Cambodia March 2025

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

The flight from Saigon to Phnom Penh takes about 1.5 hours. There are issues at immigration control. We have a written and an electronic document and assume that one of them is sufficient. Unfortunately not, we are sent back. Second attempt, something is not right for them, Rotraut has to go with an official to his desk, while three officials are summoned for Hans-Werner to discuss something. Ultimately, we get the stamp and are allowed to pass. The reason was that hyphens were missing on the entry documents. What a commotion.

Our tour guide Maroth is already waiting in the arrival hall, outside is our car, which will take us first to our hotel. After a short break, we set off again, driving to the statue of Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, the former King of Cambodia, located in Neak Banh Teuk Park. Additionally, the Independent Monument is in this park. From there, we take a cycle rickshaw, called Cyclo here, to Wat Phnom Pagoda. It was built in 1372 on a 300m high hill, allegedly by a wealthy widow named Daun Chi Penh, after she found 5 Buddha statues in a tree trunk on the banks of the Mekong. Hill translates to Phnom, from which and from the woman's name the city's name Phnom Penh is derived. After that, we continue by car to a boat dock on the Tole Sap and take a sunset cruise on the Mekong. Unfortunately, it is very hazy today. On board, there is beer from Cambodia, which says 'Finest German Brew' on the label's bottle holder. We have dinner at a small restaurant near our hotel. The temperature is so pleasant that we can sit outside.