Paragon Hotel Phnom Penh

We spent a few days in Phnom Penh seeing the sites as well as hanging out with Max and Sue for pool time and amazing dinners. We visited the National Museum, Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda on day one. Day two was a somber day as we visited the Killing Fields of Cheung Ek and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum to learn more about Cambodia's past and show our respect to the many Cambodians whose lives were lost during the war and struggle. We stayed riverside and had an amazing view from our hotel....

We arrived Phnom Penh International Airport around 4pm, on 17th Mar. Upon landing, the air stewardess announced that the ground temperature is 36C! The moment we stepped out the plane, into the air-bridge, both of us want to step back into the plane again!! Hahaha. The Phnom Penh International Airport is small, but neat and nice. On the left of the airport exit, there's the Tourist Information and so we got a very useful tourist guide book. And with this book, we started our adventures!!! Ins...

Up very early and checked out to get the 08.30am bus to PP. Very nice – we got picked up from the hotel , took us in a mini-bus to the coach – I say coach probably a 40 seater…
Once on the coach we got a sandwich, cake and bottle water – all inc the price. Water and cake ok – sandwich horrid!
The journey was ok actually I managed to dose for most of it - little bit of a headache hee hee We stopped half way for a 10 minute break – where after toilet st...

Up early and out for breakfast about 8am.
Went next door to Elmundo the breakfast was nice actually. I had pancakes but they were more like crepes and coffee. Toast, jam, juice and coffee for DK. We started to call around looking for hotels on PHU QUOC Island, this was definitely harder than we ever imagined, still we kept on trying...and trying...and trying! The ones we did get through to were fully booked, so i think they were just picking up the phone to gloat:)
Maaan its frustrating...

We made it to our next country Cambodia! Grabbed a taxi from the airport, which charged based on how many stops they make (surprising pricing method). Found a hotel right on the river and checked in, then went and found some dinner. We found the city to be a mix of old buildings and new ones, as it goes through a major redevelopment endeavor. As with most cities we went to the local market, which sells everything from fruit, meat to haircuts. Which you can see I find a barber and Darcy took t...

Upon arriving in Phnom Penh we went straight to our hotel - the infinitely superior (compared to the last one in Phnom Penh!) Paragon Hotel. Our bags were carried up to our room for us which was fantastic; we had been debating how on earth we were going to carry them. After establishing ourselves in the hotel we got a tuk-tuk to the Tuol Sleng genocide museum, or the former Khmer Rouge S-21 Prison. As we got out we were greeted by a man who had the most horrific burns I've ever seen. Having s...

After we arrived into Phnom Penh, we got a tuk tuk to our hotel. It was an interesting journey because it started pouring down with torrential rain, fortunately the tuk tuk had canopy which enclosed us so we didn't get wet, but the poor people on the motorbikes were completely drenched. Everyone was in good spirits about it and were laughing so it was really funny.

We liked Phnom Penh. We were staying opposite the river and there are lots of cafes and restaurants and we had really good...

Well, today is the last day of our 3 day pass so we were up at 4.30 to go and see the sunrise over Angkor Wat. Then off to see a few more temples and back to town for lunch. The boys have gone back to the hotel for a swim while I hunted out an ATM without huge fees and this internet cafe. We have arranged (I think) a taxi for tomorrow to Phnom Penh for USD60 and the hotel have booked us a room at the Paragon Hotel on the river for USD25. You know you've reached temple fatigue time when you dr...

Well here we are in Phnom Penh. Got here yesterday by taxi in a little over 4 hours rather than 6+ by bus. Settled into the Paragon Hotel right on the riverfront, then found a halal restaurant for some lunch. Just relaxed on the balcony for the afternoon and then found an Indian place showing the tennis from Melbourne so watched that for a bit with our curry. Woke up early this morning (thanks to the noise of the traffic) and watched the sun ise over the Mekong. Then went for a little boat tr...

OK, after 4 or so hours in the bus we are here at Phnom Penh again. Unfortunately the Paragon Hotel didn;t have a romm so we are at the Burly Hotel in no less than the VIP suite which for $20 got us 2 beds but more importantly hot water. After lunch we got a tuk tuk out to the Killing Fields which was a sobering experience. Not as grissly as I had been led to believe but very moving. We dropped Don off at the Tuol Sleng prison and museum for more of humanities ability to inflict as much pain ...