#2000 Cannot log in to the MySQL server -phpmyadmin

Signed up EC2 instance and created an image then moved to VPC (terminated the EC2 instance).

Do not remember any password used in machine build wizard.

1. I changed the mysql root password and able to login with $ mysql -u root -p.
2. updated $cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = 'mynewpwd' in /opt/bitnami/apps/phpmyadmin/htdocs/config.inc.php.
3. trying to login at http://127.0.0.1:8888/phpmyadmin/ with username root + mynewpwd and getting "#1045 Cannot log in to the MySQL server" ERROR.

Is there any other place I need to update the password? Please help.

Thanks, Adi.