Psar Thmey building like a spaceship.

Phnom Penh,capital city of Cambodia has dozens of market and the most popular and busiest is the Central Market known as Psar Thmey.

This is the focal point and heart of the city where most of the public and crossborder buses also converge at nearby bus terminal.

 Built in 1937 by French architects and surprisingly cool, even in the heat of the hottest day, many interesting products are available.

The building was recently restored – an enormous, yellow, art Deco UFO which has landed in the middle of the city.



  Phnom Penh itself has close to 9 districts.

 1) Doun Penh-the commercial hub with the unique Psar Thmey.

2) 7 Makara-or Prampi Makara district with the Orussey Market,Capitol Guesthouse

3) Tuol Kouk-well-known for the large villas in its northern part of the district and Royal University of Cambodia.

4) Chamkar Mon-Tonle Basak area

5) Russey Keo-northwestern outskirt with town like Svay Pak,Phnom Penh Thmei and Khmuonh east of Tonle Sap River.Camko City is an urban development zone being developed by a consortium spearheaded by World City Co Ltd of South Korea.

 6) Saensokh-apsara bakery

7) Por Senchey-industrial zone

8) Dangkao-largest district with the Royal Agriculture University in the locality.

9) Meanchey-Stung Meanchey,Presek Pra and Shen Zhou Apparel Factory.

Cambodia's total population is 14,701,717 as at year consensus 2011. The ethnic groups consisted of Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, others 4%.

 The official language is Khmer and 92% of the people practice Theravada Buddhism.


Phnom Penh has lots of impressive colonial styled architectural buildings such as the Psar Thmey.

The eastern side across Pasteur Street(Street 51), which is the main entrance, has many souvenirs and ornaments on sale from T-shirts to large stone heads. In the center are the many jewelry stores and precious stone vendors as well as many electronic goods merchants, cloth sellers and other dealers; most of them selling considerably cheap. Nowadays, the Central market is a tourist hot spot where tourists can see the daily activities of the Cambodian people.


 The Sorya Shopping Center which is just nearby has a supermarket where prices of goods on display were in USD currency.








Phnom Penh is fast developing with many mega projects already in construction.

 Notable high rise skyscrapers near Psar Thmey and along Boulevard Preah Monivong is the OCIC Tower(Canadia Tower) with a helipad on top.This building is the headquarters of Canadia Bank Development Ltd.

The Vattanac Capital Building which is near completion will be another new landmark changing the landscape of the city.

Khmer boy at Wat Moha Montrei.

Directly across Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium lies Wat Moha Montrei along Sihanouk Boulevard.

There is a pedestrian crossing near the traffic light junction.

The temple's entrance is at Street 163 while another one is at Street 173 which is near the Psar Olympic market.

Hotel Samreth Olympic is just in front of the temple at Street 163.

The room rates here starts from USD25.
 Behind this hotel at Street 310 is Guesthouse Kiyo Tel:(855)23 222 834.Room Rates between USD10 - USD40.

Street 163 is quite a long stretch that meets Mao Tse Toung Boulevard and continues across till Street 430.The road system here is very strange,instead of ending at the boulevard it continues on to the other side with the same road number.

Furthermore all the roads are not numbered in sequence.

The Toul Sleng Genocide Museum is just a 15 minutes walk from the temple while a 30 minutes walk will reach the Russian Market(Psar Toul Tom Poung) after crossing the boulevard.

 Wat Moha Montrei has a multi layered roof with a khmer style stupa at the roof centre.

Within the temple's perimeter were many smaller stupas which were fenced.

The Khmer's Empire was once a Hindu Kingdom where the deity Brahma,the Hindu God Creator of the Universe was being worshipped.

When one of the Hindu emperor,King Ashoka introduced Buddhism during the early 3rd century,the transition began with the influence of Mahayana Buddhism.

That's the reason why most of the temple's in Cambodia,the Erawan Shrine in Paknam near Bangkok,Wat Phou in Vientiane,Laos,Candi Borobodur in Yogjakarta,Indonesia and Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon,Myanmar altogether have stupas incorporated into the architecture due to the Hindu influence.

The main building of Wat Moha Montrei has exterior pillar columns that resembles that of Wat Sisaket in Vientiane,Laos.

Maybe it could be the Ashoka Pillars.Ashoka the Great was a powerful emperor who ruled the Indian subcontinent between 269BC till 232BC.

