HK Independent Traveller Blog

Feb 2014 The Central Market (Phsar Thmei) in Phnom Penh is art deco style.  The site was originally a swamp. It collected rain water.  But it was converted to the current form in 1935-37.  The building is in the form of a cross with a dome in the central part.  All kinds of stuff were sold here.  Most popular ones are gold and silver, jewelery, souvenir, electronic appliances, mens and womens apparel.  Fruit stalls were limited.  If you wish to stock fruits, it's better to head to the Old Market at Street 13.  The market is opened from 7am to 5pm. Nearby are the highest buildings in Phnom Penh. Wat Phnom is situated at the only hill in Phnom Penh.  The first pagoda was erected in 1373 to house 4 budda statues discovered by a woman called Penh. You can reach the top (27m) in all different directions.  One side stand naga and lions, guarding the pagoda.  On another side, a clo...

Feb 2014 Our second day in Phnom Penh began at the Old Market (Phsar Chas) .  In fact, it's me alone as my partner was still sleeping. The market is located at Street 13, around 10 minutes walk from our hotel at Street 178.  It sells all kinds of food: fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, dry food, noodles, spices, etc.  The hygiene for meat was so so.  I saw sometimes dead hens under the stall, directly on the wet floor.  Fruits were fresh and good.  I bought mango, papaya and mangosteen . The morning in Phnom Penh was very busy.  Hawkers were moving their food carts around. Low tables and stools lining across.  All sorts of food, smoke.........White collars, blue collars and monks were busy for getting their breakfast in every corners.  Strangers could be connected with food quickly.   For the return I took the river side.  The sights, lights were very different from the day or night. It's much quie...

Cambodia's Independence Monument shines in the night.  It has been standing at the intersection of Norodom Blvd and Sihanouk Blvd since 1956, celebrating the independence from foreign rule.  After the end of the Cambodian War, it has an additional meaning to the country.   Hope that it will never go back to the darkness and brutal history. The design embodies key elements of the country: Naga heads (multi-headed cobras) and towers of the Angkor Wat . Next to the monument is another remarkable statue, shines but I don't know the name. Going a bit further stands the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument . The concrete monument commemorates the former alliance between Vietnam and Cambodia.  It was built by the Communist regime in the 1970s.  Vietnamese and Cambodian soldiers stand at the back of a Cambodian woman and baby, protecting them. These monuments have a close tie to the history, the cruel civil w...

Phnom Penh is the capital city of Cambodia.  It is divided into 3 areas: beautiful residential area in the north; French buildings in the south; narrow lanes, markets and stalls at the centre.   The Royal Palace is very close to the river Tonle Sap.  It is a complex of buildings served as the King's residence.  Key buildings include: Throne Hall , Moonlight Pavilion , Khemarin Palace and Silver Pagoda. Inside the Silver Pagoda are many budda statues in different shapes, size and styles.  Unfortunately, no photo can be taken.  The walls outside the pagoda are many frescos showing the life and Cambodian architecture.   They are very colourful and beautiful. Contrast to the golden, shining Royal Palace, the National Museum is more down to earth.  It consists of buildings in brick red colour - simple and elegant.  The museum housed the biggest collection of Khmer art.  Objects are mainly Gods, k...