No matter what you want to achieve in Cambodia -- a spirit journey to the land of temples in Siem Reap, mastering the art of bargaining at Phnom Penh's Central Market -- this month's CNNGo has it covered.
In this episode, we travel from the country's capital of Phnom Penh to Siem Reap to find the best noodle stands in local markets, dress like a local rocker, visit a floating village and meet the locals.
Here are five places we visited:
Wat Phnom
Phnom Penh tranquility.Located atop a hill in Phnom Penh, Wat Phnom is one of the city’s major religious spots.
Built in 1373, this Buddhist temple is the tallest religious site in the city.
Visitors come not only to pray, but to buy small birds to release for good luck.
Wat Phnom, Norodom Boulevard, Phnom Penh; open daily 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; $1 for entrance
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Central Market
Thrifty buys.Marked by a golden French colonial-style dome, the Central Market is a tourist-friendly place to shop, though locals still shop here, as well.
A big draw for locals is high quality, secondhand clothes and shoes. It's like a large, practical thrift shop.
There's plenty of local food, from barbecued squid to the Cambodian version of the pancake.
The market is covered, so it’s not a bad stop if you find yourself in Phnom Penh on a rainy day.
Central Market, Neayok Souk, Phnom Penh; open daily 5 a.m.-5 p.m.
Royal Palace
The Big Guy still lives here. The prettiest place in Phnom Penh, the Royal Palace is still the official residence of the King of Cambodia.
Visitors can wander the grounds to see multiple pagodas and other stunning buildings.
It’s just across the street from the Sisowath Quay Waterfront.
Royal Palace, Samdech Sothearos Boulevard, Phnom Penh; open daily 7:30-11 a.m. and 2-5 p.m.; $3 entrance fee plus $2 for each camera and $5 for video camera.
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Mechrey Floating Village
A personal village experience.
Located on a flood plain, Siem Reap has numerous floating villages to visit.
A lesser known village is Mechrey. You can rent a boat for about $60 and have a personalized tour.
Mechrey isn’t a Disneyfied version of a floating village, it’s an authentic example of how people live and work on Tonle Sap Lake.
Mechrey Natural Tourism, Peam Ta Our Village, Keo Por Commune, Puok District, Siem Reap
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Angkor Archaeological Park
Stone wonder.This complex not only includes Angkor Wat, but many smaller, memorable temples, such as Bayon and Ta Prohn.
You can get around by hiring a tour guide, renting a tuk tuk or biking around this 400-square-kilometer wonder.
Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap; open daily 5 a.m.-5 p.m.; an Angkor Pass can be purchased at the entrance from $20 (one-day pass) to $60 (seven-day pass).