 The shape of the stupa represents the Buddha,crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne.

 His crown is the top of the spire; his head is the square at the spire's base; his body is the vase shape; his legs are the four steps of the lower terrace; and the base is his throne.

The Hindu God Ganesha has an elephant head so at the base of this stupa is the scuplture of the elephant part body.

Surely this stupa must be dedicated to some old warriors. According to the Tibetan texts on stupas,there are 5 purified elements:
 1) The square base represents earth.
2) The hemispherical dome/vase represents water.
3) The conical spire represents fire.
 4) The upper lotus parasol and the crescent moon represents air. 5) The sun and the dissolving point represents the element of space.

Ashoka pillar has four lions whereas this stupa has many lions guarding round the base.








The Lotus Blossom Stupa which refers to the birth of the Buddha. At birth the Buddha took seven steps in each of the four directions (East, South, West and North). In each direction lotuses sprang, symbolizing the Four Immeasurable love, compassion, joy and equanimity.






Met this Khmer boy who was reading a book under the Bo Tree.

His name is Vanette (chinese name:金jīn 合hé).

He was trying very hard to master mandarin which at first I thought he was studying Buddhism.

 The textbook which Vanette was reading is a Mandarin text with English pinyin translation.
 Cambodian students are now emphasizing mandarin as a second language in view of the fact that China has vast investment in the country.

The four faced Buddha is actually Brahma,the Hindu God of Trinity.

Again at Erawan Shrine at Paknam near Bangkok,the Thais called Brahma Than Tao Mahaprom or Phra Prom.

This is a result of Indian scholars who came over to Southeast Asia and spread Buddhism bringing with them their Hindu culture and folklore.

In actual fact Brahma has four faces and eight hands.


The Khmer people embraced not only the Brahmanic and Buddhist religion but also the social customs.

There are seven headed serpents protecting the Buddha.

Legend has it that in the sixth week after enlightenment,as the Buddha sat meditating,a storm broke out and a mighty serpent spread its hood over the Buddha to shelter him.

Serpents are associated with the waters of the earth.

In Thailand's Chiangmai Wat Doi Suthep,the temple also has this Buddha image with the serpents.

Around this Bo Tree at Wat Moha Montrei are the statues of Buddha in different postures.

The reclining Buddha which symbolises Tuesday of the week which is Realizing Nirvana (Paang Saiyasna),the image reclining on the right side with toes even indicating his death.

Tuesday is the day where Buddha entered parinibbana(perfect liberation)

That's where every year around May,there is the Buddhist Wesak Day festival to observe the three important events in Gautama Buddha's life:his birth,enlightenment and parinibbana.

The biggest event can be witnessed be at Candi Borobodur in Yogjarkarta,Indonesia's Java Island

This one is a Protection Buddha,which signifies courage,offers protection from fear,delusion and anger.

The hand gesture of Mudra involved the right hand raised and facing outward while the left hand resting on the lap.

The postures(asana) includes seated with ankles tucked (Double Lotus) or one leg resting on top of the other (Single Lotus)





Wat Moha Montrei has a very good company loitering near the temple.The temple's keeper feed it with biscuits.

Koh Kong town the gateway to Thailand.

The free pick up minivan was very punctual and I was transported to the Sorya Bus terminal office at Psar Themey where the Koh Kong enroute bus was waiting.

The departure time was 7:00am. Koh Kong is about 271 kilometres from Phnom Penh and this small little town is about 10 kilometres to the Thai border town of Had Lek,a coastal town towards the eastern Thailand's frontier facing the Gulf of Thailand.

Thirty minutes after leaving Phnom Penh,the bus will stop at a shop selling baguettes,cakes,hot dogs and other kind of snacks for bus passengers to buy as breakfast.

The journey is going to be a long one travelling 133km west along the national highway and then another 138km through hilly winding roads through the Cardamom Mountains with its dense tropical rain forests.

 The roads are all in excellent condition. It was a rainy season between late August till early November where the south westerly winds bring heavy rainfall to this part of Indochina.




  At about 12noon,the bus stopped for lunch at a foodstall near the Sre Ambel Bridge.

The bus has no toilet so it's advisable not to drink too much water in the morning as the first part of the journey took nearly 4 hours.

  The Sre Ambel Bridge was a joint venture project between Thailand and Cambodia.





The bridge was named after the Sre Ambel River that flows beneath it.
In fact this area is the valley and foothill of the Cardamom Mountain,a very scenic view.

