We did the Riverfront Walk itinerary backwards and started the tour at Wat Phnom.
Took a tuktuk here from the Central Market.
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Wat Phnom
Northern end of town. Set on top of a tree-covered knoll 27m high, Wat Phnom is the only hill in town. According to legend, the first pagoda on this site was erected in 1373 to house four statues of Buddha deposited here by the waters of the Mekong and discovered by a woman name, Penh. The main entrance to Wat Phnom is via the grand eastern staircase, which is guarded by lions and naga (snake) balustrades. Today, many people come here to pray for good luck and success in school exams or business affairs. When a petitioner's wish is granted, he or she returns to make the offering (such as a garland of jasmine flowers or bananas, of which the spirits are said to be especially fond) promised when the request was made.
GUESS who we saw there??
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SAM BO the working elephant! and she is crossing her legs while using a sugar cane to flick the flies away!
wj reading the map...we are trying very hard to find Raffles le Royal for our treat!
Bypass a children's hospital, a red-bricked "grid" solid facade wall which continues to a green moss wall! So green! and of cos, the weather was H.O.T
green mossy wall + redbrick dormitories + ahren at the bibliotheque.
Bibliothèque Nationale du Cambodge
From the outside, the building looks very impressive. Its entrance is maintained by two greek pilars.
On the wall, on the right in french and the left in khmer, a sentence evokes the power of the ideas .
The collection of books comes from donations before 1975 and after 1979.
The city's colonial landmark hotel, Raffles Le Royal. Since we've made it this far, we rewarded ourselves with a drink at the famous Elephant Bar. 50% off selected drinks from 4pm.
ps: Don't leave without sampling the delectable tiny pastries at the Le Phnom deli (only $0.50 a piece, half price after 6 PM).
the elephant bar-drink counter...a single flame can set this whole place on fire! Look at all the bottles of hard liquor!
Pool anyone?
Above: me taking a picture of the toilet! Pretty Pretty! Carrying on our Riverfront walk itinerary, we bypassed Wat Phnom again, this time i took the "entrance" of it where the Nagas are keeping guard. Next stop....The Central Post Office!
The Central Post Office, a large, yellow French colonial building with high ceilings and wide windows and doors: a sanctuary from the tropical heat and monsoon rains.
onwards onto our Riverfront walk....boys playing "cha-tek" in PP!
and we found our chocolate cookie boutique~!
walk. snap. walk.
walk. shop. walk
along the way, i popped into a silk shop store and bought 7 silk bags in a row!
*guilt*
they are too pretty to resist!!! plus they were made from hand-made silk from disabled people, so i'm spreading my US dollars to other cambodians as well, not just to expatriates who open so many restaurants and hotels over here. Sooooo...i'm doing some good too i guess, in my warped way.
1800: Dinner at FCC (Foreign Correspondence Club) on 2nd storey. Right beside it is “Happy Painting Gallery”
ps: think it's after 6pm and it's Happy Hour so all drinks are half priced!
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