APAD 354: Spirit houses
Golden spirit houses are a common fixture everywhere in Cambodia.
There are no fastfood restaurants with golden arches here yet but we do have lots of establishments that have golden spirit houses at their entrances.
Spirit houses are common fixtures here even in shopping malls. Everyday before stores or shops open to the public, the owners or staff light incense sticks and offer prayers as well as fruits to their dead ancestors to give them good sales, good luck and happiness.
APAD 352: Nature-tripping
O’ Traw Sek Resort, inside the Kirirom National Park in Kampong Speu Province.
This small sign doesn’t look promising but… this I tell you, once you enter and climb up the national park, the temperature gets colder.
If my memory serves me right, “o” or “ou”means “stream” in Khmer language; “traw sek” means cucumber. Put them together and we have Cucumber Stream Resort. But, of course, I may be wrong. I don’t know why it is called as such. No cucumber patch anywhere but there is a stream that winds through boulders of rocks forming small pools and mini-water falls.
Very inviting, isn’t it? I imagined hurling myself into the icy water, lol.
The water is icy! To those who aren’t up for a dip, there are huts to have refreshments or have your meal. The place is so peaceful, you can only hear the sounds of the gurgling stream and jungle insects. This piece of heaven is only over an hour away from Phnom Penh. No wonder this resort is a popular weekend getaway amongst the locals.
APAD 350: Wat Phnom
I took this photo of Wat Phnom while inside a moving vehicle. We were on our way home from the Post Office driving along the street between Electricite du Cambodge and Cambodia Developmment Council.
The stupa, along with a small wat hidden amidst the vegetation, sit on top of the hill. The stupa’s spire looks like it is reaching out to the gods in heaven.
Wat Phnom, or the hill temple, is one of the most beautiful and popular landmarks in Phnom Penh.
According to the local folklore, in 1372 a woman named Penh, retrieved a koki tree from the river. Within the tree were four statues of the Buddha. To commemorate her find, she built the hill and the wat which still exists today, having been renovated many times over the years. Phnom is Khmer for ‘hill’, hence the city is named Phnom Penh, after the hill which she built. The temple has further significance also as inside the stupa are the ashes of King Ponhea who moved the capital from Angkor to present day Phnom Penh. – Source
The stupa rising amidst the canopy of trees caught my eye and immediately snapped this photo. To add more element of interest to the picture, I edited it a monochromatic look and this is what I came up with.
APAD 345: Vimean Eikareach
Also known as the Independence Monument.
A memorial to Cambodia’s war dead and to celebrate the country’s independence.
Built in 1958 and designed by the renowned Cambodian architect, Vann Molyvann, to celebrate Cambodia’s independence from the French (1953).
It is in the form of a lotus-shaped stupa, of the style seen at the great Khmer temple at Angkor Wat and other Khmer historical sites. It is adorned with nagas or the seven-headed snakes. The above photo was taken from south of Norodom Boulevard.
APAD 344: Pretty yellow summer flowers
It is still hot and dry in Phnom Penh despite the fact that we are supposed to be already in the rainy/wet season. The heat is sweltering and one time two weeks ago I stayed outdoors flying kites for a few hours and got myself a nasty sunburn. I’m still waiting for my sunburn to heal
Anyways, speaking of summers… summers in Cambodia meant the blossoming of the of these flower trees around the city, called phka loeung or royal yellow flower. Aren’t they pretty?
These pretty royal yellow flowers are what cherry blossoms are in Tokyo.
I believe the summer season in the Penh is not complete without these pretty yellow blossoms! So you see, even these flower trees are confused about the weather.
APAD 343: Seriously?
At the outset I have to say that these photos aren’t mine but they are circulating around the Cambodian blogosphere. I saw them over Khmer440 and, because of their high amusement value, decided to post them here for this week’s Signs meme instead of the one I already have prepared for posting.
Angry Birds popularity in Cambodia is in an all-time high and everyone is cashin in on it.
Photo Source, above and below: Khmer440
And, as if not enough, someone posted another equally amusing sign…
I wonder if there is a G.O.O.D. school somewhere …
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