Khmer Excursion, Phnom Penh culture

It was a two week rendezvous in the beautiful capital city of Cambodia and just like that, I am back in Ho Chi Minh City. I still feel as if I will wake up tomorrow morning and walk to school just as I have for the past two weeks. I think it’s the warmth of the city that brings back so much fond memories. Everything was within a walking distance and if not, tuk tuk’s were available at every corner. Tuk Tuk’s are like the upgraded versions of the “xich lo” we have in Vietnam. It cost about 1-4 USD to get around town and suprisingly enough, they speak fairly good english. I practiced a few negotiation deals with a few and about two days into our trip, I was hopping on every tuk tuk at a local price. The locals have been pleasant and we didn’t encounter any misfortunes luckily. I was entirely nieve coming into Cambodia. I did no type of research and had no plans what-so-ever on where to go and what to do. I kind of wanted it to take me by suprise and it sure did. Beyond the golden gates of the palaces and temples in Phnom Penh lie great beauties and history of Khmer people (Khmer is the Cambodian language).

“Gate to Royal Palace”

The first construction of the Royal Palace took place in 1434 in Oudong, It was not until 1866 that Kind Norodom 1 moved the capital city from Oudong to Phnom Penh.The Royal Palace was then again rebuilt in 1866 and stands to present day. The is a huge site divided into three main sections and intersects four rivers.

 
Inside The Royal Palace.

Once you step into this grand luxurious place, your eyes will be mesmerized by partically every little detail of the structures, artifacts, decorations and natural beauties. I would’ve gotten lost without the map. Visitors are able to wander the palace but there are restricted areas. The Khemarin Palace compound is where Norodom Sihamoni, the present King of Cambodia currently resides.

 
Wat Phnom, Spiritual heart of the Capital(Phnom Penh). Monkeys and elephants roam the temple.

Aside from the wealth of history of the city, Now Phnom Penh is economically developed and a global tourist destination.

Phsar Thom Thmei built in 1937 (main shopping center)

Western-style is a global influence and has captivated the heart of Cambodia as well.

 
Sovanna Shopping Center

Phnom Penh Known as the “Pearl of Asia” in 1920s

Hello from Cambodia

I arrived in Cambodia around 7pm Saturday. My cousin and I took a mini walking tour of the area and came back to our guesthouse to shower and rest. My routine thus far has been vigorous. I wake up around 5-6 latest 7 every morning, have breakfast and tour or run errands daily. I come back to my aunt’s house in Vietnam or the guesthouse in Cambodia to take an afternoon nap, shower about 3-5 times daily and finish off my night around 9, 10 latest. On my trip to Cambodia, I got held back at the border (go figure!) because my visa was not attached to my passport and it was required for my passage into Cambodia. I had to stay behind and wait two hours until the next tour bus came. Finally set sail and crossed a ferry across the Mekong River. The site of the Cambodian country side is amazing.

We finally start education training tomorrow. Cambodia is currently celebrating a festival and our coordinator tells us that the major cities typically becomes a little desserted because everyone is spending time with their families in the country and attending temple ceremonies.

I am a bit tired by now. The internet connection here is extremely too slow for me to upload my massive gallery of pictures so a few will just have to do for now.

October 1, 2008..

I’m writing these posts a little backwards. Since I have the opportunity to post my most recent pictures, i’ll take some time doing that now and catching up on everything else once the ball starts rolling in Vietnam. Cambodian holiday is now over and school is back in session but the streets are still as crowded as I thought it would be.

We thought a typhoon was coming, there was a gust of strong winds hereand a hurricane warning for Taiwan and parts of southeast Asia. Nothing too extreme for us here in Phnom Penh besides the usual rain. It’s actually helped with the humidity and extreme heat.

My classmates and cousin at the end and a photo of class in session. Time to head back.