Phnom Penh Tuk Tuk Tour

I went out for a walk and to look for a money machine. All the streets are numbered in Phnom Penh so that does help with finding your way around.

I am a little less nervous now about walking in Phnom Penh but still hold my bag tight. I also leave some cash, one phone, my passport and all but one money card in my room … just incase I am robbed I will be able to continue. I am obviously still nervous.

I do not see much to photograph on my walk but do find a money machine. This money machine dispenses $20 USD notes so that is a bonus.

With so much poverty here there are also some flash buildings and very nice cars. Some people have money.

I decide to book a tuk tuk by the hour to visit some of the sights in Phnom Penh that I would like to see. 32000 KHR for 2 hours which is about $8 USD. I looked for this service in Vietnam as I think that it is a great idea. I never found it available when I wanted it.

I feel that most tours offered by the usual providers in Phnom Penh are way over priced so this is a good cheap way for me to organise my own tour. Check out trip adviser, for example, and you will see what I mean.

Our first stop was Wat Phnom, a Buddhist Temple.

Next I got the tuk tuk driver to take me to the Silver Pagoda.

There was a beautiful lotus flower, in the early stages of opening at the entrance to the Pagoda.

The Silver Pagoda was quite spectacular though some parts of it were walled off to the public. I understand this as I suppose that some things must be sacred.

Next I get the tuk tuk driver to take me to the Royal Palace. It is closed for lunch between 11am and 2pm but I am happy to take photographs from outside. I do not need to see inside every palace … temple … pagoda. One can get “templed out”.

The area in front of the Royal Palace is a park and it is on the waterfront. It is a nice area to walk around and people watch. It is nice and clean too.

This is the official residence of the King of Cambodia.

I don’t think that I went to the built up area of the city but I could be mistaken as sometimes things look different at ground level.

The park area outside of the palace has many pigeons.

I also took extra photos on my way home … some of which I am not sure what they are. My tuk tuk driver said that I must photograph this building … I do not know what it is.

It has flags and also a reference to Korea so I looked up the Korean Embassy … it is not that.

Next I want my driver to take me to the super duper supermarket near my accommodation. That is too hard for him and he then delivers me back to the wrong hotel … insisting that this is where he picked me up from. After some arguing he takes me to the correct hotel. It’s like I don‘t know where I am staying … he is right and I am wrong.

Anyway it’s ok I am at the correct hotel now and even though I have paid him for 2 hours I feel that it is just easier for me to walk to the super duper in 35 Celsius heat.

I am mentioning this here because if you are looking for a supermarket that sells some products from home … this is your place. Even if you don’t buy just walking around and looking can be enjoyable.

The service at Super Duper is amazing also. If you are in Phnom Penh … look them up.

I also stop at a pharmacy during my tour today. I am not sure if the pharmacy or my accommodation have given me this damaged $5 USD note. This note is unusable in Cambodia due to the damage ... maybe I can try and use it in another country.

I must check my change more carefully in the future. Surely I can use this note in another country … it is hardly damaged.

Tomorrow I am catching a bus to Kampong Cham. I have thought a lot about what to do with this time between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and have changed my mind many times …Battambang and Koh Rong were my favourite choices but I then read a few things that made me decide on Kampong Cham.