APAD 090: Postal love
This, along with other crafting stuff, came in the mail some weeks ago. They were sent by a very good friend from the US who never fails to surprise me with her thoughtfulness and kindness. I treasure all the presents she sent me but not as much as I treasure her!
Chocolove – chocolate and love in one bar 🙂 Love the postal marks and the golden seal!
Like Christmas, we’re not big on Valentine’s day but I thought this would be a neat entry for today, considering the occasion 😛 People, like my dear, friend drive home the fact, no matter how cliche it may sound, that love – any kind of love – makes the whole go round, indeed 🙂
APAD 088: Temple-hunting
It was the Chinese New Year and my husband and I wanted to escape the city. We finally pushed through with our plan last Sunday. My husband, younger brother and I drove 30-40kms northwest of Phnom Penh and found ourselves heading to Phnom Prasith. There we spent the whole day temple-hunting (and kite-flying afterwards).
Despite the heat and the bumpy and dusty ride, we found what we were looking for, a pre-Angkorian wat (temple) – or what’s left of it, anyway – that sits on top of Phnom Prasith and tucked in the lush vegetation.
There’s just so much more temples to explore if only you are game enough to go off the beaten trail.
Since it is perched up a hill, it is cool, very quiet and offers an excellent panoramic view of the area. Local villagers come here often for their daily prayers and offerings to monks-in-residence. During special Buddhist holidays, such as the Khmer New Year and Bon Pchum Ben, the number of visitors increase as the villagers are joined by local tourists who’ve come to offer prayers and food to the monks and spirits of long-gone ancestors to earn extra merits for their next life.
Although we preferred exploring the area by ourselves but we also didn’t turn down the offer to be toured around by a villager. He really gave us interesting details about the area, for example, behind the altar (picture on the top right), is a tunnel about 16kms long and connects this wat to Phnom Oudong, the old capital of Cambodia (1618-1886) before it was moved to Phnom Penh.
Here are some more pictures:
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- This side of the temple is being overrun by the vegetation.
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- Details of the wall carvings.
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- An altar between huge boulders is housed inside the ruin.,
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- Giant reclining Buddha, in the state of Nirvana.
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- A close up view of the giant reclining Buddha.
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- Eerie – a tree growing out of the wat.
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- A very old stupa, a few meters away from the temple ruins.
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- A relic lying on the ground.
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- A Buddhist angel kneels in prayer.
Please click the individual photo for a larger view.
Don’t forget to come back next week. I will feature another wat. Not as old but equally interesting, too.
APAD 083: The last day of the King-Father’s funeral
The Royal Palace.
This photo was taken very early this morning, 6am-ish, from the Chroy Changvar peninsula.
The mourners, coming from near and far, are gathered in front of the Palace, wearing black and white. They’re all going to be queueing at the Royal Cremation Pavillion to pay their last respects to the King-Father Norodom Sihanouk. A sombre mood prevails. As there was not a sign of wind, yet the funeral music that is playing is carried over across the river.
As final touches are being made, it is going to be an elaborate cremation ceremony later tonight.
Here’s a short vid clip where you can listen to the funeral music.
APAD 082: Overcast
Today is the first of the 4-day funeral for the King-Father Norodom Sihanouk. It is going to be an elaborate ceremony beginning with a procession that will take the former King’s body from the Royal Palace, where it was lying in state, to a cremation site in front of the National Museum just a block away. Millions of people are expected to attend, most of which come from the countryside. The cremation will be held on on February 4.
This photo was taken one afternoon, one week earlier. The sky was overcast, a crowd of mourners wearing white and black gathered, waiting to be ushered inside the Royal Palace.
An overcast sky. Even the sky is mourning the King Father’s death.
APAD 081: Top Banana
A friend of mine and I had the most delicious fish and chips meal at a rooftop restaurant last Tuesday. The place is located in Phnom Penh’s Golden Street, aka Street 278, a lively strip with lots of restaurants, boutiques and guesthouses. As I was descending the staircase, this sign caught my attention:
Top Banana.
You’ll never walk alone.
Bottom: We make cool shit happen.
I like the black over yellow background. It catches one’s attention easily.
It shows the silhouette of the iconic landmarks in Phnom Penh’s riverside area – the Royal Palace, National Museum, to name a few.
Top Banana Guesthouse is a popular place for backpackers looking for fun but cheap accommodation in the Penh.
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