APAD 174: Visit
State visit.
The past weekend, Cambodia welcomed its visitors from New Zealand – Lt. Gen. Rt. Hon. Sir Gerry Mateparae, Governor-General of New Zealand, and his wife, Lady Janine Mateparae. They are in the country upon the invitation of the Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni. According to reports, they were accorded an official welcome and received by the King.
APAD 084: Signs of mourning
Yesterday, on the last day of the King-Father Norodom Sihanouk’s funeral, the whole capital of Phnom Penh stopped as the Cambodians paid their last respects to the King-Father. Nearly everyone was wearing black and white.
My husband and I didn’t dare venture to the riverside – where the Royal Palace and the Royal Cremation Pavillion are – since the day one of the funeral ceremony. While it is closed to the general public, there was a crowd of mourners there, day in and day out. Instead we drove outside the city last Saturday, to Oudong which was the ancient capital of Cambodia.
Along the way, we saw flags in half-mast lined up the roads. Some houses put up a small altar with a picture of the King-Father and candles and incense sticks in their yards. The local wats (temples), on the other hand, have set up a more elaborate altar open to anyone who wants to pray and pay their respects to the King-Father.
Half-mast flags and a roadside altar just outside a wat.
Here’s another altar outside a wat. Some people who could not travel to the city are encouraged to visit local wats such as above and below to offer their prayers for the King-Father.
Another altar, closer view.
The picture below shows a “ghost flag” flying over Wat Chey Oudom. The flag is in the shape of an “x-rayed body” and is usually displayed at the wats, or the house of the deceased, where a funeral ceremony is being held. For non-Buddhists, it’s like an RIP banner of sorts. In Buddhism, this “ghost flag” represents the soul moving on to the other world.
A ghost flag flies quietly, representing the soul of the deceased moving on.
Here is a fellow blogger’s account of the funeral ceremony, LTO Cambodia. He was fortunate to be able to go and see the funeral proceedings.
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.
A Silver Finish!
Certified!
Follow Us!