Phnom Penh 21st of March, 2014

Docked in Phnom Penh last night yesterday.    This city has been the capital of Cambodia since 1865, and is located where the Mekong meets up with two Rivers.  It has many French colonial buildings and temples.  The horror of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge still haunts the city.  It is hard to believe that in the 70 's the residents were driven out of the city and killed or forced into farm labor.  One fourth of the Cambodian population was killed during Pol Pot reign of terror.  

Today Saffron-robed monks stroll the streets and temples.  Motor bikes, tuktuks and the cars roam the streets at a sane pace.  

Yesterday we visited a village on the Riverbank well known for its weaving.  Every home has a loom or two and we were besieged by people selling woven silks and cottons.  The Eighteen year old I bought some things from spoke beautiful English, and two languages other than Khmer.  

This morning we went on the bus to the Udorn Monastery about 70 minutes away.  We sat on the mats in front of two monks and the chanted and showered us with small white flowers after giving up a blessing.  Quite moving!  The Temple, about 50+ years old, is the resting place for their well known priest who was killed for his political actions.  We saw the monks eating one of their two meals a day, all their food is donated by Buddist believers.  The monks are waited on by nuns, women with white robes and shaved heads.  Our guide also mentioned that this temple has a relic.  He also told the story of Budda being created from his Mother's rib.  

After the Temple we visited a small village of silversmiths.  Nothing there interested us but many of this group are real shoppers and found things to buy.  I am always happy about that as these people are poor.  

This afternoon we took a tuktuk into town, used an ATM which spit out reils or Dollars.  Then on to "the big bank" where we tried to get something notorized and were advised to go to a law firm, where we were successful and then on to a Fed Ex to send the document.  

The Cambodians all cook and eat on the sidewalk around little tables sitting on small stools.  

One of our group got a photo of a monk snapping our photo with his cell phone camera.  

Food on the ship continues to be wonderful!  We want for nothing.  This morning it rained and it is quite comfortable temperature wise.  

Just a word about Kong, our guide for this trip.  He is so solicitous about us and constantly warning us about traffic, and cautioning is about health matters.  Very sweet.  Kong is Vietnamese and we also have a Cambodian guide, Mr Milky.  We are learning a lot!