Phnom Penh 08.03.10 - 10.03.10

Although Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia, it's actually quite a small city. This probably comes from the impact of the mass genocide that was inflicted on the country's population by Pol Pot's regime in the late 70s. The city still has a few remnants of old French colonial buildings from the 1940s that have been left to rack and ruin. They were no doubt occupied by aristocrats before the Khmer Rouoges took over the city but were deserted as the armies bombarded the civilians and the destruction of a country and it's population began. The central area sits on the banks of the Tonle Sap River which flows alongside the giant Mekong and the Sisowath Quay is currently being paved and cleaned up as it's a focal point for the city, looking back on the Grand Palace and National Museum. We visit the museum in the 36 degree heat and get to see some of the more accomplished statues that were missing on our tour of the ancient city of Angkor. A lot of the heads of the Hindu gods which were gone at Angkor appear here on pedestals, some most probably looted at some point or other. It was exciting to see an example of the gold and gem 'jewellery' which was embedded into the stone carvings at Angkor. Once upon a time every statue and stone portrait in the place was adorned with a gold headress, earrings and necklaces. It must've been fabulous!