Educational and Cultural Visits
The purpose of the tours is to provide an opportunity for international visitors to gain insights into the Cambodian educational context, culture, and history as well as the city life and views of Phnom Penh.
For presenters at the conference this is an excellent opportunity, prior to presenting to a predominantly Cambodian audience, to gain first-hand impressions of local schools and the local learning environment. For first-time visitors to Cambodia, these tours will enhance your experience of the country and provide you with a better understanding of the educational context of the CamTESOL conference as well as the culture and lifestyles of the Cambodian people.
Participants may choose between the following organised tours:
1. City Tour of Phnom Penh
2. Cultural Tour
4. Mekong River Cruise
6. Public Schools - Tuol Tom Poung Primary School and Tuol Tom Poung High School
7. Regional Teacher Training Centre (RTTC-Takmao)
Educational and Cultural Visits are scheduled for the morning of Friday 17 February 2017. Tours will commence promptly at 08:30 and finish after lunch at 13:30. Pick-up will take place at the poolside area of the Cambodiana Hotel with registration starting from 07.30. There will be a maximum number of participants on each tour.
Tour #1: City Tour of Phnom Penh This is a cyclo ride tour of the city. The cyclo is a Khmer traditional tricycle that was popularly used in Cambodia in the past. The tour will give first-time visitors to Cambodia a glance at some iconic views and cultural sites of Phnom Penh, the capital city of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The cyclo ride takes place along the riverfront passing by the Royal Palace toward Wat Phnom, a Buddhist pagoda which gives the city its name and is the only “hill” in town. Visitors will spend about 30 minutes visiting historical and cultural sites before heading toward the Independence Monument. Visitors will also visit the statue of the late King Norodom Sihanouk. | |  |
| Wat Phnom Located in central Phnom Penh on top of a 27m-high tree-covered knoll, Wat Phnom gives the capital its name. Legend has it that the first pagoda erected in 1373 to house four statues of Buddha brought in on the Mekong River and discovered by Madame Penh. The temple sanctuary was rebuilt in 1434, 1806, 1894 and 1926. A huge stupa situated on the west containing the ashes of King Ponhea Yat (1405-67). Today it is become a popular place for people to come to pray for good luck and success. The offerings such as a garland of jasmine flowers or a bunch of bananas will be delivered to the spirit as promised when the wish is granted. | | 
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Independence Monument An Angkorian-style tower, Independence Monument (Vimean Ekareach in Khmer) was built in 1958 to symbolise Cambodian Independence Day after winning back independence from French colonial rule on 09 November 1953. With its spectacular unique style, the Independence Monument attracts many tourists every day. Moreover, the Independence Monument is also used as a memorial place dedicated to Cambodian patriots. | | 
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Tour #2: Cultural Tour The Royal Palace The Royal Palace was built in 1866 during the reign of King Norodom. Around the palace there are a number of classic Khmer-style buildings, notably the Silver Pagoda. The Silver Pagoda was built by King Norodom in 1892 and rebuilt by Norodom Sihanouk (1926-2012). The floor of the Silver Pagoda contains 5,000 silver tiles, each of them said to weigh 1 kilogram. Nearby Hor Samrin Phirun houses a collection of gifts from foreign heads of state. Look for the Napoleon III Pavilion, a gift to King Norodom in 1876; this European building is strikingly different from other buildings in the palace grounds. | | 
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The National Museum The magnificent building of the National Museum of Cambodia was inaugurated in April 1920. George Grolier, (1887-1945) historian, curator and writer who encouraged the revival of traditional Cambodian Arts and Crafts designed the building. The Museum, now under the direction of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, houses a collection of Khmer cultural materials, including stone sculptures, bronzes, ceramics and ancient historical pottery. The building has a beautiful central courtyard and garden, a haven of peace on a hot day. There is also a small research library for the use of museum staff, researchers and students of the Royal University of Fine Arts. This library has a small but quite significant collection of books and journals in Khmer, French, and English, mostly books on art and archaeology, and museology. | | 
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Tour #4: Mekong River Cruise Cambodia is a land of water and the perfect place to experience an exciting boat trip. The Mekong River flows through the centre of the country. Right in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh is where the Mekong gives birth to three other rivers including the Tonle Sap, Bassac River and the Lower Mekong that flows to the sea. The Tonle Sap is the only river in the world where the water current reverses between the rainy and dry seasons. A boat cruise through the four rivers area offers excellent views of Phnom Penh and the Royal Palace. Continuing the river cruise up the Mekong, we reach a silk village where we will stop to explore silk weaving and a temple. | | 
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Tour #6: Public Schools - Tuol Tom Poung Primary School and Tuol Tom Poung High School
Tuol Tom Poung Primary School and High School are located in the south part of Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city of Cambodia. The schools were built in 1954, and later were relocated to the area next to Tuol Tom Poung Pagoda. Except the closure during the Pol Pot Regime 1975-1979, the schools have then served as primary source of education for the neighborhoods.
Tour #7: Regional Teacher Training Centre (RTTC-Takmao)
RTTC-Takhmao is one of the six Regional Teacher Training Centres in Cambodia. It is located in Takhmao Town of Kandal Province, about 25 minutes from Phnom Penh. Its main role is to prepare future lower secondary school teachers in an assigned subject such as Khmer Literature, Mathematics, Sciences, English language and Pedagogy. Each year RTTC-Takhmao trains around 500 trainees from the provinces of Kandal, Kompong Chhnang and Kompong Speu.