Royal Palace of Phnom Penh

Stories of a Dark Past and a Vibrant Revival
Learn about a renaissance in the performing arts, and where artisans with different abilities continue to produce beautiful Cambodian Handicraft.

This bustling city was once known as the Pearl of Asia- the loveliest of the French-influenced cities of Indochine during the 1920s.  Located where the Mekong and Bassac rivers meet, the founding story of Phnom Penh goes back to Lady Penh who, in 1372, found four bronze Buddha statues floating in the river. She brought these statues up to a small hill (phnom) to protect them and where  Wat Phnom is dedicated to her today. Life along the waterfront continues to thrive today. Early morning or late afternoon is best time to be with locals coming out to exercise and socialize.
The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda are stunning to visit along with the impressive National Museum showcasing glorious sculpture of the Angkor period.

Maps of Phnom Penh by Canby Publications:
https://www.canbypublications.com/maps/phnom-penh-cambodia-map.htm

Life under Khmer Rouge:
Recognizing the dark period of Cambodia under Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge following the Vietnam War from 1975-79, is also very important to understand the trauma the country has been through. 
The Killing Fields, a film produced in 1984, won several Oscars, and with Haing Ngor, winning Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Dith Pran. This is one of the most powerful films I have ever seen.
Pol Pot had envisioned the country to return to the glory of self-sufficient agrarian communist utopia.
His agenda was to go back to “Year Zero”- to create a classless, moneyless, society free of foreign influence. The entire population was forced into agricultural communes, abolishing religion and private property, purging intellectuals, artists, monastics, and anyone deemed “impure” to build the new state.
Imagine the city of Phnom Penh totally emptied out, with the exception of the King who was allowed to remain within the palace walls.
About 10 km outside of Phnom Penh is Choeung Ek, one of The Killing Fields sites where you can visit to pay respects to the souls lost. It is estimated between 1.7- 2.2 million people, a quarter of the population, died of either execution or starvation during the Khmer Rouge era.

S-21 Genocide Museum, is the site of the school in the city which turned into a death camp known as Tuol Sleng:  now a museum to honor the stories of the genocide that took place. I
https://www.tuolsleng.com/

I shall never forget my first visit to Tuol Sleng with a local guide, my own age, who shared stories of his time growing up, while I was growing up at the same time, without knowing what was actually happening in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Sadly more senseless wars have continued on this planet.
Read Reflections about:  Bombs and More Bombs- How many more Limbs need to be Lost?
And How you can SUPPORT:  ICAN! The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons:
https://alamasia.net/bombs-and-bombs-how-many-more-limbs-need-to-be-lost/

See some images of Cambodia Re-Awakening: One Year after the Khmer Rouge by John Burgess:
https://www.angkortravelphotography.com/cambodia-after-the-khmer-rouge/


Revival of the Arts:

Today you will see Cambodia thriving to move forward in every sector and a great part of honoring Cambodia’s heritage is in the revival of the performing arts.
Below are links to organizations and projects contributing so much to the renaissance of Cambodia.

Cambodian Living Arts  (CLA)  founded by Arn Chorn Pond, dedicated to the revivial of traditional Cambodian music. The story of Arn’s life was documented in the film The Flute Player – a powerful and emotional story dealing with devastating effects of war and the former Khmer Rouge campaign when nearly all the country’s artists and musicians were killed.
Learn more:    https://www.cambodianlivingarts.org/en/

Trailer to The Flute Player:
https://runawayfilms.com/portfolio_page/the-flute-player/

Info on how to order The Flute Player produced by Jocelyn Glatzer:
https://caamedia.org/films/flute-player/

TedX Talk with Arn Chorn Pond: How Music Saved my Life:
How Arn’s wish is to have Cambodia remembered, not as the Killing Fields, but as a country of art, music and culture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crv9Bre_T2g

Cambodian Crafts

Support Fair Trade providing skills and livelihood while producing some gorgeous products!

Tabitha Crafts and Foundation:  https://tabitha-cambodia.org/

Peace Handicrafts by landmine and polio-surviving artisans.
Just up from the Russian Market- #39 Street 155 in Phnom Penh.
https://www.peacehandicraft.com/

Hotels in Phnom Penh:

The Plantation: an urban resort with art exhibits. Walking distance to the Royal Palace and National Museum:  www.theplantation.asia

Frangipani Hotels with a property opposite the Royal Palace:
https://frangipaniroyalpalace.com/

Places to Eat:

Mith Samlanh – Friends Restaurant – a great project working to train youth since 1994.
Located just off the National Museum.
Another Mith Samlanh restaurant called Romdeng is at #74 Street 174.
https://www.mithsamlanh.org/
https://friends-international.org/

FCC Foreign Correspondant’s Club:  overlooking the Mekong in Phnom Penh
https://www.fcccollection.com/

Java Creative Arts Cafe   supporting local artists now has 3 separate venues:
https://www.javacafeandgallery.com/

Kampot:
The new up-and-coming destination a few hours south of Phnom Penh.
Riverside town with French colonial architecture surrounded by natural beauty. Explore the old Bokor Hill Station and scenic pepper plantations.
Check to see if the restored train line from Phnom Penh is operating- train lovers may enjoy some Slow Travel off the road traffic.
In Kampot: check out:
Epic Arts Cafe supporting the deaf and disabled

https://epicarts.org.uk/pages/epic-arts-cafe

Nearby Kampot at the Coast is Kep Beach and Rabbit Island:

Kep Lodge:  30 minutes from Kampot on a hill overlooking the sea:
https://keplodge.com/

Enjoy your Journeys!  Travel Gently and Live Consciously

Back to Siem Reap and Angkor:
https://alamasia.net/asia-destinations-news-and-links/cambodia/

Preah Vihear– the Khmer temple dating back to 9th century standing and struggling on a border:
https://alamasia.net/preah-vihear/