The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh and Kratie, Cambodia
Today, we visited the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda before heading to Kratie. The Royal Palace was only about a three-block walk from Star Royal Hotel. The roads were in the process of being blocked by the military because the King was going to be motoring through this area. A new guide but ex-Marine and I excused ourselves and set off for the Silver Pagoda since we'd explored the Palace thoroughly in 1999.
The Royal Palace gleamed in gold. It is home to His Majesty Preah Bat smdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk (quite a long name). His Majesty is unmarried and supposed to be a very "good dancer." Many different Temples and Stupas within the complex. Photography is permitted outside the enclosed areas only. Fantastic murals that are supposed to be the biggest mural frescos in Southeast Asia...View image..., and the square in front of the Silver Pagoda was calm, serene and very picturesque with the many "spirit houses."
But nothing compares to the Silver Pagoda. Inside is a magnificent 17th century emerald Buddha statue made of Baccarat cuystal and solid gold. It weighs 90 kilos/198 pounds and is adorned with 9,584 diamonds. "You ain't seen nothin folks..." Too many other Buddhas and statues to count. In silver, gold and more diamonds in them. This is the must see sight in Phnom Penh. (Best I could do photography-wise since no photos are allowed inside the Silver Pagoda.)
As the day's first visitors in the thankfully quiet Silver Pagoda, we (by chance) witnessed the head monk and other monks appearing in front of the Silver Pagoda for the daily offerings of alms and prayers.
We stopped along the road for a pre-ordered lunch (to save time). The two choices were usually rice with vegetables or meats, and noodles with vegetables or meats. Not the greatest (or tastiest) and by the end of the trip, most of us were packing our own lunches. When the trash bag inside the bus filled up with empty plastic water bottles, we distributed the entire bag to a child who then sold them.
Past cashew fields...not the season for them yet, across a long bridge built by the Japanese, a longer stop by Lotus fields. Lotus' are grown for fruit and sold along the road. Remember? You take out the seeds and peel them. One man was waist-deep in the swampy water slashing down old Lotus plants. The flowers were beautiful.
The ride to Krati was over another bad, bumpy and dusty road for several hours. I spent the time nodding off...jerking awake...nodding off again...hoping that I didn't get whiplash.
Kratie is a small town, situated on the east bank of the Mekong River, and well preserved during the war with many older Khmer and French houses still remaining. Since this was another late arrival, there was really no time to visit Kratie. It could possibly be a nice place to spend more than one night. I can't recommend based on the limited time there. A fast shower and pretty bad group dinner. ...View image... We weren't the only exhausted ones. Lynn was practically falling asleep in her dinner plate.
Kratie
