Phnom Penh - Cambodia!

The Walkabout Hotel in Phnom Penh.

In Phnom Penh, I decided to stay at the Walkabout Hotel, after I read some recommendations on the Internet. The Walkabout Hotel is owned and run by an Australian called Glenn Press, who I didn't get to meet. My room on the 2nd floor, had a double bed, an attached bathroom, air-conditioning and it cost me US$10 per night. Downstairs there is a bar/restaurant with a pool table. The staff in the bar, can organize visa's, bus & boat tickets and they're a good source of travel information. The Walkabout Hotel is located in a quiet central area of Phnom Penh on the corner of 51st Street & 174th Street, and is within walking distance of the Royal Palace, the Mekong River and the centre of Phnom Penh.

Monivong Street (Achar Mean Boulevard)  is one of the main roads in Phnom Penh. 

The next day I went to the shooting range and I was able to fire a AK47, a M60 GPMG & a M16/M203. It brought back memories of my time in the army reserve!! I was even offered a chance to throw a live grenade, but I knocked it back. After the shooting range, I went to the "Killing Fields" and the Toul Sleng, the Khmer Rouge interrogation centre. Extremely horrific and very sad. It made me realize how lucky I am! I then went to the "Russian Market" and bought some T-shirts and a VCD of a movie that has just been released in Australia.

The Thunder Ranch Shooting Range - Phnom Penh.

The Thunder Ranch Shooting Range is located off the road to the airport, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. They have about 20 different guns you can fire, ranging from AK-47's to M60 machineguns. The cost of firing some of these guns are; AK-47 rifle - 30rds US$15, M16 rifle - 30rds US$18 and M60 machinegun -  50rds US$30.

A tourist throwing a Chinese Hand Grenade - US$15 a pop!!

A Memorial Stupa at the Killing Fields on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

You can't travel to Cambodia, without seeing its tragic past. The crimes that the Khmer Rouge committed are unimaginable and seeing places like the Killing Fields,  made me realize how lucky I am. Australians tend to whinge about insignificant things, but if they could see what the Cambodians have gone thru and are still going thru, they would realize how lucky they really are.

Phnom Penh Railway Station

Foreigners aren't officially allowed to travel on the trains in Cambodia yet, as some backpackers were abducted off a train to Kampong Som in 1994 and later executed. The train's in Cambodia, I have been told are very slow and uncomfortable. Hopefully one day, you will be able to catch a train from here to Bangkok or maybe even Saigon!! 

Wat Phnom

Wat Phnom is located in the centre of Phnom Penh and is worth a visit. Phnom Penh is named after Wat Phnom. After seeing Phnom Penh Railway Station and Wat Phnom, I went to an Internet Cafe and sent a email home to my family and friends. The use of a PC with a bad Internet connection, cost me US$7 for one hour. Then I went for a walk, to have a look at the Mekong River and the Royal Palace. That night I had dinner at "Kims Kiwi Bar" which is owned by a Kiwi expat, but the bar is ran by his Cambodian wife - "Kim". From there I went to "Sharkys", a nightclub with a dubious reputation. Sharkys isn't a bad place, they have Angkor Beer on tap, 3-4 pool tables and as its located on the 1st floor, there is a balcony you can sit out on. After 2-3 beers, I headed back to the Walkabout Hotel, as I was catching the fast boat to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat the next morning.