 Sre Ambel is about 110kilometres north of Sihanoukville.
The virgin jungles here is a great place for jungle trekking adventures.
 As we continued our journey after lunch,the bus had a good stress test going uphill and downhill negotiating through the winding roads on the way to Koh Kong.

 Due to the intermittent rainfalls and drizzles all along the way,the bus diver was very competent and carefull in his driving.

Finally at 3:30pm,the bus reached Koh Kong's small little bus terminal and expect to step out of the bus meeting a handful of touts.

The terminal's grounds was unpaved and muddy.It was about 2 kilometres from town. I decided to abort my stay in Koh Kong and paid 100 baht for a moto ride to the Thai border.

Koh Kong is such a relaxing town to stay as there were also entertainment outlets,casinos and many interesting sights.

A theme park called the Safari World is near the Thai-Cambodian border. As for jungle trekking to the Cardamoms and Botum Sakor National Park,there are travel agencies that provide guides as well.





  List of cheap guesthouses:

Koh Kong Guesthouse Restaurant and Bar.(USD5 - USD15)
Neptune Guesthouse.(USD3 -USD6)Tel:011-984 512
Ai Oun Guesthouse.(USD8 -USD12)Tel:011-939 585,016-860
Kolab Koh Kong Guesthouse.(USD8- USD13) Tel:016-202 333,099-958 181
 Phomin Koh Kong Hotel.(USD5 -USD15)Tel:011-948 255,011-760 259
Riverside Guesthouse Bungalow Restaurant and Bar.(USD3 - USD10)Tel:016-823 221
 Asean Hotel.(USD10 -USD30) Tel:012-936 667
Apex Koh Kong Resort.(USD10 -USd15) Tel:016-307 919
Sen Sok Guesthouse.(USD7 -USD12) Tel:016-587 185 (near traffic circle)
Otto's Guesthouse.(USD5) Tel:012-924 249,035 39 39 27  
 


Basic Khmer language:-
Please (Som)
Thank You(Aakoon)
Yes (Baat)
No(Awt Tay)
Stop (Choop sun)
Go (Dto)
Check please (ketloy)

The moto ride passed through the longest bridge in Cambodia,a 1,900 metres friendship bridge opened in April,year 2002 costing USD7.2 million. Koh kong is no more an isolated frontier town.

  Even moto passing through the toll booth need to pay.

No wonder we can't haggle with the touts because of this additional charges.
He will just send us to the Cambodian immigration office and after that we need to walk a short distance to the Thai side.





The international boundary marked by the flag poles of Cambodia and Thailand beside the beautiful beachfront and the Gulf of Thailand.

I just can't figure out why the Thai flag is flying half mast!
Many Expats who live in Thailand used Koh Kong to do their "Visa Run".

I was totally drenched and soaked with rain water as I walked towards Thailand's border.

The weather condition is not so friendly to travellers.

The quiet town of Had Lek.
Only two rows of shophouses on both side.
Ban Had Lek is located in the Khlong Yai District. There won't be any public buses plying here.
The locals rely on the songtheaw and minivans.










  At this corner near the Thai immigration office are the minivans that goes to Trat.

Had Lek to Trat in a 14 seater mini bus timetable.
The fare price is 120 Baht.
duration:One hour 15 minutes.
about 89 kilometres.
Stop only at Trat Bus terminal.

Somewhere 12 km before Trat (Amphoe Thakum) and another 15 km off the main road,there lies the "Dhamma Resort" or Wat Tung Kai Duk,a meditation retreat.

The only restaurant in Had Lek that faces the seafront.

A night out at Psar Orussey area

The lobby of Spring Guesthouse has on display a list of bus fares and travel time with free pickup.

Destinations and price:
Sihanoukville--Mekong Express--USD7---7:45, 14;30 hrs

Sihanoukville--Sorya Transport--USD6--7:00.8:00,9:00,11:00,12:45 ,13:00 hrs

Angkor Express and Paramount buses both cost USD6

Siem Reap--Mekong Express--USD11--7:30,8:30,12:30,14:00 hrs.

Via Angkor Express is USD8 while Paramount is USD10.

Mailinh charges USD9 To Stung Treng if you're en route to Laos,

Sorya Bus Transport charges USD12 with only one departure at 7:15 am.

To Rattanakiri---USD13 by Sorya Transport,only one departure at 7:00am.

