Leaving Sg was not easy with only my backpack without having any plan about coming back. Furthermore, I was going to Cambodia where I can get visa-on-arrival. But I didn’t have any return ticket so I was afraid about they won’t let me go in the country and give me visa because I heard about how the system works there (money works)
Anyway I took a flight and arrived there and went to the officer for visa. I was cool when going to officer and after waiting for couple of minutes I got visa on my passport luckily without any problem. Then I was going to the city, which I searched about it with details. But I just noticed that I don’t have any contact number of the guy who was supposed to take me from airport. But after leaving airport I looked around and that Turkish guy found me and got me because there was only one small exit. After that we took a taxi to go dormitory that is located 25 minutes(about 20km) distance from center and paid 12 usd for taxi. After reaching the dormitory I took a rest for a while and then I went out with him for booking to my Siem Reap ticket next day since I was planning to spend only 1 day in PP.
PP Dorm Garden
When looking for tickets, I saw that that company my friend took me only provides early morning and night busses both of them was not acceptable for me. Thus, I didn’t book my ticket at that time. (price was 13usd) We went back with his motorbike and ate for dinner with other students studying there.After dinner I went to “Night Market”. I bought few gifts and phone sim card for 1 usd from there and I topped my card up for 5 usd, changed 3 usd for 250MB data usage. This data package eased my life there a lot of times, I am still so grateful to do it. Addition to these, I bought my ticket to Siem Reap at 5 pm on next day for 10 usd. After that we came back to dormitory and slept at 1 am there.
Next day, I woke up early morning(about 7am) and rent a “mototube” (it is called for motorbike taxi) with my friend help. We agreed to pay 10 usd for all of the places that I wanted to visit and time was from 9am to 3pm.
First place the motorbike rider supposed to go is “The killing fields” but he took me another place called S21. I discussed with him about the place but he said he is sorry he thought this place what I meant before and doesn’t know about that place. After that he asked about place to people around and learnt about the place but he wanted 5 more usd to go there because it was 20km far from the city center and other places that I wanted to visit. But I didn’t accept to pay more and discussed few more minutes. After all, time was going and then I accepted to pay 12usd total instead of 10. Then we rode to there.
Photo from city center while he was riding motorbike
We arrived “The killing fields” and I paid 6 usd for entrance fee. They gave me earphones to listen about the stop points inside the area. Language for instructions are English, German, Italian, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese and a few more (not in Turkish yet). I was going around the stop points and I was so effected and felt the situation of people in that Khmer rouge time… so bad stories… I can say it’s better to read about it before going to PP. Some photos from "Killing Fields": After there we visited “National Monument” location of which can be considered as city center.
Later on we went to “The National Museum” but it was closed in noon time so we changed our schedule and went to eat lunch first. Because of the limited time I would like to go KFC, which my
friend said me halal, and said motorbiker to go there. I took him and paid for his food as well (2 hamburger + 1 small fries + 1 small coke costed 5usd). After finishing food, he was so thankful to me about food and he said he has never eaten that kind of good food before. I was surprised but… it’s probably normal there...
After finishing food, we went to “The National Museum” and paid 5 usd to go in. I went inside alone and took few photos about there. But I can say it was not worth to visit there… Anyway… If you have a chance to come PP, you will probably want to visit there. Let’s try by yourself and see.
Later on, Wat Phnom(1usd entrance fee for tourists) was visited for couple of minutes.
After that I moved back to bus office and I got in to minivan. That was all for PP.
Things Good to Know Before
Exit of airport there will be taxis and tuktuks you can take. If you are alone, you can think to get mototube as well. Probably it will not cost more than 10usd for taxis, 6-7usd for tuktuks and 4usd for mototubes.
How to get visa on arrival?
Just leave the airplane and follow others.
How to communicate people there?
Most people know at least basic English. So there won’t be any problem about it.
Do I need to get Cambodian currency?
Definitely not. American dollars are more acceptable currency through all over the country. Just for small pieces of money such as 50 cent, they use Cambodian currency.
How to travel around the city?
You can find tuktuks at most of the places. Better option is renting tuktuk for whole day.
What are the possible places can be visited?
These places are what I’ve done and written to this page indeed.
What about nightlife?
I couldn’t have a chance to get in because I stay only 1 night. So I can’t give any suggestion…
Is it safe place?
I think so. Neither I heard from friends nor nothing dangerous happened to me.
How to get local phone number?
It can be got from most places even in markets. It will cost from 50 cent to 2usd depending on telecom company. Do not pay more just for card without money inside.
How much does it cost for a day trip in PP?
Without including food and gifts (also no accomadation for me, can suppose 5 for accomadation)
12 (taxi) + 6 (killing field) + 2 (S21) + 5 (Nat. Museum) + 1 (Wat Phnom) + 12 (mototub) + 6.5 (royal
palace and silver pagoda) = 44.5 usd
For all photos I've taken: Phnom Penh