Visit the Royal Palace

Samdach Sothearos Boulevard (3)
Open daily from 8am to 10.30am, 2pm to 5pm (till 4.30pm on Fridays)

Arguably, the city’s most popular attraction, the Royal Palace is the official residence of the King. The palace’s traditional Cambodian-style architecture is downright gorgeous and its Throne Hall is elaborately ornate.

Look out for the Silver Pagoda which takes its name from the five tonnes of gleaming silver covering its floor. Inside the pagoda are a number of Buddha statues made of precious metals including a solid gold Buddha adorned with 2,086 diamonds, an 80kg bronze Buddha and a silver Buddha.

The view outside is just as stunning, with the well-manicured gardens framing the iconic Chan Chaya Pavilion. Join the locals and have a picnic at the Royal Palace Park while watching motorboats and paddle boats cruise by on the Tonle Sap River.

The entry fee for foreigners is USD10 (guide fee is optional). There’s also a strict dress code to follow – women must have their knees covered, so no shorts or skirts, while men are required to wear sleeved tops.

Explore the Central Market

Kamet Street (53)
Open daily from 7am to 6pm  

A landmark of the city, the ochre-coloured, art deco Central Market (Psar Thmei) is where you can buy pretty much anything – food, flowers, spices, clothes, jewellery, souvenirs, household items, electronics and more. 

There are hundreds of vendors lined up along the entire market purveying their array of wares. Be prepared to bargain for your purchases, as the prices are quite high as the market is a popular tourist spot.

After all that shopping, fuel up at the Khmer food stands offering local street food like Num Korng (traditional Cambodian doughnuts), whole fried fishes and fried tarantula, a regional delicacy, if you dare!

Check out Sisowath Quay

Along banks of Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers

A 3km-long stretch along the banks of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, Sisowath Quay teems with life whether it’s day or night. In the morning, you’ll find locals taking walks, the elderly practicing tai chi and joggers getting a workout before work. 

Sisowath Quay continues to bustle with activities throughout the day, as locals and tourists alike head to one of the many shops, cafes and restaurants located along the boulevard. There are also plenty of street vendors selling snacks like peanuts, popcorn, beer and coconuts. 

In the late afternoon, head over to Kanika Cruise Boats for a sunset cruise down the river. Tickets cost USD8 per person or USD17 with free-flow of beer. There’s also a dinner cruise at 7pm which includes a four-course meal for USD22.

Travel back in time to pre-Angkorian Cambodia at Sambor Prei Kuk

V2CV+C8G, Prasat Sambour​ District
Open daily from 7am to 5pm

Explore the incredible ruins of the 7th century Sambor Prei Kuk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which has been identified as the remains of Isanapura, the pre-Angkorian capital city of the Chenla Kingdom.

It is made up of 293 octagonal-shaped temples and is split into three main clusters, each with a brick wall around it. The entire site in the Kampong Thom province might be smaller than Angkor Wat, but thanks to its (comparatively) low tourist volume, it kind of feels like you’re on the set of a real adventure movie. 

There’s definitely lots to explore in the temple complex – from the Hindu temples meant to worship Shiva and stone carvings of Prasat Sambor to the remains of the main temple Prasat Tao.

Hiring a local guide is highly recommended. Alternatively, join a tour group to go through the entire place.

Learn more about silk weaving on Silk Island

Koh Dach

Located north of Phnom Penh, Silk Island (known locally as Koh Dach) gets its name from the traditional silk-weaving communities that dot the island.

You’ll get to see women under their traditional teak wood houses spinning silk to make accessories like scarves. In fact, most of the silk products sold in the markets around Cambodia come from here!

If you’re not squeamish about worms, caterpillars and other similarly shaped creepy crawlies, join a silk factory tour. The tour will unveil where the magic starts (with the silkworm farm), the harvesting stage and how the silk is made from the cocoons. Of course, there’ll be a chance to buy some silk and at wholesale prices too! 

Meet bears rescued from illegal wildlife trade at Bear Care Tour

National Road No. 2, Takeo Province
Open daily from 8.30am to 4.30pm

Meet endangered bears like sun bears and moon bears that have been rescued from the illegal wildlife trade during the Bear Care Tour at the Cambodia Bear Sanctuary, located inside the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre.

While you may not have direct contact with the bears, you’ll get to hear moving stories of the rescued bears, see the bears and help the Bear Care Team prepare food and enrichment treats. You’ll enjoy watching the bears search and gobble down the treats you’ve hidden in their enclosures.

The minimum donation for the tour is USD90 per adult (kids below 3 years old can join for free; 50 percent of donated amount for each kid aged 4 to 15). Donation includes transportation, park entrance fee, lunch, guided tour, a reusable water bottle and a T-shirt. All donations go directly to the care of rescued bears in Cambodia.

If you and your kids really love animals, you could even sign up for a week-long volunteering programme.


*This article has been edited and adapted from Now Boarding by Changi Airport’s “Traveller’s guide to Phnom Penh: Cambodia’s capital city”

The post 6 Best Things To Do In Phnom Penh appeared first on Southeast Asia.

