I Heart My City: Daisy’s Phnom Penh

Independence Monument at night. (Photo: Sopheak Meng/My Shot)

Posted by I Heart My City on March 28, 2012

Daisy Walsh was busy making her mark on NYC’s ad industry when a good friend, who had been helping restore the temples of Angkor Wat and knew she liked to travel, told her to come visit him in Cambodia. She fell in love with Phnom Penh and found a way to stay. She now works for the Southeast Asia GLOBE, a regional magazine (printed in English) that publishes a special travel and leisure edition called Discover. Check out her advice on what to do (and what to avoid) in a city that was once known as the “Pearl of Asia,” then tell us what you love about Cambodia in the comments section below.

Phnom Penh is My City

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is to the FCC (Foreign Correspondents Club) for happy hour and a peaceful sunset. Well known in the city, the giant colonial building offers a great view of the Mekong and is also as the name suggests where most business and on assignment journalists and media type meet for a drink. As you may have heard, it’s either hot season or rainy season in Cambodia. The best time to visit is in December and January (avoid April-June if you can).

When I crave sushi I always go to Rahu. Slightly more swank and expensive than other local joints, but worth the extra money. The spicy tuna and dynamite sushi roll are super yummy. I was hesitant to do sushi in Cambodia, but surprisingly, Rahu does it right!

To escape traffic I head to the BKK1 district (Beong Keng Kong). A mostly NGO and foreigner area, the streets are peaceful and much quieter than others in the city. Here you can find a plethora of coffee shops and friendly tuk tuk drivers.

For complete quiet, you’re out of luck in this city! You’re going to have to jump on a bus, bike, or get in a taxi to head out towards the countryside.

Women posing for traditional engagement style photos, the quintessential souvenir. (Photo: Daisy Walsh)

If you come to my city, get your picture taken with your friends or significant other in the style of Khmer engagement/wedding photos. It’s quite hilarious to see yourself transformed into a glitzy god or goddess. Regardless of the few hours spent in the hair and make up department, it’s cheap, fun to do, and the quintessential Cambodia souvenir.

Locals know to skip the Riverfront (the city’s crowded main drag) and check out Golden Street instead. Street 278 (Golden Street) is much calmer, with a few outdoor restaurants and nice guesthouses where you can stay, while still being central to the Independence monument and other major streets like Norodom and Sihanouk.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped I brave the traffic and congestion to get to the Sakura Recycle, a Japanese consignment shop. This place can really get you out of a bind with an interesting selection of cheap skirts, tops, shoes, and funky Japanese bags.

For a huge splurge I go to Raffles Grand Hotel. Located nearby the U.S. Embassy, this massive hotel is a peaceful, air-conditioned oasis. With a top notch gym, pool, and elegant Elephant bar, definitely spend a day here to relax and take in the Kipling-inspired (think The Jungle Book) decor. See more pictures and read the rest of the article at www.intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com.