The National Museum of Cambodia, housed in a graceful terracotta structure of traditional design. PHOTOS: NYL
Iron bars and U shaped manacles used to restrain prisoners.By NYL
Borneo Bulletin Online (Brunei)
The music starts at five in the morning after which sleep is almost impossible. It comes from a loudspeaker mounted on a dilapidated building facing the market square near our hotel. Sunrise is still an hour away but by the time it is light, the market is already busy with people going about their daily business.
Market traders who had spent the night at their stalls rearrange produce or chat with their neighbours. Barrow boys with wooden carts laden with fruits, sacks of rice or tins of paint ferry their purchases or stocks to and from the market. This early morning scene was our first introduction to the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, located at the confluence of three rivers, the Mekong, the Bassac and Tonle Sap.
Phnom Penh city is divided into three sections: the north, an attractive residential area, the south or the French part of the city with its ministries, banks and colonial houses and the centre or the heart with its narrow lanes, markets, foods stalls and shops.
Having risen early, we decided to head out to the Killing Fields of Cheung Ek. The ubiquitous motorbike taxis are like swarms of mosquitoes in Cambodia. As soon as we stepped out of the hotel, someone would yell from across the road, "Moto?" We shake ours heads, "no", and walk a few paces. Another guy beside the first one shouts, "Moto?" and another one races towards us on his moto to ask again, "Moto?". After negotiating the price, we hire one to have a quick tour of the city.
A stone's throw away from the Tonle Sap river is the Royal Palace which contains several buildings: the Throne Room, used for the coronation of kings, official receptions and traditional ceremonies; the Chan Chhaya Pavilion, a venue for dance performances; the king's official residence called the Khemarin; the Napoleon Pavilion and the spectacular Silver Pagoda with its many national treasures such as gold and jewelled Buddha statues.
Market traders who had spent the night at their stalls rearrange produce or chat with their neighbours. Barrow boys with wooden carts laden with fruits, sacks of rice or tins of paint ferry their purchases or stocks to and from the market. This early morning scene was our first introduction to the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, located at the confluence of three rivers, the Mekong, the Bassac and Tonle Sap.
Phnom Penh city is divided into three sections: the north, an attractive residential area, the south or the French part of the city with its ministries, banks and colonial houses and the centre or the heart with its narrow lanes, markets, foods stalls and shops.
Having risen early, we decided to head out to the Killing Fields of Cheung Ek. The ubiquitous motorbike taxis are like swarms of mosquitoes in Cambodia. As soon as we stepped out of the hotel, someone would yell from across the road, "Moto?" We shake ours heads, "no", and walk a few paces. Another guy beside the first one shouts, "Moto?" and another one races towards us on his moto to ask again, "Moto?". After negotiating the price, we hire one to have a quick tour of the city.
A stone's throw away from the Tonle Sap river is the Royal Palace which contains several buildings: the Throne Room, used for the coronation of kings, official receptions and traditional ceremonies; the Chan Chhaya Pavilion, a venue for dance performances; the king's official residence called the Khemarin; the Napoleon Pavilion and the spectacular Silver Pagoda with its many national treasures such as gold and jewelled Buddha statues.
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