Just 40 minutes outside of the city and you feel a world away.

The Killing Fields museum. The stupa in the distance is a glass filled shrine housing 8,000 human skulls.

The stilts help protect from floods

Inside the royal place

When I visited Angkor Wat in 2000 I traveled overland from Thailand and spent 14 hours from the Thai border in the back of a pickup truck bouncing over a dirt road the whole way. Now there are sealed roads that cross the whole country and the trip only takes about 4 hours!

Phenom Penh is booming and what was once a backpacker haven is now a full blown family tourist destination. Unfortunately the economic boom has not kept pace with governmental reform and corruption is running rampant. Land speculation is driving corruption and the forced evictions of thousands of people from their lands. Basically, companies “buy” land from the government and then evict the real owners of the land.

The small shacks on the right is one community that is under threat. The contrast is amazing as you go from small wooden houses on the right, to government social housing in the middle and a brand new government building on the left.

The community is resisting as best it can. The banner reads “resist forced evictions” and many houses display them outside of their homes. However, the people are frequently harassed by the police and offered bribes by the company to sell out their neighbors. One woman told me a story of how the police arrested her and then beat her for 5 days straight before dumping her back at her home.

I spent my three weeks at a beautiful little boutique hotel that opened recently called Villa Langka. The staff where very friendly and the food was great. After 3 weeks I became a bit tired of the menu, however, there were plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance.

On the way to work I pass spirit houses for sale

After work I let boats pass me as I relax with a gin and tonic by the riverside

Heading towards the river the road is wide and beautiful as you pass the royal palace

Beautiful old colonial buildings mix with tropical greenery

Many families depend on the river for their livelihoods

A rickshaw driver taking an afternoon break in the shade

Royal Palace with the Buddha’s head at the top

Another view of the road in front of the royal palace

Run…Run! You only have 94 Seconds left!

Young monks out for a stroll

Life on the river

Boats are on the river at all times of the day. We hired a boat for a sunset cruise, drinks and some Khmer karaoke.

Three weeks in Phenom Penh, Cambodia is a post from: Todd's Wanderings