Cambodia Trip - Phnom Penh - Food Vendors

As we were strolling along the bank of Mekong River, we saw so many colourful activities happening there. There's a lot of food vendors around here.

Now this freak me, it was a deep fried cricket and the locals love them as though they are snacks. OMG....

These vendors dont have a fixed place to set up their stalls, they move around.

A vendor selling some duck eggs.

Cambodia Trip - Phnom Penh - Mekong River Part 2 - Releasing of offerings in the river

A devotee paid a man some money to help her release some prayer's offerings in the Mekong River. The man can swim very well but it was quite dangerous as cruise ships/boats were cruising nearby.

A short video showing the man in action. Take note how close the ship was.

A short video of ships crusing along the Mekong River.

Cambodia Trip - Phnom Penh- Mekong River Part 1

I like this photo of the Lion looking outwards to the Mekong River. Mekong River is the 12th longest river in the world. From the Tibetan Plateau this river runs through China's Yunnan province, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. You can read more from wikipedia.

A short video showing the Mekong River.

Cambodia Trip 2009 - Phnom Penh - Street Scenes

As were walking from the Royal Palace towards the Mekong River, we saw many stalls selling prayers' offerings. The offerings are meant to be blessed in the temple and then released in the Mekong River.

The coconuts are not meant for eating but to be used as offerings.

Some even bought tortoises to be released in the river as part of the buddhist kindness and compassion consistent with Buddhist beliefs.

Cambodia Trip 2009 - Phnom Penh- Street Scenes

As we were waiting for our transport to arrive, we were really interested at the street scenes. The noises and the vehicles are so amazing. They can sit as many as four or more on the motorbikes...lol.

A few videos showing the street scenes.

The tourist in the centre is standing in the middle of the road trying to get a good photo of the road scene. I think it is so dangerous.

Cambodia Trip 2009 - Phnom Penh - Street Scenes

As we were walking out of the Royal Palace, we saw many food vendors outside the Palace Building.

Geez, I dont have a strong stomach so I did not buy anything from the street vendors but the youngsters in our group bought some food and they really enjoyed them.

This looked so cute. The man was selling these snails, clams, cockles.

Cambodia Trip 2009 - Phnom Penh - Cloth Weaving

The gate looked so unique with elephants designs on them.

As we were making our way out of the Palace, we saw some demostration of cloth weaving.

Cambodia Trip 2009 - Phnom Penh - Royal Palace Part 8

Inside the palace grounds, we saw many such stupas that contained the ashes of the past kings, queens, princess, etc.

I saw this bird and it seems to pose for me to take a photo of it...so cute.

Cambodia Trip 2009 - Phnom Penh - Royal Palalce - Part 7 - Miniature Angkor Wat

Within the grounds of the palace, there's a miniature Angkor Wat. It is so beautiful.

Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia. It is very famous and beautiful.

It was built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation—first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist.

You can read more from wikipedia

Cambodia Trip 2009 - Phnom Penh - Royal Palace Part 6 - Garden

Within the grounds of the Royal Palace lies a beautiful garden with many beautiful manicured plants.

This one looked like a tea pot.

A flower vase

Elephant

Dog

Pig

Lollipops?

A short video showing the garden.

Cambodia Trip 2009 -Phnom Penh - Royal Palace Part 5 - Murals

Inside the palace ground, I saw these murals on the walls. They looked very ancient and old but they sure tell a lot about its history.

Cambodia Trip 2009 -Phnom Penh - Royal Palace - Part 4 -

As I walked around the Palace Grounds, I suddenly saw this building that looked very french.

The building is known as Napoleon III Pavilion. At first glance the Napoleon III Pavilion seems almost out-of-place, sitting like a European-style dollhouse amongst the imposing and distinctly Khmer-style buildings that surround it. The Pavilion was in fact the first permanent structure on the site of the Royal Palace. It was originally built for Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon III, in 1869 for use in the inauguration of the Suez Canal. It is constructed entirely of iron. In 1876 Emperor Napoleon III made a gift of the building to King Norodom of Cambodia. (The above information is taken from Canby Publications. You can read more information from there.

I saw some monkeys in the building.

A short video ...

Cambodia Trip 2009 -Phnom Penh - Royal Palace - Part 3

Walking inside the palace grounds, I am amazed at more beautiful constructed buildings and thre are so many lovely plants in the garden ground too.

There are so many of these plants that are so well manicured. They looked so cute.

Love the roof with such beautiful architectural designs.

We cannot walk beyond the signboard, the king stay over at the other side of the palace.

A short video of the palace ground.