Phnom Penh has quite a number of daytime attractions and even if you're only planning on staying a few days in the Khmer capital on a visa run from Thailand they are well worth a visit.
If, like me, you enjoy walking then many can be reached by a relaxed walk as central Phnom Penh is a fairly compact city, plus you get the bonus of seeing life on the streets in-between.
I've mentioned it before, but Canby Publications is perhaps the best website for maps and information pertaining to Cambodia and contains further info on some of the city sights here.
Cambodia: The Year of the Rabbit
Started by
dixon cox
, Dec 11 2011 03:35 PM
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#241
dixon cox
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Posted 25 March 2012 - 03:19 AM
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#242
dixon cox
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Posted 25 March 2012 - 03:33 AM
Thanks for taking the time and notes over such a time, and of course the excellent photos.
When I do get around to Cambodia in 18 months (I hope) this report will be a referance.
Thank you PTB, but the pleasure is all mine
I enjoy very much the opportunity to reminisce on my extended visit to the country last year. Unfortunately for me at the moment, for financial reasons, work beckons, but not for much longer.
Within the next 6 months I will return to Cambodia for an even longer stay as my semi-retirment kicks-in proper to see out the year of the dragon, then remain for the duration of the year of the snake until 2014.
I am so totally disillusioned with and by my own country (the United Kingdom) that I have given up on it and have been in the process of winding down my affairs here for some time. I can't wait to leave the UK but sadly it will just be after my 50th birthday rather than before, like I had hoped.
Edit: Turned out that I did manage to retire from the UK a month before my 50th birthday afterall 
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#243
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Posted 25 March 2012 - 03:54 AM
From the Central Market the walk to Wat Phnom is not so far. But as the midday heat will soon be upon me I decide this will be the last of my walk for the day before heading back to my apartment for my breakfast, she should be up by now.
At night behind the highest Wat in the City, Wat Phnom and close to the US Embassy girls can be found loitering looking for business. I have seen this on a number of occasions but it is a hit-and-miss affair, this also includes the occasional ladyboy but unlikely the calibre you're accustomed too, unless you like skank. Also a few sightings at the corner of Streets 102 and 19 nearby.
At night the grounds of Wat Phnom are dark and hold an edge of danger, so if anyone decides to go for a late evening stroll please only take with you what you are prepared to lose.
Wat Phnom is the point of origin from which all distances to and from Phnom Pehn are measured.
Phnom means "hill" in Khmer, therefore Wat Phnom is 'Temple Hill'.
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#244
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Posted 25 March 2012 - 07:56 AM
I'm delighted that you have reconsidered the future of your D90. There are 100's of threads on the dpreview.com forums by owners who have not been persuaded to give their D90 up for a more expensive updated model.Thanks for your kind words I definately appreciate them. I've been thinking and I'll be honest with you pacman, your death-row plea for my D90 has made me reconsider and I think you are right.
I'm sorry, I was sure you said you had the 18-55, I must be confusing our conversation with one I had with another D90 owner. The 18-105 is the best value option, it has "enough" focal length plus it is considered a very sharp lens. I have no complaints. Though I would still like the 18-270 PZD, all that reach in such a compact & light weight lens. And it opens out to 18mm! Amazing!Investing in another lens (probably a Tamron 70-300mm) and just keeping the D90 for special days out and balcony shots might be the best way to go. My kit lens is the 18-105 too, so like you I also got the better of the two kit lens possibles.
But the 70-300 would be nice, I just don't know how much you would use it. Plus hand-holding it at 300mm will result in a lot of lost photos. Have you ever tried a wide angle zoom? Please do so before you drop any money on another lens. Or buy both, after all, it isn't me paying for them...
#245
xyzzy
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Posted 25 March 2012 - 08:55 AM
I think the latest I have taken the stroll around Wat Phnom is 11 PM. I did find one interesting one but she looked so young I decided to pass. I walked all the way around the Wat on the other side of the street. Several moto taxi drivers yelled out to me "Looking for ladyboy?" as they slowly drove by.At night behind the highest Wat in the City, Wat Phnom and close to the US Embassy girls can be found loitering looking for business. I have seen this on a number of occasions but it is a hit-and-miss affair, this also includes the occasional ladyboy but unlikely the calibre you're accustomed too, unless you like skank. Also a few sightings at the corner of Streets 102 and 19 nearby.
