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Was wondering if anyone else had some "historical" non touristy sites they are aware of.... I'll give some I know of for example.

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Phnom Penh Gun Statue;
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=ph ... &FORM=IGRE

Located in middle of circle roundabout just north of Wat Phnom. In middle of the Kamplerng Kouch Kanong Circle.

I had seen this but didn't know history behind it. While reading the book "Hun Sens Cambodia" by Sebastian Strangio there was some intresting insight (PAGE 94). To quote the book "After the reconing of July 1997 a trimphant Hun Send had sybolized the new status quo by ordering the erection of a small statue of a revolver pointing skywards with a know in it barrel. The statue was designed to commemorate a weapons amnesty, but Hus Sen ordered that it be placed in the sunbaked traffic circle in front of Funcinpec's headquarters in Phnom Penh, where it stood as a constant reminder of the party's defeat."

perhaps someone who knew where the headquarters used to be can see if the barrel (tied) is pointing to where the headquarters used to be? I looked but did not know where it used to be.

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Another place that is slowly being forgotten.

Cambodian stampede memorial stupa near Koh Pich bridge.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/sites/def ... -stupa.jpg

Located just east of Naga World Casino, next to water - South side of bridge before crossing over to Koh Pich.

From what I read online many of the people in the stampede were electrocuted, but the government would not admit to this. Be aware this is a very somber place to visit. If you go dress proper and show respect.


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Now for a lighter note.... I remember hearing that in the movie "City of Ghosts" that the filming location for the "hotel" was actually an active police station somewhere in Phnom Penh. Does anyone know where this is? Other shooting locations from the movie?

If you have some off the beaten path sites in Phnom penh please share. I would love to visit some other places on my next vist. Thanks in advance.

Putting a copy of this thread here in the hope that people will have some suggestions of lesser known places of interest for visitors to Cambodia. We all have friends and relatives who come to visit us and expect us to know the great best-kept secret places.
Well, this is a cheat sheet. All suggestions welcome.

The gun statue is such a rip off nobody even gave credit to the original by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd.

NOT Phnom Penh:

There are many historical sites all over Cambodia. Just explore a bit, you can easily find them.

There are also many non-traditional tourist activities people may find interesting.

Go to a village and watch somebody build a wooden boat.

Watch people growing mushrooms. At one place I helped them a little. They wanted me to come back every day. There are actually 2 types of mushrooms, grown in completely different ways.

There are places where people have weaving machines at home, and make cloth.

I have been to 2 small home ice cream factories.

I went to a village last year and watched traditional dancing at a temple. There were over 100 girls, and about 30 boys. Tourists did not know about this. It was for the people in the village. I am sure most tourists would like to have seen it.

It is interesting to meet the local people, spend some time with them, and find out about their lives. Making friends with good people is one of the most interesting things to do.

At the present time, with the flooding, there are people who go to their homes by boat, or walk through the water. Some have built temporary places to live, and dont even go home. Meet some of these people and see what they are going through.

If you meet poor families and help the children get an education, they will love you for the rest of their lives. Even just buy a bicycle, so they can easily get to school. There are many mothers with children, where the father has left them for another woman, or been killed. Many children have been left with grandmothers or aunts or uncles after the parents have separated, or a parent has died. Help those with a good attitude.

Some of these things are not there all of the time. Someone may build a boat now, but in 3 months time there is nothing to see. They plant mushrooms, and harvest mushrooms, there is a bit more to it, the rest of the time there is little to see. The dancing girls are not there very often.

Just go out exploring, there is so much to see.

i agree with the generous bhikku above.
thus is The Way.

if you meet poor families and help the children get an education, they will love you for the rest of their lives. Even just buy a bicycle, so they can easily get to school. There are many mothers with children, where the father has left them for another woman, or been killed. Many children have been left with grandmothers or aunts or uncles after the parents have separated, or a parent has died. Help those with a good attitude.

Would suggest you visit James the beekeeper, but he seems to have (temporarily, I hope) gone on the paper trail out of necessity. Was doing excellent work with underprivileged people.

you will note buddhist sculpture often portrays the demigods and boddhisatva as having big ears, and even living people with the physical trait are viewed as being wise.
what explorer related was formerly the point of travel.
i think perhaps now not so much

Kampuchia Crumbs wrote: ↑Mon Aug 06, 2018 9:06 pm Located in middle of circle roundabout just north of Wat Phnom. In middle of the Kamplerng Kouch Kanong Circle.

I had seen this but didn't know history behind it. While reading the book "Hun Sens Cambodia" by Sebastian Strangio there was some intresting insight (PAGE 94). To quote the book "After the reconing of July 1997 a trimphant Hun Send had sybolized the new status quo by ordering the erection of a small statue of a revolver pointing skywards with a know in it barrel. The statue was designed to commemorate a weapons amnesty, but Hus Sen ordered that it be placed in the sunbaked traffic circle in front of Funcinpec's headquarters in Phnom Penh, where it stood as a constant reminder of the party's defeat."

perhaps someone who knew where the headquarters used to be can see if the barrel (tied) is pointing to where the headquarters used to be? I looked but did not know where it used to be.

The HQ was on the corner of Monivong and 70, now it's a car dealers. Rannaridh was fired from FUNCINPEC when he sold the HQ and kept most of the money. The gun was made from melted down weapons. It doesn't face the old HQ, it points away from it towards the south.

I'd recommend this book if you're interested in unusual sites around the city:

I remember hearing that in the movie "City of Ghosts" that the filming location for the "hotel" was actually an active police station somewhere in Phnom Penh. Does anyone know where this is? Other shooting locations from the movie?

Much of the movie was made around Post Office Square. The bar that Gerald Depardieu ran is on a corner opposite the PO, and the old police station is on the corner of 98 and 13. It's got a hoarding around it and hasn't been used in a long time, it should be easy enough to visit, you can get in around the back too where they've put up some buildings in the courtyard.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/7days/tim ... chitecture

Thanks to all whom replied to this thread.... good stuff.

I am very very interested in the book "King Noodom's head". It looks to be right up my ally so when I visit next. it's around $25 on amazon, is it at any of the riverside book stops for cheaper (if so I'll get a copy when I'm next in town).

Thanks again.

fax wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 5:48 am The gun statue is such a rip off nobody even gave credit to the original by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd.

NOT Phnom Penh:

Wow, shame on them for not giving credit. I don't remember anything on the plate by statue (will have to dig up my photos and look). Thanks for the info.