Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia, located at the confluence of the Mekong and the Tonle Sap rivers. Despite being liberated from the homicidal Khmer Rouge by the Vietnamese back in 1979, Phnom Penh has long remained a bit rough.

However, things are improving, although roads remain shabby, traffic chaotic and electricity strained. The city has a large infrastructure catering to tourist and many consider it to be one of the friendliest capitals in Asia.

Phnom Penh is slowly gaining high rise buildings, traffic lights, and Western style shopping malls, but overall remains one of the most undeveloped capitals in Asia.

It does not have the colonial British infrastructure like Yangon, and is light years behind Bangkok. The beauty that made it a 'Paris of the East' before 1970 is hidden beneath the reality of modern day Cambodia, though there are a few French colonial buildings remaining.

The wide boulevards and promenades envisaged by the French are mostly used as parking spaces and market stalls: pedestrians are not in favour. There are numerous beautiful Khmer temples and monuments that give the city a unique Cambodia atmosphere.

The innermost part of the city, known as "riverside" is where most tourists will go, as it hosts cafés and restaurants aplenty. Standard tourist sights are few, which makes the city a place to relax, watch the street life and absorb the local colour. Phnom Penh is a worthwhile destination for those who enjoy an 'edgy' experience as well as those interested in authentic South East Asian people and culture.

Touts and beggars abound, especially in the tourist strip along the river, and they can identify newcomers by the way they walk with their heads up looking at things. They are not as aggressive as in some other places, like Siem Reap. Not making eye contact, keeping your head down and moving on, and a brief "no thanks" is usually enough to make them move on. Make eye contact and they will persist.

Overall Phnom Penh has three types of weather only: hot, too hot, and too hot and humid.

Weather is pleasant during the "winter season" from November to January, highs are around 30 degrees C daily. Staring February the temperature begins to rise, and by March the daily highs are 35-38 degrees, making it hardly bearable. This is followed by the rainy season, which is more humid than rainy as on most days it just rains for a few minutes in the afternoon. Occasionally there are massive downpours that cause major flooding.

Things to do in Phnom Penh

■ Visit The Royal Palace
■ Visit The National Museum of Cambodia
■ Visit Wat Phnom
■ Visit Sisowath Quay aka Riverside
■ Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

Stay in Phnom Penh

■ Raffles Hotel Le Royal (5 Star)
■ Mittapheap Hotel (3 Star)
■ Cambodiana Hotel (4 Star)
■ Imperial Garden Hotel (4 Star)
■ Phnom Penh Hotel (4 Star)
■ Pacific Hotel (2 Star)