Day 3. Touring Phnom Penh in the Morning

Day 3.
August 21, 2012.


After a good night sleep in Velkommen, and probably, because we are going nearer and nearer to Angkor Wat, we are excited to tour Phnom Penh.

Since Mr. Samoun, our tuktuk driver, has the itinerary for the trip, all we have to do is sit back, pay entrance fees and enjoy the tour.

Sadly, Velkommen doesn't offer free breakfast so we ask Mr. Samoun if he can drop us off to a restaurant so we can get heavy brunch for the day. After driving for about an hour, we arrive at The Killing Fields complex in Toul Seng. Good thing there is a restaurant nearby, I believe, its one of Mr. Samoun's friends, and we grabbed brunch there.


1.Choeung Ek, The Killing Fields. Located 15km southwest of Phnom Penh, the area, as its name suggests, presents its dark history during the Khmer Rouge headed by Pol Pot. According to the many descriptions in the area, The Killing Fields is where Cambodians, males and females, young and old, have been tortured, starved to death and executed. They were killed and buried on the same area.

The area itself is saddening. You will learn the hardships of the Cambodians and how it affected their way of life and their culture. You will definitely appreciate more of your life now.

Entrance fee:  USD 2.00 for entrance only (for both the Killing Fields and Museum)
                    USD 5.00 Entrance fees and Guided tour (Cassette tape)

The Killing Fields Monument: Houses the bones, clothes and skulls they were able to dig around the area. 

The Museum inside the Killing Fields

Prisoners' clothes

2. S21 Genocide Museum. Located within the city premises, just like The Killing Fields, presents another glimpse of Cambodia's dark past. If The Killing Fields will sadden you, the Genocide Museum will definitely give you bumps.

The classroom-like facility housed the tortured Cambodians until their dying days (if not they are killed on their beds). The beds are creepy enough, what more if you see the rows and rows of victims' pictures - from young to old, males and females, looking straight at you.

But despite the eerie feel to it, the museum will definitely open your mind on how humble the Cambodians became because of their past. This, we felt, as Filipinos, should not brag about the Martial Law and how we managed to overcome it. Cambodians, who felt a thousand fold of what happened during our Martial Law, were able to humbly share their experience and how they also learn from it.

Entrance fee: USD 3.00

Pillow and plate of one of the prisoners

Shackles used in the prison

3. Russian Market. Since we are around the vicinity of the main city, we decided to go to the Russian Market from the Genocide Museum. We are leaving the next day for Siem Reap, so we must buy ourselves souvenirs.

Just like Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh, Russian market also offers a variety of souvenirs, collectibles and tshirts as well. You can walk around the small market and you will definitely see what you are looking for.

As a major rule, do not forget to haggle. But make sure you buy them when the stall owner agrees with your price. If you won't, say "I'll look around and be back" respectfully. Also, try not to display your DSLR (that's why I don't have any pictures of the markets). Its really hard to bargain if you have that expensive thing hanging on your neck.





Up next: Phnom Penh in the Afternoon: The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda