1 day Historical and Cultural Tour in Phnom Penh

We arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia at around 9 in the evening. After settling down and having dinner, we decided to just sleep immediately to get ready for a long day.

The currency in Cambodia is Riel. We did not have to exchange our USD cash to their money because USD is widely accepted. Armed with a breakfast of pancakes and coffee, here are the places we visited in the country's capital.

1. National Museum

Entrance Fee: 5 USD

We were so lucky that the hotel we chose was very near to the National Museum. We did not have to ride a tuktuk to get to it. This is Cambodia's largest museum of cultural history.

The museum works to provide a source of pride and identity of the Cambodian people. It housed a lot of stone sculptures important to the Buddhism and Hinduism. We were not able to take photos inside the museum as it has a separate fee.

2. Royal Palace

Entrance Fee: 6.25 USD

To serve as a residence of the King of Cambodia, his family and foreign dignitaries, the Royal Palace was built. This also serves as a venue for the performance of court ceremony and as a symbol of the Kingdom.

The Royal Palace is very near to The National Museum. Again, we hiked towards the place. We arrived at around 9am, paid for the entrance fee and proceeded to explore the area.

There was a map given to us on the entrance which was very useful as there were a lot of buildings.

Separated by a walled walkway but still within the compound is the Silver Pagoda. This has been coined because of the solid silver floor tiles that adorn the temple building.

This houses the Emerald Buddha and a collection of priceless Buddhist objects. We were not able to take photos inside as it was prohibited.

A lot of stupas were surrounding this temple. This was one of them.

A replica of the famous Angkor Wat is found in the palace grounds.We figured to have a look at it to know how vast it would be. 

3. Independence Monument

Entrance Fee: 0

This was built in 1958 for Cambodia's independence from France. Located in the center of the city, the lotus - shaped stupa stands majestic. We first saw this monument on the evening of our arrival and the lights surrounding it added to its beauty. This shot was taken by Wincee when we stopped in the park fronting the monument on our way to Wat Phnom.

4.Wat Phnom

Entrance Fee: 1 USD

Set atop a small hill and serving as a central site in the city as religious sanctuary for prayers and offerings since 1973 is the temple called Wat Phnom.

What amazed us when we visited this place is the giant flower clock that provided the exact time of the day. Sources pointed out that the original clock came from France but in 2000 it was replaced by a new version as a gift from China to mark the countries friendship.

5. S21 or Toul Sleng

Entrance Fee: 3

This was formerly a school which was used by the Khmer Rouge from its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979. During the regime, this place became Security Prison - 21 wherein prisoners were kept, shackled, stripped, beaten and interrogated so that they will confess to crimes they were accused to commit.

Photos of the prisoners lined the walls of the first floor of the building. There was even a glassed case containing  all the clothes of the prisoners who did not survive. I was not able to hold my tears thinking that this place was where horrible and inhumane things happened.

The sign at the side says that this is called the gallows: "This pole with cables attached to it  had been used by the students to conduct their exercise. The Khmer rouge utilized this place as interrogation room. The interrogators tied both hands of the prisoners to the back by a rope and lift the prisoners upside down. They did like this until the prisoners lost consciousness. Then they dip the prisoner's head into a jar of smelly, filthy water which they normally use as fertilizer to the crops in the terrace outside. By doing so, the victims quickly regain consciousness and that the interrogators could continue the interrogation."

There were survivors of this terrible times who were able to tell  the world what they have gone through. Their detailed accounts and photos are posted at the rooms on the 3rd floor.

6. Killing Fields

Entrance Fee: 6 USD

This is a fitting continuation of the story of the Khmer Rouge regime's doing.

Corpses of the prisoners were buried in Toul Sleng however when it ran out of space, the regime made an extermination center in Choeung Ek. This is just one of the many killing fields of Cambodia and is 15 kilometers from Phnom Penh.

Armed with a map and an audio player, we visited the site and learned that prisoners were taken here to be killed. This is a tree where babies/ newborns were killed by smashing their heads. They killed even the young ones to stop them from growing and making revenge against what was done to their parents.

Dozens of mass graves are visible in the area. The skulls as well as bones and other belongings of the victims that were dug up are now placed in the Buddhist stupa.

It was a long and tiring yet a very informative day for us. We didn't know much of Phnom Penh before apart from it being in Cambodia. Truly to travel is an enriching experience. Thank you for your time and 'til next blog! :)