuk Tuk. The Cambodian taxi is a motorbike that carries at least 4-6 people. While getting the right price, you get to move around the streets of Phnom Penh and see famous landmarks, monuments and pagodas. Make sure to include Yoga Phnom Penh, Independence Monument, the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum. Prepare your admission fees on the museum and be in proper attire upon entering religious places and temples. A day around the capital with the tuk tuk is good enough, and if you're lucky like us to have a friendly and informative tour guide, everything is just worth the price and time.
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| Tuk Tuk. Gotta love this mode of transportation. |
- Markets a plenty. There are a ton of markets in Phnom Penh that are open with a wide array of items for sale that you could end up getting more for less with "proper" bargaining with the vendors. Any idea what they sell? Practically almost anything from designer goods that you can't buy back home because of the ridiculous mark-up on overseas shipping to souvenir items that are good for your wallets. While haggling is common among tourists and backpackers, always remember to show respect to the way of life of these people and engage in them peacefully.
- Take a stroll around Sisowath Quay. Morning, afternoon, evening. The place always seems to be crowded with people walking, chilling, having fun, just being themselves. This famous river front boasts bars, restaurants, elegant coffee shops, markets, you name it. The only thing that can make walking around here bad for you is if you don't make a lot of friends and enjoy the best of Phnom Penh in one buzzing street.
Where to Go Next
- Siem Reap. A Cambodian expedition is never complete without stepping foot on the world's largest religious building and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat, and exploring the little city with a surprisingly colorful nightlife and delicious food.
- Elsewhere in Cambodia. While we have reserved our tour on other Cambodian provinces, places like Sihanoukville and Battambang are highly suggested based on reviewers by tourists.