Phnom Penh Arrival: Week 11 / Day 66 / March 17
Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Linda and I met up in the Hong Kong airport after our respective arrivals from Boston and Sydney. We had to spend a few hours on our layover and then travelled on to Phnom Penh. Arriving in Phnom Penh, it was every bit as hot as Bangkok was when I left. We grabbed a tuk-tuk to our hotel and checked-in.
Being back with Linda again, I decided to resume my liquid mishaps and knocked over my glass of water as we were registering. After resting for a bit we headed out to check out the local area. Our hotel is right next to the Royal Palace and down the street from Wat Botum Park.
We walked down towards the Mekong River passing the City Courthouse and multiple produce stands along the way.
We later learned that the green discs / pods in the background in the second picture are the seed pods of the Lotus Flower.
When we got to the Mekong River we looked at the boats (some of which seemed to rest frighteningly low in the water) and found a place to eat.
Over dinner I continued my renewed interest in spills and knocked over and broke my beer glass. Good times.
We continued to walk down river and visited an area of shops and spots for people to take pictures.
Leaving this area we turned back up river, passing a dog and her pups along the way.
There is a long park that borders the river in this area. Throughout the park there is a thriving trade in various foods and in fortune telling / card reading.
In the center of the park is a pair of temples at which people were leaving offerings and burning incense.
Near the temples were groups of people playing Sei Pen (or shuttlecock kicking). The ability to accurately kick the shuttlecock in a high looping arc to someone else was amazing. The players with more flair would use the sole of the foot behind the plant leg.
In the same area were boys playing soccer with a Sepak Takraw (kick volleyball) ball.
After walking through the park for a while we headed into the Wat Ounalom monastery.
Built in 1443, this monastery has a total of 44 buildings and is regarded as the most important Wat in Phnom Penh. Located within the center of the complex is a stupa that holds an eyebrow hair of the Buddha.
We walked through the rest of the monastery and then headed back to the hotel.
Check out the Dine in the dark restaurant! It’s about $18/dinner and such a great experience. It’s kind of in between the grand place and central market. They employ servers that are blind. Khmer food 🙂
Making a splash!
Your blog and photos are fantastic. I look forward to the book!