What to do In Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is dusty, dirty and only local can understand their traffic system. If its raining heavily you definitely cant walk on the street since they don't have drainage and its flooded the road. Their street were numbered which i find out easy to follow moreover we almost walking to everywhere in Phnom Penh. All the places of interest are within 1-2km radius from the city centre. 

In my opinion, nothing much you can do in Phnom Penh since all the temples concentrated in Siem Reap. We've been visiting:

1. Independent Monument

2. Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda

~ When we reach there, we've been told that we can only visit silver pagoda since royal palace closed and only re-open next year. They didn't stated the reason why. Visitor are required to wear proper clothes to enter. 

 (Royal Palace taken from outside)

(Royal palace at night)

 (inside silver pagoda)

3. National Museum

~ If you first touch down in Phnom Penh and heading to Siem Reap next, national museum is a good start. It served as introductory to Cambodian temples. If you coming from siem reap, skip this since you already see's all. 

(love the architecture,pic are allowed in this area but not inside museum)

4. Genocide Museum

~ This is by far the most interesting eerie place i have been to in my life. This school turn prison during khmer rouge regime and now museum for us all to see what they did to khmer people. I got goose bump the whole time im in there and still have it every time i think about it. My prayers goes to all the victim of khmer rouge. 

 (picture of every suspect taken)

 (bed where they've been tortured)

 (wooden cell)

(brick cell)

 (after the died from torture)

(survivor)

(the bad guys)

5. Killing field 

~ This where the mass grave have been found. 

(killing tools)

After my visit to both genocide and killing field, i stop by to street vendor selling books and grab this 2 books which claim to be famous. Its a story by khmer victims itselves. 

6. Riverfront

~ If you looking for proper and happening place to eat, riverfront is the place. They have lot of bars and few clubs here. We have our dinner almost every night at this area and it was quite good. 

 (My bf love the Khmer curry which is a little too sweet for me)

(Amok)

7. Market

~ Phnom Penh have a lot of market and we manage to check few of them. Russian market sells clothes, shoes, bags and souvenirs. As a tourist i like this place better than other market because of the souvenir. Central market sells everyday need, from clothes, raw material, fishes etc but not so much souvenir. There's a lot of fake designer clothes and bags sold here. Olympic market is more like a wholesaler market, focusing on clothes. 

8. Silk Island

~ Small weaving village with nothing much to do. This place can be interesting if you never experience SE Asia country life. For me its look similar to my hometown where i grew up. We took ferry which the villagers use to travel from the island to mainland before heading to Phnom Penh. 

 (Patricia learn to weave)

 (so pretty)

 (similar to malay house)

(beach near village)

Cambodia ~ Siem Reap

Cambodia is a poor and under development country. I never bother to get to know Cambodia before and quite shocked when i see the small town of Siem Reap. In my opinion, my hometown at Sg Besar is so much better.

Malaysian didn't need visa to go to Cambodia, so while the french filling in the form n get visa on arrival i just stand at the corner and look after luggage. :) http://embassyofcambodia-malaysia.org/consular-services. The application process was quite fast, just make sure you have all the document.

(Arrival & departure card)

(Visa on arrival application)

When we arrived in Siem Reap we've been picked up by hotel tuk-tuk. We stay at Boutique Cambo hotel (http://www.boutiquecambo.com/) for 5D4N. Its a small but a very nice hotel. Service was superb, food was good and they even have swimming pool for a cool dip after hot day outside. They also provide free wifi and there are 2 pc for you to use at the lobby. The staff are very friendly and they also provide free tuk-tuk ride anywhere you want to go in Siem Reap town.

Tuk-tuk can accommodate up to 4 person at one time. If you start your day walking but decide to end it taking a tuk-tuk, just make sure you didn't pay more than USD3.

Our first day in Siem Reap was more relax. No temples involve and we just walk around and checking the place. We went to Angkor national museum to get a kick start on the history and introduction to the temples. Please take not that you not allowed to take picture inside Cambodian museums, both in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. For what reason, i don't really know.

We went to night market right after sunset but didn't buy anything since we just arrived. Old market area are famous for souvenirs and there's also another night market which seems new across the river. Its called Siem Reap cultural night market. Things practically cheap but its all depends on how good your bargaining technique. 

(Old market area)

 (Siem reap art center)

(view from the river)

(row of shops)

Our hotel staff suggest we go for cultural dinner after shopping which start around 6.30pm to 8.30pm. We immediately agree since its a buffet dinner and only USD12 per person. When we arrived to Koulen Restaurant, that place already full with tourist. Food was varied from western, khmer, japanese and chinese food. 

Another thing that we did in Siem Reap was river cruise along Tonle Sap river to nearby floating village. I don't really recommend this trip since its expensive and im not sure if we actually see all. We pay USD20 each for one boat. Trip was schedule for 2 hours but i think we did less than that. We took a boat ride to the floating village which people actually live on a boat. they depends on the river for their everyday life. Clean water and electricity are not available. We've been told that everybody here have tv and they use battery as a power. On this trip they took us to crocodile farm and fish farm. They have quite a lot of crocodile but just one place for all the fish. But again, i didn't think our driver is really honest showing the places. You can also purchase crocodile leather bag in cambodia and it quite famous here. 

 (Floating house next to the main road)

 (Jetty)

 (our boat driver :D)

The rest of our night in Siem Reap was spent around night market and pub street. Nothing much you can do here except this 2 place. Food at pub street wasn't so bad. Famous khmer food including Amok and spring rolls. Amok taste similar to our masak lemak cili api and there's another version which taste similar to chicken rendang but both are not spicy. You can expect french food too and baguette can be found everywhere since Cambodia was once under french colonies.