Last day in Cambodia

Morning was a cyclo ride to the Royal Palace and National Museum.  The palace grounds were one of the few things Pol Pot left standing.  The King was in his palace, but we didn’t seee him.  The buildings are so ornate.  I would love to have the concession on gilt paint.
We then went to the National Museum where there are numerous artifacts that had been looted from the temples and some which have been returned from foreign museums.
In the afternoon we took a tuk-tuk to the central market which is even crazier than the one in Siem Reap.  There were numerous knock offs of North Face, Adidas, etc.
In the evening we had a performance by some kids at a local orphanage.  They did a number of traditional Cambodian danc
es followed by Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal and Gangnam Style. They were so cute.

Floor in the coronation palace

                                                  Fan palm on the palace grounds

                                               Fresco detail

   

                                              Palace fresco

                                                     Cobra and lion guarding the palace

                                              Palace fresco

                                            King’s ceremonial robes

                                                      Monument to the king’s daughter who died of leukemia

                                                      Coronation Palace
                                                 

                              At the museum

 Dean has a new friend

Our guide at the museum

 Monkey statues from one of the temples

 The monkeys were totally type cast

A Difficult Day

In the morning we went to a small village where they make silver items.  No OSHA there!  They just dip their hands in the sulfuric acid cleaning solution and must go deaf from the constant pounding and pinging with no ear protection.  The items are exquisite and intricate.
We then went on an ox cart ride.  Martin Luther (founder of the Lutheran religion) was told by his wife when he had kidney stones to take an ox cart ride on a bumpy road.  We should be set!  W visited the home of a lady who makes rice moonshine.  I didn’t try it as the manufacture was less than clean.
In the afternoon we went to the genocide museum and killing fields.  The brutality and cruelty of the Khmer Rouge was horrifying.  I still can’t get my head around how such a civilized, kind people who have followed Buddhism could become such monsters.  I didn’t take any photos at the genocide museum which was set in a a prison from the time.  There were photos of the prisoners and the guards as well as the cells and some of the torture instruments. Of the close to 4000 prisoners ar this particular prison, only 7 survived.  One of them was there to answer questions.  I wasn’t sure I wanted to see this, but I understand how important it is to confront those demons.  Looking around Phnom Penh now with all it’s urban hustle and bustle, it’s so hard to imagine. Our guide explained that Buddhism has helped people accept and move on.  Me, I want to come back in the next life as a cobra and get revenge.  Need to work on that.

                                            Ox carts lined up

                                           Our hot ride

                                            Floating homes along the river

                                                 Oxen pulling carts

                                                    Our guide Sokun at the silver smiths

Skulls at the killing fields

Up the Mekong

The day started with a visit to the temple at Wat Hanchey.  It is a small Buddhist community on a hill overlooking the river.  We had the opportunity to learn about the lives of the monks there and receive a blessing from them.  We all sat on floor mats in the temple while 2 monks chanted and sprinkled water on us.  Lasted about 10 minutes and was to drive out all evil spirits, bless us with prosperity and good health and revere our ancestors.  It was lovely and peaceful.  I can see why so many people embrace this religion.  They don’t try to convert you or conquor you.  Their principles are basically to be a good person.  Couldn’t be a monk though, they are not allowed to eat after noon!

                                                     Temple ceiling detail

Overlooking the river - check out the pants!

                                                 
      Cannonball tree

                                            Note
 the large fruit and vegetable sculptures

                                                 In the monk’s dining hall

 Dean on the steps up to the temple

                                                    Statue on temple grounds

Our guide with the Buddhist flag

                                                       Receiving the monk’s blessing

Temple exterior

  

Dean receiving the monk’s blessing

                                                     View of the Mekong

                                                     View from the hill

The oldest building from the 9th century

                                                    Carved detail over a window

                                           In the monk’s cafeteria

 The afternoon was spent in a very small town Konpong Louang.  We walked around the town, met some of the locals.  Then we went to a school where we helped teach English.  There were at least 40 kids in the class and we sat with them while they read their workbooks.  It was mostly rote in a sing-song voice, but the kids were very fun.  The lesson finished with a rousing version of Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes and If You’re Happy and You Know It.
The town market was questionable.  Some of the fish were still flopping around.  Dean was not impressed.

Teacher Dean 

In school

In the Market

Chicken egg bananas

 
Reclining Buddha

Bathing cows in the river

Monks at work