Things about Cambodia

PHNOM PENH

The ROYAL PALACE:

A must have on any Kingdom, Cambodia is not so different occupied by the Royal Family and the Past Kings since 1860s, vacated during the civil war period of the Khmer Rouge, The palace was constructed after King Norodom relocated the royal capital from Oudong to Phnom Penh in the mid-19th century. It was built atop an old citadel called Banteay Kev. 

INDEPENDENCE MONUMENT

Built in 1958 to memorialize Cambodia's independence from France in 1953. On national celebrations the Independence Monument is the center of activity. A ceremonial flame on the interior pedestal is often lit by a royal or high official on these occasions, and floral tributes line the stairs. Behind the monument is the Norodom Sihanouk Memorial, constructed in 2013.

WAT PHNOM

You can say that this is the queens counterpart for the Royal Palace. Wat Phnom, the Word Wat meaning Temple or holy place in Buddhist and Phnom a local Khmer (Cambodian) word for mountain as it sits on top of a hill. Initially built for religious purposes the temple is built with lions and the Naga (mythical serpent) on a man-made hill legend says that the purpose of this artificial hill was to protect a Buddha found by the old queen inside a Koki tree at the Mekong river, up on the ceiling of the main temple you can see depictions of the Cambodian version Ramayana an epic story from India.

TOUL SLENG GENOCIDE MUSEUM (S-21 PRISON)

It's an old high school turned security prison / torture center during the reign of the Khmer Rouge also known as the S-21 prison camp headed by the infamous Kang Kek Iew (Comrade Duch). It was one of the 150 execution centers of the Khmer Rouge where the acts performed was so horrible that by a simple comparison of blood shed Vietnam war a picnic.

THE KILLING FIELDS (CHEUNG EK)

Approximately 15 kilometers away from the city center, Cheung EK used to be an orchard turned into an execution grounds by the Khmer rouge, during the civil war. Prisoners after getting tourchured at the Toul Sleng (Genocide Museum / S-21 prisoner camp), prisoners were sent here for mass executions, where approximately more than 1.2 Million people were killed

NATIONAL MUSEUM PHNOM PENH

The center of archeolgical records in the country, it houses the largest collection of Khmer (Cambodian) artifacts counting more than 14,000 even up to the pre--historic era including pre-angkorian (Angkor - in engish means mega city that houses Angkor Wat which is today known as the Angkor Archeological park) religious items which suggests that buddism in Cambodia has been pressent prior to the Great Khmer Empire, and other artifacts which clearly indicates that during the height of the Khmer Empire it stretched as far as Thailand and even South Vietnam thus the arguement Thailand and a part of Vietnam was a part of ancient Cambodia (this is one of the basis for teritorial disputes between the 3 countries especially with Thailand for Siem Reap).

SIEM REAP

ANGKOR WAT:

One of the Seven wonders of the world and the biggest religious temple in the world,  scaling approximately 162+ hectares it was dedicated to the Hindi God Vishnu by the Khmer Empire. A dress code must be observed visiting any temple within the Angkor Archeological park as these temples are considered as holy ground this means closed toed shoes (no sandals). Note that the complex is huge unlike giant malls most of the time you will be under the sun or hiking up temples made of stones having bigger than average steps and since Angkor Wat is considered as a holy place, no one is allowed to sit or lean on any of the temple structures, lots of hydration is highly recommended during the summer time.

GRAND CIRCUIT:

Grand Circuit is an extension on the little circuit but taking in Preah Khan, Preah Neak Pean to the Eastern Mebon and the various monuments like Ta Som, Preah Rup, The Big Circuit encompasses a good representation of the rich variety of architecture during the ancient Khmer times. You can have it as either an introduction before visiting Angkor Wat and is highly recommended for anyone spending three or more days in the complex or a sequel if you find yourself abundant in time and energy the afternoon after Angkor Wat.