At night the grounds of Wat Phnom are dark and hold an edge of danger, so if anyone decides to go for a late evening stroll please only take with you what you are prepared to lose.
So I assume that tells one what types hang out in that area.
xyzzy is the "magic word" from the first computer adventure game and isn't capitalized
#246
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Posted 26 March 2012 - 02:32 AM
I never received such calls, more's the pitySeveral moto taxi drivers yelled out to me "Looking for ladyboy?" as they slowly drove by.
.. but I do recall being referred to as "Papa" as I strolled the grounds of Wat Phnom after dark, not sure I was totally thrilled by that. Whoever taught Cambodians that Papa is a respectful word for someone older than them needs a poke in the eye.
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#247
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Posted 02 April 2012 - 03:18 AM
It's now June 2011 and the days can become very hot indeed and my walks often began earlier.
Awoke at 05:00am and out of the door at 05:30, the beautiful bright, cool and clear day was too much to resist. The walk took me from near Phsar Chas on Street 108 down to Dreamland (opposite Nagaworld) and beyond.
Awoke at 05:00am and out of the door at 05:30, the beautiful bright, cool and clear day was too much to resist. The walk took me from near Phsar Chas on Street 108 down to Dreamland (opposite Nagaworld) and beyond.
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#248
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Posted 02 April 2012 - 03:37 AM
Past Dreamland (opposite Nagaworld) and along Sothearos it wouldn't be long now before I would be joined for breakfast by my good buddy PDogg.
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#249
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Posted 02 April 2012 - 06:57 AM
After PDogg kindly shared some of his breakfast with me at his place we set off towards Toul Sleng (S21) cutting through the backstreets, although we didn't go inside.
Heading back finally via Martini's, The Classic Night and the Independence Monument with some refreshment stops along the way. All in all a very pleasant stroll around Phnom Penh.
Heading back finally via Martini's, The Classic Night and the Independence Monument with some refreshment stops along the way. All in all a very pleasant stroll around Phnom Penh.
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#250
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Posted 02 April 2012 - 07:19 AM
At the end of our walk it was back to PDogg's around midday with a few relaxing beers on the balcony watching the world go by before my LB pick-up arrived.
We'd convene later at the FCC as another BM was due to arrive in town this afternoon.
We'd convene later at the FCC as another BM was due to arrive in town this afternoon.
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#251
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Posted 02 April 2012 - 07:28 AM
The FCC (Foreign Correspondents Club) situated overlooking Sisowath Quay on the corner of Street 178.
We met just before 7pm to get some beers in at happy hour prices, which concludes at 7pm, before heading off to Claudia Bar on Street 104 for a BBQ in celebration of 'Children's Day' on 1st June.
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#252
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Posted 02 April 2012 - 03:45 PM
Thank you for this Dixon. I have never been to Phnom Penh but thanks to your terrific photo reportage, I have a real feel for the place.
And how confronting to have the Genocide Museum dedicated to the horrors of Pol Pot right in town. It must be awful for those who survived those dark days to have such a reminder in their midst. I can't begin to imagine the fear the population lived under.
The Buddhist monks, the tuk-tuk drivers, the school kids, all the iconic images are there, including the poor bastard asleep on the pavement. As a snapshot of PP, I give you 9/10 plus a gold star & two elephant stamps. Did the UK education department endorse them? They had 'em when I was a kid. I remember thinking I didn't have much more to prove in life once I had an elephant stamp.
And how confronting to have the Genocide Museum dedicated to the horrors of Pol Pot right in town. It must be awful for those who survived those dark days to have such a reminder in their midst. I can't begin to imagine the fear the population lived under.
The Buddhist monks, the tuk-tuk drivers, the school kids, all the iconic images are there, including the poor bastard asleep on the pavement. As a snapshot of PP, I give you 9/10 plus a gold star & two elephant stamps. Did the UK education department endorse them? They had 'em when I was a kid. I remember thinking I didn't have much more to prove in life once I had an elephant stamp.
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