Myanmar and Cambodia pleasure travel review (Part 2)

Dedicated to all the people I care for reasons of work, age and health have not been able to share the beauty and harmony of these enchanting places.


Raffaele Banfi



This is the part of the trip to Cambodia for the full story and the part on Burma, see the story in "Burma"

 

To Cambodia

Wake up, breakfast and before going out on leave from the few Soso khát rimastimi well as shirts and trousers to be given to lepers; Soso thanks also on behalf of his people. With all our luggage on the bus go up and crossing for the last time we head to Yangon airport. We stop to take the last photos of the city, passing close to the Shwedagon Paya, who was the first pagoda visited, the sun is on the opposite side, as if to hide the beauty of the golden stupa, the sky is azure blue, I interpret this vision as a nice greeting and an invitation to return to this beautiful land dotted with thousands of golden pagodas.
Quickly arrive at the airport and Soso, with his colleague's, are dedicated to go through all the practices for the departure, a really excellent and comprehensive service provided by the Burmese. Picked up the suitcases, Soso and salute the entire group through the check-in, it stops in the waiting room waiting for his flight to Bangkok. Look at the airport which is under construction, are still on the track of the aircraft, it sometimes takes off some military aircraft with various shades of color, green, brown, blue and white. We are in a room of the old structure, you notice that is dated. A plane takes off with the Thai, the service on board is always good, the journey is enhanced by a snack of fish and rice. Backpack filing the leadership of Burma and extract that of Cambodia, to take the flight to read the story and some information on the country where we are going. Switch from one state to another, but close is always a great mental leap, culture, history, different customs, traditions still create some problems in the adaptation. The technique of "zero knowledge" always works, never give anything to know or to ground, but always adapt to the country where you are going.
Landed in Bangkok, I can finally turn on the phone and read text messages that had arrived in the meantime, here is morning and half in Italy is still night, is "a little sensitive" to that call. Sending sms saying where they are and I am well and, during his stay at the airport, a few sms and phone call from arriving "Welcome back to civilization ...." reads an sms, this is true, accustomed to the services offered by technology, not able to communicate freely was a little limiting.
After several hours waiting on a c'imbarchiamo ARTICLE 72 of Bangkok Airways, the aircraft is complete, take off late. During the flight over endless plains under cultivation, the mountains seem to be absent from one sees only a few small hills scattered here and there. Seem to see a huge extensions cultivated rice, famous green spots arranged in the vicinity of villages and along the paths of rivers, plants are palm trees and stretches of forest. For several minutes flying over flooded land, I do not understand that, in the end know that the water touches the runway. Then discover that it is the Tonlé Sap lake, which after the large rainfall of previous days is at its highest level.
Landed at Siem Reap (L114 - M92), a town in northern Cambodia. At the airport customs must submit passports, visas, photos and all the requirements of the Cambodian bureaucracy. To expect is an envoy of the local, which collects all of our documents es'interessa him for our entrance, exit the airport and climb on a bus of 30 seats, while the bags are loaded on vans will be delivered directly at the hotel.
We do know that the guide will accompany us in this short stay, is called Sarath, speaks fluent Italian not, but attention is understandable. Because of air travel we are late, we had to watch the sunset over the lake from a hill, but given the hours we change the program.
By bus, closer to the city we see that many people on board leaves the bike downtown heading towards the campaign. Sarath says that there are construction workers who get up at 5 am, arriving in a city where they work until 17 to get to work even travel 20 km.
Siem Reap is 310 km from the capital of Cambodia, a country that, after the dictatorship of the Khmer Rouge, which ended in 1979, has not yet resumed.
On the way well known that the houses are of bamboo, teak and brick, all in palafitte and the pillars are of teak or cement.
Crossed the city, quickly come to Tonlé Sap (L51 - M91), the lake after the rain has a very high level, c'imbarchiamo on a sailing boat and see a floating village, the houses are made on rafts or boats; while browsing the sun sets behind the mountains creates a striking effect.
We stop at a boat that serves as a shop and bar, adjacent to the boat, a fence post in water contains crocodiles bred for the leather.
Return to the land that is dark, the helmsman is guided by the stars and the reflection of water towards the shore a guy with a flashlight helps to illuminate the lake and avoid overwhelm some pirogue present. The houseboats will see scenes from everyday life, the boats are intended for houses, shops, a bar, even a hospital and a church. The whole village float follows the water of the lake. After the rains the surface of the lake is 10,000 square km, while at the end of the dry season the surface is reduced to 3,000 square km.
Homes, known men and women lying on hammocks, children playing, families for dinner, TV work, then a cross-section of normal daily life of these people. There are many Vietnamese immigrants, whose children, on the mainland, so insistent in asking for charity.
Navigation calm is disturbed by cloud of mosquitoes that are s'abbattono us; berths, abandoning the boat and climbed on the bus, we head to Siem Reap, the traffic is significantly reduced along the road you see the markets.
A particularly attracts my attention, traffic signals are equipped with a timer indicating the time before the missing color changes, stops 30 seconds on the red and 30 seconds on the green.
The impact is to be in a country very different from Burma, the phones work here, many cars run, there are gas stations, hotels and shops are sorted and cleaned, and the features of the people are different from those Burmese.
We arrive at the hotel, is large and luxurious, truly another comfort than Burma. The dinner buffet, with a cuisine of Eastern Europe that tries to approach the Western taste, or perhaps it is only an impression because we changed the nation? At the end of the dinner I try to exit from the hotel, but the humid heat is unbearable, and return with the air conditioning is definitely better.

