Day 8 - 27 July - Phnom Penh

martedì 4 maggio 2010

Breakfast and departure for a day dedicated to the colors and the oriental charm of this small capital city heavily Asian and exotic essence. Composed almost entirely of small houses which rarely exceed two storeys in height, Phnom Penh is a city built for people to enjoy and appreciate its simplicity. Its streets are traveling to the rhythm of a bustling traffic and illegal for the majority being small bike. Lively local markets in each successive quarter. There are no shopping malls, but many small shops, stalls, smells, flavors and, over all, the innocent smile of the common people.

Particularly rich and interesting is the "Russian Market" consists of a myriad of stalls on what is really everything! To get there you will transit to the Independence Monument was inaugurated in 1962 to commemorate the obtained independence from colonial powers.
Inside a gigantic dome by the bright yellow is instead the "Central Market" which converge on the city's main boulevards to show the importance
Khmer Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon city tour including the rich and interesting National Museum which displays artifacts dating from pre-Angkor and Angkor of the glorious history of the Khmer Empire.

The block adjacent to the museum is entirely occupied by the great Royal Palace complex within which there is also the Silver Pagoda. The history of the Royal Palace is closely related to the French colonization and function of the city of Phnom Penh as the capital of the country.
"Silver Pagoda is rather that Westerners have the name assigned to real time for its beautiful tiled floor made entirely of silver!

Last stop at Wat Phnom, Buddhist temple, located atop a wooded hill, the temple is the symbol of Cambodia and many believers go here to seek fortune. Wat Phnom literally leave you speechless. The complex, built around the 70s of the XIV century, is indeed one of the most important pagodas in the country as well, with 27 feet, the highest religious building in the center.
If you want, no extra, you can visit one of the memorials of the genocide between 1975 and 1978 the Khmer Rouge regime during the period known as the "Democratic Khampouchea," the prison of Tuol Sleng (S-21).
In the evening transfer to dinner in the prestigious Van's restaurant.
Located in the beautiful colonial building which housed the Indochina Bank, offers exquisite French cuisine in an atmosphere of great charm and atmosphere.

Day 8 - 27 July - Phnom Penh