The capital and largest city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, can easily fill any traveler's agenda for a couple of days. I have been visiting her twice and I like it.
The city is not spectacular but it has its attractions: A nice and pleasant walk across the huge Tonle Sap River, several interesting temples, markets galore, good food at a good price and some historical sites in the recent era of the Khmer Rouge to leave you encouragement and give time for reflection to anyone who wants some interest for them.
10 ideas to visit Phnom Penh
1) Visit the Grand Palace and the Silver Pagoda
Phnom Penh was declared capital of the Khmer (or Khmer) Empire in 1430 d. C., some years after Angkor Wat was devastated by troops of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, and since then the Cambodian kings settled there. In 1867, and probably cornered by Siam and France, King Norodom asked France to join his protectardo and Cambodia became part of French Indochina. It is somewhat curious that was only 3 years after becoming part of France that the king send his Palace building. It is an interesting visit. A bit like the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok but more modest.
Schedules and prices: Open from 8 to 11h and 14 to 17h. $ 6.5 input.
2) Walking around the Preah Sisowath Avenue
My favorite area of the city. The Preah Sisowath (or Riverside) is the most important avenue of the city. Tour the huge Tonle Sap River and is a pleasant walk at any time of day, especially in the evening when the invading Cambodians to enjoy it. On the avenue there are many restaurants, massage shops and hotels. It is the tourist area of Phnom Penh.
3) horrified by the atrocities of the S-21 Museum
As I mentioned in point 1, Cambodia was a French colony. In 1953 it regained its independence. In 1975 Khmer Rouge came to power and depopulated the city sending most of its inhabitants work in the fields, in one of his crazy communist measures that brought the most extreme famine that had prevailed in the country. Between 75 and 79, it is estimated that some two million people died in Cambodia because of the mass murder, starvation, disease and forced labor. Cambodia lost between 20 and 25% of its population during the Khmer Rouge regime. These concentrated on eliminating mostly intellectuals and professionals of all kinds as well as ethnic minorities in one of the biggest genocides of the twentieth century. This unfortunate period in recent history Cambodia has left some of the most stunning places that one can visit around Cambodia and probably in all of Southeast Asia.
Museum-S-21
One of those places is the S-21 Museum. This museum is an old school that the Khmer Rouge turned into a prison and torture center was renamed the S-21. It is estimated that between 1975 and 1978 more than 17,000 people passed through this prison where interrogators and drew them confessions (the most false) based on torture before being shipped to the death camps. Khmer had a thorough check of those who entered the S-21. We took pictures and made reports of them all. Many of these photos you can see in the museum walls. In them you will see men and women of all ages, even children and even babies. Next to the museum of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the Vietnam War, this is surely the most impressive museum I've visited in Asia.
Schedules and prices: They open 8-1: 307H. $ 2 entry.
4) Reflect on Killing Fields
After visiting the S-21, the same output of the museum you will find tuk tuks that will take you to the Killing Fields by about 12-15 $. Worth going to complement the look. The extermination camps were a center 15 km from Phnom Penh where they took prisoners from S-21 to kill them. In this field the bodies of about 9,000 people in 130 mass graves were found. I recommend taking the audio guide that will offer you (is in Castilian) as well worth listening all. It's fairly well mounted.
In the Killing fields decks you will see mass graves, a small museum and a memorial in which you can see the bones of many of the victims.
Schedules and prices: They open 8-1: 307H. $ 5 entry.
5) Up to Wat Phnom
Schedules and prices: They open during the day. $ 1 entry.
6) Dinner at the Night Market (Night Market)
7) Take pictures of photogenic Central Market
8) Getting lost in the Russian Market
9) Understanding the National Museum
Schedules and prices: Open from 8 to 17h. $ 5 entry.
10) Enjoy the rich Cambodian food
If you bring time abroad and prefer tapas with a glass of wine or sangria, I recommend the Spanish and Latin The Latin Quarter restaurant. I was the last day and I enjoyed it. Now wearing a chef de León.
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