Phnom Penh, Cambodia with its own character is the perfect home base for a Cambodia Travel Adventure.  There are plenty of fantastic sites, markets, and great cuisine to be enjoyed while you plan visits to Angkor Wat, Sihanoukville or other locations throughout the country. Most guest get around on motos or tuk tuks. Plan activities accordingly. Though most venues are open most of the day, the Silver Pagoda breaks for lunch between 1100 and 1430 daily. Consequently the Russian Market is pretty warm at this time as well. 

There are plenty of holidays in Cambodia therefore if you are planning on obtaining a foreign visa, double check the holidays and don't put it off until the last minute. Our guest are always invited as we celebrate a local holiday. Two of the more prominent holidays are Khmer New Year, April 12,13,14 when a cleansing takes place. Though not as intense as in Thailand, you can expect to get a little wet.  It is one of the hottest periods of the year so sometimes it's welcome. During the full moon night in November is the Water festival where a 3 day celebration marks the end of the rainy season. Vendors and people from all over the country swarm upon the riverfront and two by two boats race from the Japanese friendship bridge to the Royal Palace. We have supported a team from Kampong Cham since 2002. Sometimes our staff is celebrating a birthday or we might take a party trip on the river, plenty of our visitors have joined in the fun.

Scenes from right out front of our door steps. Fireworks from the Water Festival November 2003, Two pictures of our 2004 team, a float. One of up to seven large beautifully lit barges that make their way up and down the Tonle Sap River along Phnom Penh riverfront every evening after the boat races.  Fireworks from King Sihamoni's coronation. A boat from Mondolkiri looking for a pot of gold. Crowds on the riverfront and greeting the winners. A woman on the front of a boat who sways in Khmer Traditional Dance fashion maintaining a proper cadence for her rowers.

More picture around Phnom Penh. Click on the pictures for a larger view then hit your back button to return to this page.

	Clicking this picture will take you to more pictures of the Apsara Arts Association School of Khmer Dance.
	Buddha at Wat Phnom.
	Central Market.
	Riverfront view to the south with FCC to the right.
	Royal Palace.
	Royal Palace.
	Royal Palace lit up for a holiday.
	Independence Monument with Hun Sen Park in the foreground. View from the east.
	Independence Monument at night. View from the west.
	Making merit at Wat Phnom.
	A View along the riverfront.
	A View along the riverfront.
	Toul Sleng Museum.  It is recommended that you visit this and Choeung Ek Killing fields early in your stay to have a greater appreciation of the Warmth of the Cambodian People despite the suffering they have endured.
	Documented victims at Toul Sleng.
	Wat Ounalom.
	Outside of Wat Phnom.
	A few meals. Top: Giant Prawn and Bar B-B-Q Frog, Middle: Frog legs, Catfish, Vegetables,  Rice and Antelope, Bottom: Bancheau and a meat soup. The meal in the Center including rice and Angkor Beer, about $13.00US
	Kandal Market just around the corner from Wat Ounalom.  Khmer CDs, Hardware, Cosmetics, Household items, food and $1.00 haircuts.
	Pink Floyd didn't have this in mind with their Animals  release...off to market and yes they are alive.
	HM Sihanouk at the end of Hun Sen Park.
	Strolling along the riverfront. He goes to work at Wat Phnom in the morning then strolls past again at quitting time in the afternoon.
	Russian Market. Plenty of bargains to be had. As with most temples and markets, Land mine victims will be present so it is always a good idea to carry some small Riel with you.
	Inside of the Russian Market.
	Shooting range east of Pochentong Airport. Here you can fire an AK-47, M-16 or various other rifles and hand guns.  Prices vary depending on the weapon.  A clip of 30 rounds will run you about 20 dollars for the AK-47.
	Sunrise in front of Cafe California.
	In September 2000 the river levels were so high that the riverboats could pull right up to the edge of the riverwalk walls. Great for the commerce as seen in this picture but not so good for many areas along the river that suffered from severe flooding.

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