 Rattanakiri is a province in the north east of Cambodia bordering Laos and Vietnam.

Kep or Kampot by Sorya Bus--USD6.

Southeast of Cambodia,a gateway to Bokor National Park.

Kratie by Sorya Transport--USD8.

Northeastern remote town. Battambang by Sorya Transport--USD6.

The second largest city of Cambodia and shortest route to Thailand's border town of Aranyaprathet. Poipet--Sorya Bus--USD9.Border town with many casinos.Just walk across after immigration will be Thailand.

Direct Bangkok:--Sorya Bus--USD17.Only one departure at 6:30am.Cheaper than airport tax by USD8.

Please note that the local buses are not allowed to cross the border so check out what will be the connection after the border to avoid being mislead by touts.

Buses to Ho Chi Minh City varies according to the type of buses used and the extra services provided.

 Boat to Chau Doc,a border town in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam,USD12 for slow boat while USD20 will be speed boat.

To Siem Reap by boat cost USD35.

I will be leaving Phnom Penh for Koh Kong but the fare prices was not on displayed.The guesthouse reception contacted Sorya Bus Transport to book a seat for me at USD8 with a free pickup and leaving before 6:45 am.




 In the late evening after converting USD5 into 20,000 riels,I made my way to the Psar Orussey market area which was less than 10 minutes walk.

 The whole area was filled with food stalls and the restaurants just across the Cathay Guesthouse is the busiest with hardly any seats available.

 Most of the local people also spend their dinner time eating out.

One thing I dislike about the streets of Phnom Penh is that they are all dimly lit and quite dark.




Psar Orussey market has already closed by late evening and the only activities are the food vendors lining all along the streets.

The neon lights at the Psar Orussey market adds to the liveliness of the surroundings,otherwise it will be very dark.

It has been drizzling nearly day and night and the roads were easily filled with pool of filthy waters.

After having a bowl of soup noodles that cost 6,000 riels,I went back to the guesthouse to spend my time surfing the Internet which was available at the guesthouse lobby for free.









A Chinese restaurant at Street 163 near the Olympic Stadium called The Emperors of China offering dim sum buffet for USD6.

 Dim Sum is a Cantonese term for snacks where fully cooked and ready to serve dishes would be pushed around the restaurant on steamed carts by servers. Chinese tea will normally be served together with the dim sum.

Guesthouses near Olympic Stadium

Fellow backpackers while in Phnom Penh need not worry about finding a suitable lodging.
It's all about the room price that suits your budget.

Crossing the first traffic light straight ahead after the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh along Sihanouk Boulevard are side road bearing Street 143,141,125,115,113,111,107 and 105 that stretches till Psar Orussey market.

It takes less than ten minutes to walk from one end till the other. The streets are not that wide and one thing notable about the guesthouses buildings here are the colourful frontage that distinguish its exclusiveness.

Most of the cheaper rooms are easily being snapped up so it is advisable to make an online prebooking to avoid disappointment.

Otherwise you'll end up having to spend extra money in using the services of the tuk-tuk drivers to transport you around.
 

Street 143 area(Street European Union)Boeung Ken Kang:

1) Tha La Ly Guesthouse No:254,Street 143,Boeng Keng Kang 3, Chamcamon, Room Rates:USD12-USD17

2) Salita Hotel...rates USD27 onwards.

 3) Angkor Model Guesthouse------No:28,St 143


 Street 141 area:

1) Sunday Guesthouse and Restaurant No:97,St 141 Tel:+855 17929949

2) City Star Guesthouse. No. 101-103, St. 141, 12253, Phnom Penh Tel 023 986 571 Mobile:011 404 686 ,017 515 601

3) Sampov Meas Thmey Guesthouse-----No:91,St 141

4)Starwood Guesthouse:-----No:74,St 141. Sangkat Vielvong Khan 7 Makara ,Tel : (+885-23) 6666 495 Standard Single Room US$ 16.00, Double Room US$ 18.00 ,Twin Room US$ 18.00 (Free Pick Up Service)

5) Chantrea Guesthouse-----No. 48, St. 141,Phnom Penh Tel mobile: 012 944 024 , 016 224 229

6)Fairyland Guesthouse---No:99,St 141 Tel:+855-23 214 510 Email:fairylandhotel@yahoo.com  

Street 125 area(Sangkat Veal Vong).

