We decided to have a stop in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, before going to Vietnam to get some rest, meet an old friend, and explore its own beauty and charm. From Siem Reap, we rode a public coaster bus that our hostel in Siem Reap (Hak’s House) had arranged for us for 10USD per person.
Contrary to the 5-hour promise, it took us 8 hours to reach Phnom Penh. I believe that this was primarily because of the coaster’s late departure, accompanied by the traffic jam and road construction. I really wished to have taken the public bus. Beacause of this, we missed the chance in exploring the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh.
Kyle had the misfortune of having his bag stolen here by a man riding-in-tandem on a motorcycle. We were riding a tuktuk early in the morning on our way to the bus station when it happened. So be careful. I suggest wearing your backpack, and not just place it on your feet.
We stayed at Longlin House I for the night. The room was simple, tiled and clean —perfect for backpackers on a budget. The hostel also has a travel agency which offers money exchange, tour service and visa arrangement. I like the hostel a lot because this is where we had very good taste of Fish Amok (which I still crave for now). And we also had drinks here to cap off the night.
LongLin House 1
Address: # 159, Street 19, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Rate: 12 USD for a standard AC room with private bathroom for 2 pax
Contact Number: +855 77 727 722
Since we arrived later as planned, we had no time to go to Choeung Ek Genocidal Center anymore. Instead, we just bought tickets for next day’s trip to Vietnam, and did the walking tour afterwards. At night, we met up with my friend, KT. We took boarded the boat for the Tonle Sap River Cruise, then had dinner and drinks.
Independence Monument. This impressive stone memorial was built to commemorate Cambodia’s liberation from France. It stands 20-meter tall and is in the middle of a busy roundabout. It was designed by Vann Molyvan, who was the first fully-qualified Cambodian architect who studied in France.
Wat Botum Park. Before getting to the Silver Pagoda, we passed by a quiet place called Wat Botum Park. There were a few food stalls in this area. We ordered some refreshments just to try some street snacks.
Royal Palace and Park. The Royal Palace is where the King of Cambodia resides. What I love about this place was the kids that were out in the park to play. The pigeons that flocked around the place made the park more interesting and fun.
Sisowath Quay. The Sisowath Quay offered a nice stroll beside the river. It reminded me so much about Manila Bay. However, we did not stay long here because there were a lot of children asking for alms.
Tonlesap River Cruise. When we met KT at night, we headed back to Sisowath Quay to catch the Tonlesap River Night Cruise. It was a breath of fresh air, but there was not much to see. Also, KT said that the boat was unusually running slow that night. We spent an hour there.
Fish Amok at LongLin House
Long Lin’s House. The highlight of our trip in Phnom Penh was eating this fish amok from LongLin House. The food was very tasty that I crave for it every now and then. I am definitely going back here for this!
Bopha Phnom Penh. This riverfront restaurant is a great place to eat after the Tonle Sap River Cruise. The place looks nice and romantic. It is very accessible because it is located right beside the port. We ordered fish amok again but it was not as spectacular as LongLin House’s. The other dishes were good though.
Le Moon Terrace Bar. After dinner, KT took us to an upscale rooftop bar for a drink. It was a relaxing and quiet place to enjoy the riverside view. We ordered one drink, had one last catch-up session before calling it a night.
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