Phnom Penh is offering a welcome respite from Dhaka for two weeks. The e-visa was hassle free and it took  only 20 minutes to clear immigration and customs then we were out on the concourse and on our way into the city. The Plantation Spa Hotel is out home for 15 days and thankfully is only a quick Tuk Tuk ride away from the office.

First Impressions: The food is insanely good, the people are friendly and the children are gorgeous.

After a few days pool side luxuriating in the freedom of being outside I penned my plan for the next two weeks.

First stop just behind the hotel and walking distance was The Royal Palace,  a very intricate and ornate set of buildings built around the 1860′ in Khmer style  with a touch of French influence. the palace has meticulously kept gardens facing the river front, beautifully tiled roofs, old murals that are being restored and thousands of Buddhas covered in gold and emeralds. The highlight is the Silver Pagoda which has a floor made of 5000 – 9 inch solid silver tiles most of which are covered with rugs due to tourist damage. The King of Cambodia lives in a separate area within the grounds.

Many people like to compare Cambodia to Vietnam as they share borders but it would seem to me that the two counties are further apart that expected.  The history of Cambodia,  cultural heritage and people are very different, also the geography of the country differs greatly to that of Vietnam. Cambodia is small, has a King and a population that suffered dearly under a deadly

Phnom Penh isn’t a huge tourist pull, there are beautiful hotels and fabulous restaurants and a few place of interest but the biggest tourist destination is Siam Reap, three million visitors a year visit the ruins of Angkor Watt. I’m saving that for my next visit.