Khmer Excursion, Phnom Penh culture

It was a two week rendezvous in the beautiful capital city of Cambodia and just like that, I am back in Ho Chi Minh City. I still feel as if I will wake up tomorrow morning and walk to school just as I have for the past two weeks. I think it’s the warmth of the city that brings back so much fond memories. Everything was within a walking distance and if not, tuk tuk’s were available at every corner. Tuk Tuk’s are like the upgraded versions of the “xich lo” we have in Vietnam. It cost about 1-4 USD to get around town and suprisingly enough, they speak fairly good english. I practiced a few negotiation deals with a few and about two days into our trip, I was hopping on every tuk tuk at a local price. The locals have been pleasant and we didn’t encounter any misfortunes luckily. I was entirely nieve coming into Cambodia. I did no type of research and had no plans what-so-ever on where to go and what to do. I kind of wanted it to take me by suprise and it sure did. Beyond the golden gates of the palaces and temples in Phnom Penh lie great beauties and history of Khmer people (Khmer is the Cambodian language).

“Gate to Royal Palace”

The first construction of the Royal Palace took place in 1434 in Oudong, It was not until 1866 that Kind Norodom 1 moved the capital city from Oudong to Phnom Penh.The Royal Palace was then again rebuilt in 1866 and stands to present day. The is a huge site divided into three main sections and intersects four rivers.

 
Inside The Royal Palace.

Once you step into this grand luxurious place, your eyes will be mesmerized by partically every little detail of the structures, artifacts, decorations and natural beauties. I would’ve gotten lost without the map. Visitors are able to wander the palace but there are restricted areas. The Khemarin Palace compound is where Norodom Sihamoni, the present King of Cambodia currently resides.

 
Wat Phnom, Spiritual heart of the Capital(Phnom Penh). Monkeys and elephants roam the temple.

Aside from the wealth of history of the city, Now Phnom Penh is economically developed and a global tourist destination.

Phsar Thom Thmei built in 1937 (main shopping center)

Western-style is a global influence and has captivated the heart of Cambodia as well.

 
Sovanna Shopping Center

Phnom Penh Known as the “Pearl of Asia” in 1920s