Located in the southern portion of Southeast Asia and seemingly a world away, Cambodia can be an amazing destination for any traveler.
It can actually be quite easy to navigate the country’s beaches and mountains, inexpensive lodging, lovely towns and cities, and plentiful food and drink options. Cambodia widely accepts the US dollar (as well as the Cambodian riel), making a visit here even easier. What makes Cambodia extra special, however, is its people. Despite the country’s sad history, Cambodians are inviting, warm, and happy to see foreigners. As the country continues to rebuild, more visitors are realizing that Cambodia is a feast for the eyes, palate, and soul.
The Paris of the East
The tuk-tuk gets you around Cambodia’s cities. | Photo: LENOVO-stock.adobe.com
Often regarded as having some of the best French architecture outside of France, Phnom Penh is the country’s capital and most populous city. Although tuk-tuks — auto rickshaws — are quite popular in Cambodia, one of the best ways to see this city is by cycle rickshaw. Download the Grab or PassApp and easily call for a nearby pedal pusher. The app can also help you hail a car, tuk-tuk, or maybe even a ride on the back of a motorbike.
Perhaps start your city tour at the Independence Monument, built in 1958. After a few photos, walk to the nearby Wat Phnom temple, an important spot for locals to pray for blessings or just revel in the green space. Then, have a drive along the benches and fountains of Wat Botun park until you arrive at the Royal Palace. The massive king’s compound is worth a photo from the outside at the very least. Snag a snack from one of the street vendors perched along the riverside, but save room for a visit to the famous weekend Night Market. There, you can find food hawkers showcasing everything-on-a-stick as well as flavorful soups and bowls of noodles with meat. One of the most popular, ka tieu, is made with rice noodles and pork (variations feature beef and other meats). Also try Cambodia’s answer to French ratatouille, samlor korkor, a rich vegetable soup usually featuring pork or catfish. Bugs are also on the menu in Cambodia; try fried spiders, worms, small frogs, or crickets … if you dare.
Phnom Penh’s other two famous stall collectives are the Russian and Central Markets. Visit the Central Market to shop for jewelry and other shiny baubles or just to see the 1930s art deco building that houses a good sum of it. The dizzying Russian Market overflows with clothing, housewares, produce, flowers, souvenirs, artisan goods, and never-seen-before food ingredients, but wear comfy shoes, cool clothes, and haggle, haggle, haggle.
A Somber Legacy
Amid the hustle and bustle, there is also a melancholic side to this world capital. A visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum (also known as Security Prison 21 or just S-21), is a must. This former school served as one of the more notorious prisons during the genocide but now honors the victims through photos and artifacts as well as two survivors who spend their…
By Elizabeth Martinez
