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Published: January 18th 2008
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Well First impressions of Phnom Penh were not good. But it is growing on me. It’s nice to be back to real life after Singapore, which really is a soulless place. But Cambodia is a shock to the system after 3 days in Singapore. Bali is meant to be hard work but it was tranquil compared to here….
We are on the river front which is continuously busy.. Cars. Trucks. Bikes and Boats…. There is a lingering whiff of fish, which is great first thing in the morning when we open our French doors onto our balcony…. You are endlessly asked if you want a tuk tuk or books or sunglasses…. But the hawkers are not that bad, as they leave you alone if you smile and say not now….. Both the girls are getting a lot of attention, which I am hoping is just friendly…. But I wont think about that one…..
We arrived worn out and had a cab waiting for us at the airport, which was great…(spotting two old Slimelighters going through passport control… they get bloody everywhere!!!!)…. It’s amazing how a short flight can still feel like a 12 hour one…. We settled in, ate and passed
out!!!!
We are getting used to not rushing about now… After the first few months of having to always be on the move. It is bliss to stay in bed and not have to check out at silly o’clock in the morning…. Although we are finding it good to be out early to beat the crowds and the heat.
We had a late Brunch and went of for a wander fending off the Tuk Tuk drivers. Our guest house is half way between all the main sites which is great. First stop was Wat Phnom which is the original founding place of the city. Wat means Pagoda/ Temple and Phnom means hill….. It’s a strange mix of Old and new stone work. And surrounded by gardens. It is said to date back to 1372 when Lady Phenh built a hill with the Wat on it to house a Buddha she had found. We had small birds forced on us by a hawker that said if we let them go it is good luck… He pulled 2 out of the cage he was carrying round and gave them to the girls. Which they thought was great…. $1.00 each Ellie let hers
Aishas Bird Wat Phnom
Aisha and her little Bird... She did let it go.. go. Aisha of course wanted to keep hers and love it for ever and ever….. There were people with Monkeys sat around, this time they didn’t go for my glasses….. And a number of amputees, which Aisha was a little disturbed by….
We then went off to see the New Market as it is only down the road… This is an amazing building that dominates the whole area…. It’s a huge yellow dome shaped building with stalls of everything you an imagine it’s laid out with jewellery on one side, clothes on another, then food and on the last side electronic/home wear’s. I think this is where all the old singer sewing machines must be as there are seamstresses lined up ready to make whatever you ask….
After the market we had had enough and needed food and showers, so we called it a day.
Didn’t do much the next day…. We had a wander and fell upon the locals market, but that’s about it…
Today we went to the Palace, the Silver Pagoda, the Museum and completely by accident Wat Ounalon.
We decided we needed to get up early to do the Palace as it is so much quieter
King Sisowath
I thought this was one of them Mime Statues... I think I've been watching Hot Fuzz too much!!!!! in the morning…. So off we plodded to where we thought the palace was…. We wandered into the gates of a grand looking Temple and followed a few other tourist round thinking this is a lot smaller than we were expecting…. It was not the Palace. Wat Ounalun is actually a Pagoda that is believed to be built on the Buddha’s eyebrow….. Yeah I did say eyebrow…. I cant remember the story but It’s one of the original Temples of Phnom Penh. Anyway we were quite happily bumbling around. No one else about cos they are all at the Palace, When an old guy comes out and beckons us over to the Pagoda….. He unlocks the huge wooden doors and invites us in. The exterior is much the same as the other pagodas we have now been in…. they like their flashing lights, and you have the offering tables and Buddha’s…. but the main room (if you can call it that) is more of a cave… it was made from ancient looking stone blocks, and went right up to he top of the pagoda… the doorway in is also very low….. We followed our host in and he was talking
in Khmer so we couldn’t understand. He indicated for us to sit so we did and told us it was very old…. And that the Buddha’s eyebrow is here…. Then he lit us each an incense which we offered to the Buddha and he blessed us while chanting…… so we have been blessed by the Buddha’s eyebrow….!!??!!…. It was quite amazing… I don’t know if they often do that or if he just thought we needed it…. But it was good….
After that we found the Museum and had a wander round there. It was staring to get to hot though so we headed off for refreshments.
We finally found the real Palace and how we could confuse it Buddha only knows!!! It’s huge!!! It’s Grand!!! It’s Gold and very very ‘Purdy’!!!!
We have lot’s of pics so I will let them do the talking…. Although you can’t take any inside a lot of the building’s. compared to the city outside it is Tranquil and peaceful. Even though we spent a few hours there we came out feeling refreshed. It was built in 1866 and has been renovated regularly, the only building that has not is the Napolean III Pavilion
Central Market
Sorry Crap pic but I'm not standing in the middle of the rd for noone!!!!! which is a beautiful old French colonial building. That is completely out of place next to the amazing Pagodas and Temples…. Saying that it was built when the French were in charge…. I will let the picture’s show you as I cant even find the words….
We left by Tuk Tuk as we were all tired… The girls thought it was great, Monk spotting as we rode back…I find it amusing seeing these guys in their saffron robes carrying laptops.... Anyone know what you call a collection of Monks????
Anyway it is late and we have another day of fun and games tomorrow Good night…..
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sarah
non-member comment
wow
I so wish I was there, keep enjoing it guys sarah