1) Kim Guest House -----No. 31Eo, 125, Phnom Penh ,Tel 023 213 067

2)Narin Guesthouse under reconstruction.You only see pillars and debris on this parcel of land.

 3) Tat Guesthouse----No 52E1, Street 125, Phnom Penh 12253, fan only double room for $8/night.

 4) E Hour International School-----10C, Street 125,12258 Phnom PenhT : (23) 224-278

  5) Green Guesthouse,53 Street 125, Phnom Penh. T: (023) 216 952, (015) 666 655 53, St.125, Sangkat Veal Vong, Khan 7 Makara.Room Rates:USD12-USD15 (opposite is the Sorphea Maternity Hospital).

6) Relax Guesthouse---No:64,St 125 Mobile Phone 012 851 095 ,011 715 595 ,011 734 339 ,012 514 148

7) Tat Guesthouse--No:-52E1,St 125

8) Tattoo Guesthouse--No:62A,St 125  

Street 115

1) Lucky Guesthouse No. 30Eo, St. 115, 12258, Phnom Penh Tel 023 218 910 Mobile Phone 016 537 777 Rates:USD6 - USD9

 2) Good Luck Guesthouse-----No:74,St 115

3) Lux Orussey Guesthouse-----No:22ABC,St 115

4) Thai Chong Guesthouse-----No:8AB,St 115  
 


Street 113 area:

1) Vimeantip Guesthouse-----No:27ABC,St 113









 Street 107 area Photo of one residential office in the area

1) Sok Hour Guesthouse.No. 260AB, St. 107, 12258, Phnom Penh Mobile Phone 012 979 848

2) Hello Guesthouse-----No:242BEoSt 107,corner St 198 Sok Hour Guesthouse,a beautiful family homestay house

Street 111 area (Sangkat Boeng Prolet Khan)  

1) Spring Guesthouse No:34, Street 111 Sangkat BoengProlet Khan 7Makara
Single/Double Room with Fan : 5.00USD - Single/Double Room with Fan and Hot shower : 8.00USD
- Single/Double Room with Air-con and Hot shower :12.00USD
- Twin Room with Fan : 5.00USD - Twin Room with fan and Hot shower : 8.00USD
 - Twin Room with Air-con and Hot shower :12.00USD
All room rate charge per room and Include the VAT (Government Tax)

Spring Guest house has 47 rooms with either fans or air-con, hot / cold Shower , cable TV, and complementary bottle of water .

This room which I prebook online is huge with queen size bed,USD8 per night fan with hot water.

It is very clean and the inhouse security is very good.

Location Information :
Spring Guest house is located near the Germany Embassy on the 111 street about 500meter from Psar Orussey Market.

You need to cross a road divider to the other side of the same street number to reach the Psar Orussey Market.

 3) Burly Guesthouse-----No:70,St 111.

4) Khun Leng Guesthouse-----No:22-24,Street 232,corner street 111

 5) Seng Sokhom Guesthouse-----No:11E1,St 111

 6) Skypark Guesthouse-----No:78,St 111

7) Heng Long Guesthouse---No:11,St 111  

Street 107 area:

 1) Hong Phann Guesthouse-----No:12BEo St 107

2) Khemra Guesthouse-----No:119,E1 St 107

3) Capitol 3 Guesthouse-----No:207Eo,St 107

4) Capitol Guesthouse and Restaurant-----No:14AEo,Okhna Tep Pan (Street 182) corner Street 107

5) Monorom Inn-----No:197E1,St 107

6) Nice Guesthouse-----No:209Eo,St 107

7) Prek Mean Lngech Mean Guesthouse-----No:244,St 107  

Street 105 area(Okhna Nou Khan)Kbal Damrey Village: 

  1) Chin Tong Guesthouse and Restaurant-----No:36,St 105  

Chhung Cheng Chinese School,Phnom Penh.
No. 19, Street 232 corner St. 143, 12253, Phnom Penh Tel-(855)023 210 753

The most important Chinese school in Cambodia is the Duan Hoa Chinese School in Phnom Penh, subdivided into two different sectors with more than 7,000 enrolled students; the second, the Chhung Cheng Chinese School ( 公gōng 立 lì 崇chóng 正 zhēng 学 xué 校 xiào ) , is fairly popular among Chinese-Khmer families, and numbers about 2,000 students.

The government, finally, expects to add Chinese to the obligatory curriculum of its universities.

A street view across the other side of Street 145 near the busy Psar Orussey.