Daughters of Cambodia

Awake early on Saturday, bought the papers ( Cambodia Daily & Phnom Penh post are the 2 English newspapers) and had an indulgent breakfast at Comme de la Maison: juice de l’orange, ouefs avec fromage et jamon, et the de menthe. 

This weekend I am going to be a tourist.  I still haven’t seen the main sites of Phnom Penh – Wat Phnom is first on the itinerary.  “Phnom” means hill.  Funny that a town is named after a hill – by geographic standards its a very unremarkable hill.  Much of the temple is closed, but for me the main attraction is watching the locals.  Coming to the temple is both  a spiritual and social experience.  A family monkeys lives on the slopes of the hill providing great amusement  for the local children.   The cities last elephant poses for photos and is docile as she carries tourists for ride – poor old girl.

Steps up to Wat Phnom ("Temple on Hill")

Cute  - but aggro if you have food!  One of the many monkeys at Wat Phnom

Next stop is the National Museum.  The building is a beautiful traditional Khmer house with lush tropical gardens..  Inside are many treasures from the Angkorian period – well researched and documented.  Its hot.  “Daughters of Cambodia”  is nearby and provides respite.

The National Museum - beautiful Khmer architecture

This shop in St 178 provides options for women leaving the sex industry.  They rescue women & girls who have been trafficked, and train them in their various business ventures: sewing and jewellery making for the shop, working as beauty therapists in the nail bar, and cooking plus service in the café.  It’s a lovely atmosphere and you can feel the supportive environment.  The women have serene demeanours and easy smiles.  I wonder what there lives were like prior, and how long it took them to reach this point. 

Continuing the site seeing its off to a local shadow puppets show which was very charming.  The Sovanna Phum Theatre was some distance from my neighbourhood and the ride there quite an education.  I passed many bars full of the "working" daughters of Cambodia (otherwise known as taxi girls).  I haven’t been in girlie bar areas after dark and its depressing.  Judging by the number of parked motorbikes and cars these mega-bars are doing big business.

A huge thunderstorm around 9pm washed everything clean.

Shadow puppets - I've no idea about the story - but the locals loved it!

Sunday 24 – Easter Sunday.  Started the day with a lovely brunch at Stav’s.  Thanks to the beautiful Belgian chocolate boutique on St 240 I arrive with a chocolate bunny.  Its duality is perfect – a chocolate bunny to Christian eyes, and sweet representation of year of the rabbit to the Buddhists.

I’ve been unsuccessful in finding a Christian church for an Easter service.  Instead I pay respects at the Silver Pagoda within the Grand Palace complex.  This is Phnom Penh’s main attraction and deserves its popularity.  Sunday is a great day to visit as many locals are having a day out there too.  Extended familles visit and compose many happy photos, the elderly people are often dressed in traditional costume.  I imagine I'm with my family too :).

The Grand Palace - no photos allowed inside

Proving I was there. Angkor bell at Grand Palace

The weekend finishes with some retail action. Just like anywhere in the world, plenty of Cambodia's daughters are out shopping at Sorya one of 2 shopping malls in town, and at the Central Market.  On the top floor of Sorya is a roller skating rink.  Teenagers wheel by and strut their stuff.  One young 20ish Khmer girl holds everyones attention.  This daughter of Cambodia is an excelent skater and quite a show off; she can move those skates and she's gorgeous  Evryone is watching her and she plays to the attention.  I wonder what her life is like?  Things are getting better for women and girls in Cambodia all the time, yet there is still so much to be done.

This daughter of Australia is forgetting how to cook!  I self cater tonight - duck egg omlette.  Tastes like chicken egg.