Cambodia 2026 Day 6 Phnom Penh

 

Wat Phnom Daun Penh

Today is the last day here in Phnom Penh. Head to the riverfront before sunrise. Too bad! Blocked by cloud.
Reroute to Wat Phnom Daun Penh nearby.

Wat Phnom Daun Penh is the spiritual and historical heart of Phnom Penh. Perched atop the only hill in the city, this 14th-century Buddhist temple marks the legendary birthplace of the capital, established by a wealthy widow named Daun Penh. Foreigners need to pay $1 at the ticket booth.

  • Legendary Origins: The temple was originally built to house four bronze statues of the Buddha that Lady Penh found floating in a Koki tree trunk on the riverbank.

  • Architectural Landmarks: The site features a massive white stupa containing the ashes of King Ponhea Yat, a beautiful ornate sanctuary (Vihear), and a giant working floral clock on the manicured lawn.

  • Vibrant Atmosphere: It is a bustling site where locals come to pray for good luck, success in exams, or business prosperity, often accompanied by the sounds of traditional musicians and the presence of resident monkeys.

  • Central Landmark: Standing at 27 meters (88 feet) tall, it remains the highest religious structure in the city and serves as the "Point Zero" from which all distances in Cambodia are measured.

Naga Statue
The Naga Statue is placed in front of the Buddhist stup/chedi. It looks like a cobra.

Starbucks

Back in the hotel, I realize I can have a city view at the 14th story rooftop.


There are many ways to the airport. The cheapest is the airport express. Cost less than 50 cents. The bus stops not too far from the hotel, at University of Health Sciences. It marks as AEB01. You can't miss it. There are other bus stops. You can look that up. When I got on, there only two ladys onboard before me. The ride is smooth. I got to the airport in an hour. That gives me plenty of time to stroll around and shop in the airport giftshops:)

Techo International Airport

This concludes my journey to Cambodia. Khmer Empire is once covering the majority of the southeast asia. Now Cambodia is behind most of their neighbors. The picture below shows the Canadia Tower in downtown Phnom Penh built in 2014. Ten years later the surrounding is still a mix of old and new. What's blocking the foreign investors coming to Cambodia and what's slowing down the country's development? It is a lovely place to visit. But I may not come back too soon.

Canadia Tower



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