Ang dtray meuk

This grilled squid dish is popular in seaside towns like Kep and Sihanoukville. The squid is brushed with lime juice or fish sauce, then grilled on skewers, and served with a sauce made with garlic, chillies, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar.

Bai sach chrouk

One of Cambodia’s most popular breakfast dishes, it features grilled pork that has been marinated in coconut milk, garlic, palm sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce and lime before being grilled, served with rice and pickled vegetables such as radish, carrot and cucumber.

Banh chao

This traditional Khmer savoury crepes are made with rice flour, turmeric powder and water, and filled with minced pork, bean sprouts and onions.

Beef Saraman

The richest of Cambodian curries, this braised beef curry is cooked with Indian spices such as coriander seeds, clove, cumin and cardamom, as well as chillies, lemongrass, shallots, garlic, shrimp paste, turmeric, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, peanut and dry-roasted grated coconut.

Cha houy teuk

This dessert comprises colourful jelly that is made from agar agar (gelatin derived from seaweed), combined with sago, red beans, jackfruit, sticky rice, taro and coconut cream, and often served with shaved ice.

Deep-fried insects

Seen as a cheap and rich source of protein, the insects – hoppers, moth pupae, beetles, grasshoppers, tarantulas, crickets, giant water bugs, ants and scorpions – are usually deep-fried and served with a dipping sauce.

Fish amok

This lightly sweet and creamy fish curry is Cambodia’s most famous dish. It is made with fish (typically a river fish) mixed in a herb/spice paste (kroeung) comprising garlic, shallots, lemongrass, turmeric, galangal and kaffir lime leaves, along with palm sugar, fish sauce and chillies, topped with coconut milk and steamed in banana leaves shaped like small bowls.

Kampot pepper crab

Whole crabs are stir-fried with Kampot’s famous black peppercorns, green peppercorns, garlic, soy sauce, oyster sauce, palm sugar and scallions.

Kaw Sach Chrouk  

This sweet and savoury dish is made with pork belly or pork shoulder braised in a dark broth intensified with caramelised sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, star anise, garlic, pepper, hard-boiled eggs, firm tofu and bamboo shoots.

Khmer red curry

An all-time favourite, this curry is made with kreung (a paste comprising lemongrass, chilli, galangal, garlic and kaffir lime leaf), chicken, beef, pork or fish, eggplant, green beans, potatoes and coconut milk, and served with baguette or rice.

Lap Khmer

This signature Khmer salad is made up of lime-marinated seared beef slices that are tossed in a dressing comprising lemongrass, fish sauce, lime juice, palm sugar, coriander, mint and chilli, together with green beans, onions, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Lok lak

This dish with French and Chinese influences is made with either beef or pork that has been marinated in oyster sauce, soy sauce, tomato sauce, fish sauce, sugar, pepper and garlic, before being stir-fried with onions. It is served on a bed of lettuce leaves and tomatoes, with rice and a dipping sauce made with lime, pepper, salt and water.

Nom banh chok

This well-loved Cambodian dish, also known as Khmer noodles, is a popular breakfast dish. It consists of rice noodles covered with a fish-based green curry gravy made from lemongrass, turmeric, fingerroot ginger and garlic, and topped with cucumbers, banana blossoms, long beans, mint leaves and bean sprouts.

Num pang

Cambodia’s version of the Vietnamese banh mi features crispy baguettes filled with pork, pâté, pickled carrots or radish, cucumbers, cilantro and chilli.

Prahok ktiss

This dip is made with prahok (crushed, salted and fermented fish paste used as seasoning), an important ingredient in Cambodian cuisine. Ground pork is cooked with prahok, kreung (a paste comprising lemongrass, chilli, galangal, garlic and kaffir lime leaf), coconut milk, tamarind juice, peas and chillies, and served with mixed raw vegetables.

Red tree ants with beef and holy basil

This aromatic and sour dish comprises red ants of various sizes that are stir-fried with basil, ginger, lemongrass, garlic, shallots, chillies and thinly sliced beef, and served with rice.

Samlor machu trey

This sweet and sour soup is made with fish, garlic, lemongrass, celery, tamarind juice, bean sprouts and pineapple, seasoned with fish sauce, salt and sugar, and topped with chilli and fresh herbs such as basil and cilantro.

Sankhya lapov

This traditional Cambodian dessert is similar to Thailand’s sang kaya fug tong where a pumpkin is deseeded and filled with a creamy custard containing coconut milk, palm sugar paste, eggs and salt before being steamed.

The post Khmer Specialities appeared first on Southeast Asia.

Battambang

• Phsar Nath

Kampot

• Bokor Night Market
• Central Market
• Night Market

Kep

• Crab Market
• Night Market

Phnom Penh

• Boeung Keng Kang Market (BKK Market)
• Central Market (Phsar Thmei)
• Jet’s Container Night Market
• Kabko Market
• Kandal Market
• Night Market (Phsar Reatrey)
• Orussey Market
• Russian Market (Tuol Tom Poung Market)

Siem Reap

• Angkor Night Market
• Phsar Chas (Old Market)
• Street Food Night Market

Sihanoukville

• Otres Market
• Phsar Leu Market

The post Food Markets appeared first on Southeast Asia.