Traditional Dance

We also saw a couple of folk dances
which were quite lively and funny.

Cambodia's Traditional Dance

 The elaborate hand gestures represent various elements such as flowering, falling, while the   costumes represent royalty

Utility poles and wiring

Throughout Phnom Penh many street corners have poles with jumbles of wiring like these pictures. There are zillions of wires going every which way, many of them not connected to anything.  However, what I've been able to ascertain is that many of these wires are illegal with people "throwing" a cable and connecting it to their home. 

Lunch Time

Fish amok is one of the most well-known dishes, with the addition of slok ngor, a local herb that imparts a subtly bitter flavor. This is a boiled shrimp version with fresh coconut milk and kroeung, a type of Khmer curry paste made from lemongrass, turmeric root, and other wonderful herbs.

The other dish we shared was a spicy dish of chicken, and fresh vegetables. 

National Museum of Cambodia

The National Museum of Cambodia houses one of the world's greatest collections of Khmer cultural material including sculpture, ceramics and ethnographic objects from the prehistoric, pre-Angkorian, Angkorian and post-Angkorian periods. Unfortunately there is no photography allowed inside.  Also, it is poorly maintained with plaques missing, and objects not protected.  
The one fascinating room was about France's influence to recruit Cambodians to fight for France during WW1

One end of the spectrum to the other

It's difficult to see but the picture to the right is black chicken.  Apparently it is black outside and in.  Many people seem to love it - however it does not look appealing to me.
The picture above shows some of the many sweets that the Cambodians love, sticky sweet rice mixtures, taro-based sweet treats, and pumpkin.  The texture is unappealing to me (very mushy) so I don't usually have any of these treats.

Yes, I tried these!

Sesame Juice - the seeds are soft and squishy- almost like bubble tea

Actually- not bad.....

Aeon Mall

Aeon Mall is a Japanese conglomerate that has branches in Indonesia and Cambodia.  Regina loves the food court, so while she was scoping out what we would have for dinner, I wandered around looking at all the interesting foods.

I thought of Ronald Reagan when I saw this - ketchup is a vegetable 

On April 17, 1975 about 800 foreigners and 600 Cambodians took refuge in the French embassy as Khmer Rouge was wreaking havoc. Within 48 hours, the Khmer Rouge informed the French vice-consul that they did not recognize diplomatic privileges – and if the Cambodians in the compound were not handed over, the lives of the foreigners inside would also be forfeited. Tragically the Cambodians left, many never to be seen again.  Although we could not get into the Embassy, we did stop to see the massive white wall that now surrounds the compound. 

This is our lunch at the Central Market

The spring rolls were fresh and delicious, the fried vegetable roll - not so much.  The barbecued shrimp was delicious, once you pulled off the head.  The condiment that they use (white small dish with red sauce) is similar in taste to a vinegar based hot sauce.  And of course there is plenty of kampot pepper everywhere!

Lunch Time in the Central MarketW

We tried to find out what this was - we think it's part of the intestines of pig

snails - so you can make escargot

Central Market

One of the stall owner's little girl kept waving at me- but when I went to take her picture -so serious!

After an exhausting tour of everything royal, Regina and I headed over to the central market. This is a beautiful art-deco building has order and cleanliness that wasn't seen in the Russian Market. We bargained for some souvenirs but our main objective was to find lunch!

The Silver Pagoda inside the Royal Compound

The extravagant Silver Pagoda, the floor of which is covered with five tons of gleaming silver, which has the fleur de lis of the French.  You can sneak a peek at some of the 5000 tiles near the entrance - most are covered to protect them. 

The staircase leading to the Silver Pagoda is made of Italian marble. Inside, the Emerald Buddha, said to be made of one piece of emerald sits on a gilt pedestal high atop the dais. In front of the dais stands a life-sized gold Buddha decorated with 9584 diamonds, the largest of which weighs 25 carats. Created in the palace workshops during 1906 and 1907, the gold Buddha weighs in at close to 200 lbs. Directly in front of it, in a Formica case, is a miniature silver-and-gold stupa containing a relic of Buddha brought from Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed to be taken inside - so here is just the outside.

Royal Transportation

These two view of the palanquin's is the one's the current king use for his coronation. The other palanquin is one that is used for riding on an elephant.

Royal Palace

Traditional instruments 

Weaving the silk threads - quickly!

Spools of silk thread

Royal Palace

Traditional instruments 

Weaving the silk threads - quickly!

Spools of silk thread

Elephant Bar

After a long hot day of sightseeing it was a welcome relief to relax in the comfort of the Elephant Bar located in the Raffles Hotel.  While a gentleman played the piano, Regina and I sipped drinks and noshed on snack food.  

Phnom Mondop 

Elephant Bar

Pimm's Cup  for me, airaveata for Regina

Dried banana slices with Cambodia's ubiquitous pepper

Phnom Mondop part of the Royal Palace grounds

Phnom Mondop (Mount Mondop, where the statue of Preah Ko is situated). This  is an artificial hill with a pavilion housing a bronze footprint of the Buddha from Sri Lanka. Many people write wishes and desires on the plant leaves going up the "mountain"

Royal Palace in Phnom Penh

gold scroll holders

One of the many royal hats

With its classic Khmer roofs and lavish decoration, the Royal Palace dominates the skyline of Phnom Penh. The palace has been the home for the royal family during peace times since the 1860’s, when the capital city was moved from Oudong. This complex of buildings has 4 main structures, the Silver Pagoda, the Khemarin Palace, the Throne Hall and the Inner Court. Though half of the compound is considered the king’s residence and is closed to the public, the other areas  be explored freely. There was a great deal of activity - one of the ministers was coming to see the king. 

Wat Ounalom

Furniture is dark, heavy and huge

During the regime of the Khmer Rouge, many of the buildings along with many religious statues and symbols were damaged, but most of which have since been restored. The buildings are used for a variety of purposes. There is the temple itself, schools, libraries, living quarters and the stupa that gives the temple its name; the stupa holds an Ounalum, a hair from the eyebrow of the Buddha.