Day 4 Wat Phnom, Mekong River and Phnom Oudong

(Photo 1 – 12): Wat Phnom is one of the most important pagodas in Phnom Penh. Built in 1373, it stands at 27 metres and is the tallest religious structure in the city. Built on an artificial hill by the wealthy widow Daun Chi Penh after a great flood washed statues of Buddha downstream, it has since been renovated. There have been many additions to the original shrines over the centuries. The largest stupa houses the ashes of King Ponhea Yat and it is the center of city celebration for the Cambodian New Year, and Pchum Benh.

(Photo 13 – 37): We took a boat ride along the Mekong River to a resort at the Mekong Isle. The resort is not much of a place but I like the dance performance of the amateur boys and girls.

(Photo 38 – 40): On the return leg of our boat trip we came across a thanksgiving ceremony.

(Photo 41 – 55): Phnom Oudong was a former royal capital of Cambodia prior to the current, Phnom Penh. In the year 1866, it was abandoned by King Norodom, taking his royal court along with him. The temple (photo 43 -44) was said to be a gift from the Chinese in the 17th century intending to ruin the feng shui (fortune) of the kingdom (it’s the dragon head). Well the current king has driven another coffin nail by erecting a new pagoda (at the dragon tail) to house the Buddha’s bone (photo 48 – 55).