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Phnom Penh Travel Guide
The Name Game
The mere mention of Phnom Penh's name connotes an aura of mysticism and exoticism. The Royal Palace's golden spires, the glimmering tiles of the Silver Pagoda, and the horrors of Tuol Sleng are easy proof this claim. Cambodia's capital is also its wealthiest and most populous city, being an industrial hub and home to more than two million Khmers.
To a traveler, Phnom Penh is one's introduction to Cambodia-the gateway and a tourist delight rolled into one. Its revival is impressive, considering that it was brutally damaged only a few decades ago, between 1975 and 1979, when the Khmer Rouge took control of the city. They exiled its civilian population, and for four years the city was left stagnant and unattended.
City of Contrasts
Today, Phnom Penh is one of Southeast Asia's top cities. Its current standing is evident in the colonial-inspired buildings that have sprouted in recent past, as well as its traffic-heavy boulevards teeming with commerce. With some two million people milling about in its busy streets, the city can be chaotic at times. The good thing is that it doesn't seem to have lost the exotic charm that is its main selling point.
Rising from the ashes of the dark Pol Pot regime, it has worked its way into an economic boom, posting growth rates in double digits. However, the wealth is not equally shared, with the rich getting richer and the poor staying poor. Phnom Penh hopes to resolve this divide with an impending USD 2.6 billion worth of development projects.
In and Around the "Pearl of Asia"
During the 1920s, Phnom Penh was one of the continent's most popular tourist attractions, thus leading to its tongue-in-cheek nickname. It is currently in the process of recapturing its former glory, as evidenced by the nearly 300,000 tourists of 143 different nationalities that have visited it every year since 2003.
Though it can never beat the Angkor Wat in the Angkor Province when it come to drawing crowds, travelers in the city often discover that it has lots of attractions that garner little to no fanfare. This is typified by the Wat Phnom marking the foundation of Phnom Penh, and the Angkorian artifacts at the National Museum.
Phnom Penh Landmarks:
- Historical Spots (1)
- Museums (2)
- Sights (2)
- Temples (2)
User blogs:
Cheaper galactic spaceliner unveiled
News from http://news.ph.msn.com/top-stories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3737940 Richard Branson unveiled Monday a commercial spaceliner offering tourists a cheaper chance to experience the thrill of weightlessness and view the splendor of the Earth from space. The British billionaire hopes to offer tickets aboard his spacecraft at a cost of 200,000 dollars each, giving adventurous ... Read full Blog post
An Aerial fiesta in Clark Pampanga
Its a party in the sky as multi colored hot air balloons piloted ny different pilots from various partso of the world participated in this annual gathering. As early as 5am, the 2,500 hectare aviation complex at Clar Economic Zone in Pampanga was already crammedi with excitement. Clusters of hot air balloon participants busily prepare their own balloons for liftoff as they need to take advantage of ... Read full Blog post
Moving to Manila
It was about a year ago, when I received phone call from my hubby asking me what do I think about Manila. I wasn't sure, I said I've been there before, memories rush to the surface of my mind. Crowded roads of jeepneys, the smell of exhaust, constant horning, traffic jams, YMCA's hotel, people selling food from small carts....I stayed only a day in Manila before heading down to Boracay about 12 years ... Read full Blog post
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