My Travel Diary

Wat-Phnom Present Wat-Phnom Past Cambodia-Phnom Penh: Wat-Phnom is a small man-made hill twenty seven meters high in the middle of Phnom Penh. The legend of the founding of Wat Phnom is tied to the beginnings of Phnom Penh. The story is that in 1372 a old woman named Lady Penh (Daun Penh or Yeay Penh in Khmer) fished a floating Koki out of the Mekong River. She found four Buddha Statues in side that tree. Then she built a hill -Phnom and a small temple -Wat so now it named Wat-Phnom . Wat Phnom has a unique atmosphere and its surrounded by various big tresses, fresh air, mystics and elephant rides around the sites. Location: Intersection of Street 96 and Norodom Blvd. Entrance Fee: 1$/person.

Royal Palace - Phnom Penh-Cambodia The Royal Palace which was originally built in wood, and begun by King Norodom 1834-1904 when the capital moved to Phnom Penh in 1966. The Royal Palace servers as the residence of the King, a venue court ceremony and as a symbol of Kingdom. Most building were involvement by French and Thai designers and architects. You also can see some European styles building on the grounds. Attached to the Palace compound, the Silver Pagoda or Wat Preah Keo Morokat (in Khmer) is unique among pagodas-thousands of silver tiles which cover the floor of its interior. Addition, unlike most pagodas, no monk live at this pagoda. Location: Street, Sothearos (240) – (184). Entrance Fee: 3$/person, 2$/camera, 5$/video camera. Open Everyday: 7AM-11:30 AM to 2PM-5PM

Independence Monument-Phnom Penh-Cambodia-Kingdom of Wonder. The Independence Monument or Vimean Ekareach (in Khmer) was built in 1958 as a memorial to Cambodia’s war dead after the gaining of independence from France in 1953 and inaugurated by King Norodom. Renowned Cambodian architecture Van Molyvann was the architect of the monument which is patterned on a lotus flower bud, consists of five levels adorned with 100 Naga Heads and built in Angkorean Style. Location: The Independence Monument sit in the center of the traffic circle at the intersection of Norodom Blvd – Sihanouk Blvd.

The National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh is the only one largest museum in Cambodia. The national museum was built in 1917 in traditional Khmer styles and inaugurated by King Sisowat in 1920. There are over 5000 objects are on display included Angkorean Era statues, artistic artifacts and is the repository of Kingdom Cambodia’s cultural wealth. Location: Street, 178 & 13 next to Royal Palace. Entrance Fee: 3$ Open everyday from 8AM – 5 Pm.

Royal Palace at night-Phnom Penh Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia like any good Southeast Asian Countries.Phnom Penh was abandoned and reoccupied several times before it became Cambodia’s capital in 1867. At the junction of Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, in the southern part of the country. Phnom Penh offers plenty of attraction for the visitors-such as Royal Palace, National Museum, Wat Phnom, Toul Sleng…..and a host of ancient temples and natural spots easily reachable as day trips. Nowadays, over 90% of it street are paved and the violent crime which is notorious has been greatly curbed. Lovely river side a long Sisowath Quay area welcome more tourists every year to its trendy new hotels, bars, nightclubs and restaurants.