Royal Palace, Phnom Penh

The Royal Palace and the grounds are beautiful. This is where the king resides, but outside of the palace is a much different picture. Most of the buildings in Phnom Penh are not very nice. The streets are dusty and dirty and the traffic is unbelievable. Most people use motorcycles as their form of transport. We have seen as many as four people on one scooter. Often, you will see 2 parents and 2 children on a scooter. It is difficult to walk in the city as the sidewalks can be crowded, blocked with cars and scooters, and in need of repair. If we were going more than a few blocks, we hired a tuk tuk.

My first thought upon arriving and traveling to our hotel was “what were you thinking?” Surprisingly though, we have enjoyed our week in Phnom Penh. The people are wonderful. They always greet you with a smile and a small bow. People wave and smile as they pass you on the street. Even the children have a big smile and a friendly wave. The food has been really good and super cheap. So, I will most likely return to Cambodia.