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

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 ...
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 residen...
Read more

A Day in Cinque Terre, April 2024

-
Image
After we have purchased the Cinque Terre Card with the train ride online , we headed to La Spezia Centrale Station. The platform of the next train to Cinque Terra was loaded with hundreds of tourists. Fortunately, the journey is short. If you do not have a seat, you won’t stand too long.   In around 13 minutes we arrived at Corniglia to start the charged hiking trails to Vernazza and further to Monterosso al Mare .   Not like the other Cinque Terre villages locating at the coast, Corniglia stands proudly on a hill, 100 metres above the sea. One can wait for a shuttle bus to go up to the town centre.  At time, loads of tourist were squeezing at the tiny bus station waiting for the non-frequent and tiny bus. We walked! Instead of walking up almost 400 steps we walked along the street for vehicles as a warm up for the great hiking of the day. We saw a small path on the left side. But a driver passing us indicated that it’s not a short cut to the town atop.  It’s fine...
Read more