PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA

29 - 31 December 2017

We checked out from Angkor Palace Resort, after breakfast, at 7.30am to Phnom Penh, capital city of Cambodia, a distance of 320 km, five hours journey from SiemReap.

SOKHA PHNOM PENH HOTEL

It was in an air conditioned car with driver, the road was fairly good, though not an expressway and reached 5-star SOKHA Hotel at 1 pm. We checked to 17th floor two rooms and view from the hotel is fantastic. We could see the four small rivers of Mekong joining, (Sangama) from hotel window. creek and the downtown city on the other side of the creek. There was only bridge connecting the two sides, traffic was too much at peak hours.

ROYAL PALACE OF CAMBODIA

We had lunch at an Indian vegetarian restaurant (LaRose), and proceeded to visit Royal Palace of Cambodia and Silver Pagoda.

The Royal Palace of Phnom Penh built around 1860 in a Khmer Architectural style, The entire complex is walled and certain parts are not open to public as the Royal family lives in the palace.

Inside the complex of the Royal Palace, although separated by a wall, the Silver Pagoda, located the formal name Wat Preah Keo, translated means the The temple of the Emerald Buddha.

After spending some time, we were back in the hotel for night's rest.

Next day, 30th Dec., after breakfast at the hotel, we left with guide Mr Vuthi,  a Cambodian, to National Museum in the city. We organized and displayed idols, photos old paintings, damaged stone carvings taking memories to olden and golden days of Cambodia.

NATIONAL MUSEUM

We left from there to Killing fields of notorious Khmer Rouge Regime of Pol Pot during 1975 - 1979, when at least 2 to 3 million  people are believed to be tortured and killed.

KILLING FIELDS OF CAMBODIA

Back to city for lunch, visited Russian market, Local market for some small gift items, then also visited biggest Shopping Mall, Euen.

Back to National Museum for Cambodian Traditional Dance show at 7 pm (see a separate blog),for an hour. After the show, we were back in the hotel for night's stay.

TRADITIONAL CAMBODIAN DANCE SHOW

Next morning after an early breakfast at 7 am, checked out from the hotel, traveled to Siem Reap, a distance of 320 km, reached airport at 1 pm to catch AirAsia flight to KualaLumpur and to Bengaluru, thus ending seven trip to Cambodia.

posted Friday 12th Jan. 2018