Day 18 - Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Thursday, May 23, 2013

The plan for today:  We traveled by bus from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which took about 6 hours.  Lots of things to see out the window.  We checked into our hotel, the Hotel Cambodiana and had hoped to view the Royal Palace and grounds.

One last look at the Tara Angkor Hotel 

before leaving Siem Reap, Cambodia 

and their gift shop

We were up at 6:00 am and did not waste any time heading to the wonderful buffet downstairs.  There were American and Asian items.  Lettuce salads and bowls of soup seem to be a favorite for some people.  There are always French pastries, due to the French influence in this area over the years.  I decided to eat well, since I learned yesterday, that I'm not sure when my next meal will be!  

Our first leg of the journey to Phnom Penh began at 7:45 when we were picked up by a small bus which was to take us to the big bus at the hub.  There were several stops on the way to pick up other passengers; travelers of all ages and from other countries.  The young people always have huge backpacks -- the kind that hikers use.  We arrived at the Giant Ibis bus hub, checked our bags and boarded.  Fortunately, we had reserved seats which were on the front row where we could see out.  It was very, very nice with controlled a/c and a large screen for movies.  They gave us bottled water and French croissants.  We traveled on a 2-lane paved highway for 6 hours (314 km) for $16.00 each.  We had two "toilet" breaks and a lunch break.  The best part, we didn't have to cross a border!  

Taking a plane would have been $250.00 and a boat, $50.00.  My husband's original idea was to take a 6-hour ferry from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh down the Tonie Sap Lake and the Tonie Sap River.  That is a scarey thought!  I am glad that my view out the window is mostly farmland.  There are many motorbikes and children in uniforms riding bicycles on their way to school.  This is the main route for everyone to travel or do business and it connects the towns and villages. 

A sign by the side of the road.  I think I am going to need this in a few days.

Something is wrong with this picture.  We followed this Lexus for many miles.  

These people are traveling in a nice car and I am on a bus with 50 other people.

Our very nice bus.

We stopped at the Banyan Tree Restaurant for a "toilet" break and lunch.

Lunch break.  We were very lenient to even order any food (we have been to India...), but we ordered the ham and cheese sandwich, which came with fries and it was very good.  I suppose they have tourists from so many different countries that they need to have a varied menu.  

Almost all homes are on stilts or pilings.  

The residents are downstairs during the day, under their houses in the shade.

A small shrine, for protection, is at every home and business.

widening the road

I have tried to guess what these are.  They are made of heavy duty plastic, formed into rectangles and sit on the ground.  There is one pole on each side with another piece of plastic rolled at the top and some form of tubing hanging below.  They are in people's front yards, by the side of the road and in fields.  Could they collect water when it rains?

This home is painted in a red brick color which is very common and used often in Cambodia.

Every village or town has their own temple.

There are businesses along the side of the road.

These poles are used as scaffolding when building.

We traveled through many small towns and villages.

They are working on turning their two-lane highway into four lanes.

Prett-Kadam Bridge

We reached Phnom Penh after 2:00.  The bus pulled up to what they call their "office".  We had to collect our luggage in the crush of people so it was good that we could get off the bus first.  We got a tuk tuk and off we went to our hotel, the Cambodiana.  

Cambodiana in Phnom Penh

This is our view from our hotel room.

Beyond is the Tonle Sap River which converges with the Mekong River.

Dancing Pavilion

Located near the Victory Gate, the Dancing Pavilion or Chan Chaya Pavilion was originally built with wood in 1914.  It was traditionally used by Cambodian kings to view parades and to enjoy performances of classical Khmer dances.

A balcony to the east of the pavilion was used for viewing parades along Sothearos Boulevard.  The building was memorably used to celebrate the coronation of King Sihamoni in 2004.

Royal Palace Park in Phnom Penh

National Museum of Cambodia

It houses, in four terra-cotta pavilions, the country's greatest display of Khmer statuary.  There are also sculptures, pottery and bronze statues. 

The National Museum of Cambodia is enclosed in a landscaped courtyard.

Royal Palace Victory Gate

Sets on the eastern end of the complex and leads directly to the Throne Hall.

Used only by the king and queen and by visiting dignitaries.

Throne Hall

It is also known as Preah Thineang Dheva Vinnichayyeaah, meaning the Sacred Seat of Judgement.  It is of Bayon-style architecture.  Serpents and mythical beasts adorn the roof.  Constructed in 1917 on the site of the previous Throne Hall, it is the primary audience hall of the King and is used for coronations, diplomatic and other official meetings.

Napoleon III Pavilion

A former French villa, this pavilion was built in Giza, Egypt by Napoleon III for his wife Empress Eugenie of France.  It is constructed entirely of iron.  In 1876, Emperor Napoleon III made a gift of the building to King Norodom of Cambodia.  It was dismantled and shipped to Phnom Penh and re-erected on the grounds of the Royal Palace.  The royal emblem of "N" emblazoned on doorways did not have to be altered.

Silver Pagoda

The official name is Wat Preah Keo Morokat and means "Temple of the Emerald Buddha".  It is named for its floor, which is inlaid with over 5,000 solid silver tiles.  

The complex is inside the grounds of the Royal Palace and also contains the Royal Pavilion, murals in the gallery, a temple, the Mondap library, dome-shaped chedis and a number of royal family shrines..

a building inside the Royal Palace grounds

Supreme Court in Phnom Penh

For those of you who have seen the Marina Bay Sands and the 

Sands Skypark Observation Deck in Singapore, this sure looks similar.

This billboard is advertising their new venture.

Sign in our hotel bathroom.

Obviously I will not be putting my toothbrush under the faucet!

It was another long day.  Many of the sites that we wanted to see were closed (museums and sites are never open in the evening) so we took a long walk and peeked over walls.  When we returned to the room we opted for the fresh oranges and we ordered a delicious pizza.  We sat by the window and looked out over the swimming pool and watched the boats on the river as the sun set.