Phnom Penh

After the damage caused 45 years ago, Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, has been transformed into a bustling city. Tall buildings protrude along the well-known Mekong River, while cranes are visible throughout the city for the construction of even more tall buildings. There are several large shopping malls and hotel chains, as well as countless TukTuks waiting to take you from point A to point B.

History class

The Choeung Ek Killing Fields and the S21 Prison Museum are two of the most well-known Khmer Rouge remnants in Phnom Penh. Both leave a deep and sad impression on you after you visit them. Ideally, avoid scheduling them all on one day because you'll be handling a bit too much information.

 

Killing Fields of Choueng Ek

The Khmer Rouge used the killing fields as mass graves to brutally murder opponents of the Communist regime. Prisoners were blindfolded before being transported to the killing field and executed. I won't go into too much detail about the events because you'll have to see and hear for yourself during your visit. 

 

Visiting the Killing Fields of Choueng Ek
The simplest option is to hire a TukTuk driver to take you to the Killing Fields, whol will wait for you for about 2 hours before driving back. Expect to pay between $5 and $7.50 per person. The entrance fee to the Killing Fields is $6, which includes an audio tour.

 

The audio tour takes you past various points and explains the history of each one. You will hear survivors' and those who have lost a loved one's experiences (s). That was a very sad thought to have at the time.

 

Stupa

The stupa was constructed in honor of the victims. Many skeletons were examined by researchers in order to determine the cause of death. These skulls are displayed in the stupa to give visitors a better understanding of the Khmer Rouge's brutal methods.

 

I read the book 'First They Killed My Father' before visiting Cambodia, and I can highly recommend you to do the same to prepare for your visit to the country. 

S21 Prison museum

The Khmer Rouge turned a school building into a prison. The S21 Prison Museum takes you back in time to see how prisoners were treated.

 

Admission is $5, with an additional $5 for an audio guide. Two audio tours about such events in one day is a bit much for me, so I recommend scheduling your visit to the museum for another day. I had the opportunity to speak with two Khmer Rouge survivors at the prison. Since the events occurred 40-45 years ago, there are still many Cambodians who remember the Genocide.

 

The sports field in the former schoolyard was the most impressive to me. The Khmer Rouge army had turned it into a facility where prisoners were submerged in water with their heads.

Other highlights in Phnom Penh

After 2 sad, intense sights, it's time to get to know the other side of Phnom Penh

  1. Boat ride on the famous Mekong River.
    Particularly fun to do in the evening to see the city light up. A walk along the mekong river is also no fun to do!

  2. Visiting the royal palace
    To be combined with the silver pagoda made of some 5,000 silver stones.

  3. Night market
    The night market, which is only open on weekends, is primarily aimed at tourists, as it is in Thailand and Vietnam. There are numerous souvenirs, clothing, and street food options.

Local kitchen

This dessert made of cucumber, frozen rice, and condensed milk is the ideal way to end a street food meal. A street food stall around the corner from Phsar Tapang Thmey Pharmacy prepares this delicious dessert for you.

 

Khmer Family Dinner

I was introduced to some Cambodian curries during my stay at the Mad Monkey Hostel (see below): Khmer Red Curry (Somlar Kari Saek Mouan), fish curry (Amok), and Khmer Green Curry (Num Pra Chok).

Where to stay?

I discovered the Mad Monkey hostel chain for the first time during my trip through Southeast Asia. Mad Monkey hostels can be found in Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Australia. It was marketed as a party hostel, but I can't say that it was that bad.

 

When some of the hostel's guests left for the pub crawl at 10:45 p.m., the bar abruptly closed (without any communication). There was music on the other nights, but it wasn't that loud. I slept soundly in the 12-bed dorm here while wearing earplugs.

 

The Mad Monkey hostel is very social, with a bar (which also serves as a restaurant) and a swimming pool. Every night, they plan an activity for themselves, ranging from a family dinner to a pub crawl. Highly recommended!

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