Phnom Penh - Central Market, Wat Phnom

-
Feb 2014

The Central Market (Phsar Thmei) in Phnom Penh is art deco style.  The site was originally a swamp. It collected rain water.  But it was converted to the current form in 1935-37. 


The building is in the form of a cross with a dome in the central part.  All kinds of stuff were sold here.  Most popular ones are gold and silver, jewelery, souvenir, electronic appliances, mens and womens apparel.  Fruit stalls were limited.  If you wish to stock fruits, it's better to head to the Old Market at Street 13.  The market is opened from 7am to 5pm. Nearby are the highest buildings in Phnom Penh.



Wat Phnom is situated at the only hill in Phnom Penh.  The first pagoda was erected in 1373 to house 4 budda statues discovered by a woman called Penh.



You can reach the top (27m) in all different directions.  One side stand naga and lions, guarding the pagoda.  On another side, a clock on the green lawn. Down there is a park.  Locals enjoy the shadow and nature, sell stuff.  Tourists are charged more for a visit to the pagoda.  I can't remember if it's US1 for 1 or 2 persons. We saw the first apsara there.
 

We saw the city on foot.  It's the best way to be close to the locals and see how they lead their life. It can be people resting from the heat, busy at earning their life, relax in the river........

 
 
Phnom Penh Chaktomuk Conference Hall
 
 

Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Croatia Trip - Split - Baptistery & Mt. Marjan

-
Image
In the 5th morning we visited the temple of Jupita (Baptistery), Meštrović museum and hiked up to Mt Marjan.  The baptistery is for total immersion.  It is beautifully crafted.  Next to it is a statue of Saint John the Baptist.  Meštrović museum is detailed in another section.  Please refer to Day 5 Split - Ivan Mestrovic We started the climb of Mt. Marjan around midday.  The sun was high.  The ascend was quite steep.  But the view over the town was spendid.  The path was barren.  We hardly saw any people, perhaps one workman who was on duty.  There were some Romanesque churches along the way.  The first one looked bright white under the sun.  It's beautiful.   Continued on the white 'sandy' path, second and third churches came into view.  Hu hu, destination reached!  For a while the sky turned cloudy.  It did not rain, fortunately.  We went to a public swimming place to immerse into the water after the sweating walk.  Yeah yeah we did not know previously
Read more

Kbal Spean

-
Image
Kbal Spean is a unique archaeological site situated 50km from the Siem Reap.   Religious stone cravings sit on the river banks and bed, 150m stretch of the Stung Kbal Spean River.     Kbal Spean is commonly known as the "Valley of a 1000 Lingas " or "The River of a Thousand Lingas". Lingas are phallic representations sacred to Brahmanism.   It is a symbol of fertility.   Hundreds of them are carved into the rock of the river.   Other carvings include gods such as Vishnu , Shiva , Brahma and animals. To appreciate the beautiful carvings in the nature, one has to climb a trek for around 30 minutes.   Exhausted but worthwhile. Reclining Vishnu is often the theme of carvings.   Others include Shiva and Uma mounted on the bull, Brahma on a lotus petal and still others which I can't figure out exactly. Animals, lingas, yoni dot here and there.            Downdream is a waterfall. On the way is another spot with carving
Read more

Hong Kong Heritage Museum - The Hakkas and Fishing Origin

-
Image
15 June 2012 HK Heritage Museum - Hakka Women It has been more than 10 years that I haven't been to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum .  Today, a Picasso exhibition brought me back.  Hmm, a Spanish artist associating with the Chinese heritage.  It's a special event of the French May .  It drew a lot of people to the museum, though a bit remote.  People, family speaking different languages crowded at the venue.  Picasso 's paintings shown were across his different periods.  Many photos of him and friends were also shown. Hong Kong Heritage Museum is unique in providing the history of Hong Kong, featuring Hakka (Guest family) migration, as a fishing village, the traditional Cantonese opera as the integral parts of Hong Kong's heritage, history and culture. During the reign of Yongzheng and Qianlong of Qing Dynasty (18th century), people were encouraged to utilise wasteland for farming.  A big demographic shift of residents in the south moved to Hong Kong. Th
Read more