Again in the 1960’s Phnom Penh was bulging on the seams as peasants from the nation side and refugees from across the border sought refuge from the overspill from the conflict between the US and Vietnam. By the middle the 1970’s its population had reached two million. 4 years later, it was a few thousand!  

In April, 1975, the Khmer Rouge, in its insane dedication to create a peasant nation of uneducated peasants working the land, ordered the whole population of Phnom Penh to depart the city within 48 hours, after which attempted to raze it to the ground.

Thankfully, some of its once-quite a few temples and heritage buildings escaped the wanton destruction. 

Two thirds of the contents of Silver Pagoda (the title derives from the floor of the main temple, fashioned from five tones of pure silver) was damaged, but it is nonetheless spectacular.  

Amongst other relics, it houses a life-size strong gold Buddha and different wonderful Buddhist statuary. The long wall enclosing the pagoda is decorated with frescos. 

The National Museum, in-built 1926, is an uneasy amalgam of French Colonial and conventional Kh’mer architectural styles. It contains a wealth of Kh’mer artifacts and relics from the ancient Funan period to comparatively modern exhibits. As might be expected, it’s a treasure home of statuary and sculpture. The sensuality and tranquility of the effigies from the tenth to the thirteenth centuries hint at a civilization at its cultural zenith. 

The Royal Palace is also impressive. Because it’s resumed it’s operate as a royal residence, not all of it's open to the general public, and however the half that can be seen is interesting. 

Among the a number of 'wats' scattered around Phnom Penh, Wat Phnom and Wat Ounalom are be aware worthy. The former was first constructed in 1434, but has since undergone four rebuilds, the latest being in 1926. It has loads of interesting shrines, effigies and frescos, and is popular with the locals. 

Initially a monastery, Wat Ounalom was created in 1443 to accommodate a hair of the Buddha. It survived the ravages of historical past until 1975 when the

Kh’mer Rouge leveled the main temple, completely destroyed its ancient library and slaughtered the patriarch.  

The complex has been rebuilt; however the central sanctuary contains solely a jumble of shards from the temple's former glory.

A few of Phnom Penh's markets are worth a visit, significantly the New Market, (Psar Thmei - wide range of general goods, flowers and recent food) and the Russian Market (Psar Tuol Tom Pong - real and faux antiquities: good for souvenirs) 

Cambodia is a small country struggling to flee high ranges of poverty created by a history of colonisation and brutal wars culminating in the Kh’mer genocide and mass destruction of infrastructure. 

Despite the tourist footage, much of the capital city is made up of poor quality housing and unmade roads.  

Flooding is commonplace in the city during wet season, and pollution is high. 

Sadly, one of the-visited 'points of interest' in Phnom Penh is the Tuol Svay Prey High Faculty, converted into the infamous S-21 Security Prison by the Kh’mer Rouge. 

The building is now a museum of the Khmer Rouge holocaust. It is not a comfortable visit. Those of our customers that have been there often find that it’s the mundane issues which are the most difficult - the small personal possessions and particularly the matter-of-reality posed photographs of men, girls and children who had been brutally murdered there. 

About fifteen kilometres from Phnom Penh lies Choeung Ek, the extermination camp that obtained the prisoners from S-21 and other prisons around Phnom Penh. Almost nine thousand corpses were exhumed from 43 mass graves. 

A further 86 graves remain untouched - the overall of executions is estimated to be around 20,000. There were 1000's of similar centre spread throughout

Cambodia. 

A 1984 British Oscar-successful movie gave a collective identify to the Kh’mer Rouge extermination centre - The Killing Fields.