Phnom Penh and the Wat Preah Keo

15% work, 80% leisure, 5% fright.  That was how our last day in Cambodia was spent. 

We were back in Phnom Penh the night before and spent our time preparing for the presentation of our visit findings/recommendations. It was a Friday and we were in the office at 8. The Country Director however had urgent meeting until lunch time.  While waiting, we decided to stroll at the park close to the office. 

At the park across our office.

Neeta, trying to chase the golden dragon at the park.
Across the park is the southern gate of the Royal Palace compound.

We then headed to the Royal Palace compound, which is just across the park, only to find out that the Royal Palace itself was closed. When we went in January, they were still in the "mourning period", which lasts for 3 months.  The father of their present king ,  Norodom Sihanouk, whom they fondly call Father King, has passed away in October 2012. During our visit, he still lie in state in the palace,  his face covered by a golden mask.  My Cambodian colleague shared that their Father King is well loved by the people, and many people still troop to the palace to pay their respect, months after he passed away.  At the time of our visit, the palace is already preparing for the cremation of their Father King.

Though we were not able to see the Cambodian Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda , or the Wat Preah Keo, was open to the public.  The Silver Pagoda is within the Royal Palace compound and is the official wat of the King of Cambodia.

The Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh

The Wat Preah Keo is called the Silver Pagoda because of its floor with more than 5,000 silver tiles.  The Silver Pagoda houses the Emerald Buddha, which is why it was also called Wat Preah Keo, or the "Temple of the Emerald Buddha".  Aside from the Emerald Buddha, the wat houses many (and I mean countless, myriad, bountiful, innumerable) Buddha images, including a solid gold Buddha with diamonds embedded in the chest and in the crown . Photo taking was, of course, prohibited. Sadly.

View of the Silver Pagoda from the Keong Preah Bath Shrine, which contains Budhha footprints

I love taking pictures of windows. Each place I have visited has its distinct window design.
Here is one from the Silver Pagoda.

The compound is surrounded by a nice garden, and gives a nice view of the Royal Palace.  

The garden at the pagoda compound and a view of the Royal Palace

There are several structures around the pagoda, like shrines and monuments.

The Dhammasala, an open hall which serves as reception area

One of the Stupas of one of their late kings.

Stupa of Princess Kantha Bopha.

On top of the Kantha Bopha memorial.

We were back in the office by lunch time, had a presentation with the Country Director of our Cambodia office, had lunch and said goodbye to the Kampong Cham team who accompanied us to Phnom Penh.

We wanted to see the killing fields- and our office driver hired a tuktuk to take us there and back.  We had an unfortunate experience, however , with that tuktuk driver, who took us to a nearby museum instead. When we reminded him that our agreement was for him to take us to the killing fields, he said it was not so and if we wanted we have to pay more than what was agreed. After a long argument, we asked him to just take us back to the hotel and we paid him $4 for that very short trip. After we alighted the tuktuk, he was shouting at us, and was looking very angry. I guess because he didn't get what he wanted from us. He did look scary. So, I would say, I will never again take the tuktuk in Phnom Penh. I would rather the hotel arrange for taxi to take me to places next time.

So rather than the killing fields, we ended up at the Central Market, shopping for precious stones and some pasalubongs.  The haggling was another story.