Angkor Thom - 1st part

Alarm at 7.00, the hotel is full of Japanese seem to breakfast of hungry locusts, devour everything, and as tradition has it, are armed with technology for each product, with cameras to photograph everything, including the hall of 'hotel and the adjacent rooms. We leave for the day excursions aboard the bus, this is the standard of bus travel here, 30 calculated on the size of Asia, we find it hard to remain seated for a long time, our legs were virtually caught between the seats. We start and cross Siem Reap, Sarath trying to speak Italian correctly, explains a few things in Cambodia.
The nation sees a predominantly Buddhist 90%, the illiteracy rate is 25%, 70% are farmers. Currently the nation focuses on tourism as a primary source of hard currency, so many hotels are under construction, in part involving foreign capital. The construction of the buildings I can see along the roads is curious, after finishing the roof, are now made outside the finish and then continuing the work internally, as for wanting to show the beauty of the building. Sarath, sometimes is confused with the Italian words, it must be very careful in listening and taking notes in these conditions is a little complex.
Across the city arrived in the area of Angkor Thom archeologica (L159 - M112), we stop at a check-point, we are given the pass with personal name and picture, valid for access to the archaeological zone. From an organizational point of view a really nice idea to turn all the temples without additional code in order to pay the ticket, this could be a model to be imported in our cities of art in Italy.
Angkor (L137 - M101) was the ancient capital of Cambodia, the temples were built in the 802 made in 1434, during the two periods of "classical Cambodia", we will see works dating from the period up to the Hindu Buddhist period, these two religions are a constant presence. The entrance to the area happens to be a huge place in the portal city wall device. The stone used for construction of most temples is sandstone, the gray stone is mixed with green and brown of lichens grew on the stone itself. The color, the shapes very reminiscent of the Mayan temples in Mexico, also here to share the two cultures was "only" the pacific ocean.
Before you enter the portal of entry, walk to a bridge which are placed side of the statues that bear a huge serpent, the naga, the mythical serpent of Buddhist tradition, often depicted with multiple heads, up to seven, is a symbol often used Angkorian architecture. These figures, placed at the entrance, are to protect the structure.
On the walls and door, carved nell'arenaria, we see the decorations depicting lotus flowers, dancers, elephants and a horse to 5 heads. The huge entrance portal is decorated with an elephant on the side with three heads.
The bridge, the statues and the Portal are partially damaged as a result both of the forest until a few years ago covered the whole, both because of the war and the Khmer Rouge rule, during which many monuments have been shooting.
Through the portal and enter into what was once the religious area and location of the royal palace. We climb on two small buses that accompany us to see the monuments in this area. The stones used for the construction of these temples are from distant quarries 50 km, carried here on rafts, and the building of these structures required the use of thousands of workers.
Entered in the first archaeological temple we see is the Bayon (L160 - M113), the name of the temple was changed under the French, the structure has collapsed because of the time and the growth of the forest, Cambodia, having an alluvial soil, is not subject to earthquakes. Starting from the outer wall you can see the remains of naga supported by angels, as well as lions, and the outer wall of the temple is completely covered with bas-reliefs depicting 15 stories, the extension of these bas-reliefs is 1,200 mt. The temple was built on three floors had 54 peaks goticheggianti containing 216 giant faces of the king, virtually turning the impression in the temple is to be constantly monitored and controlled by the king. By accessing the second floor of the temple, we see stories of Buddha, with polychrome staining of the twelfth century. Here are the course of restoration work on the part of Japanese archaeologists. From the base, the complex with its spire is a mixed storage of stone, just going on the third floor where, unlike the other two-storey square there is a circular platform, are clearly the faces of the king and, as was the manufacturer, the gaze of the king will always observed. The temple was started in 1181 and completed in 1190. The symbols identifying the king with the gods and this feature will find anywhere in these temples.
We leave the temple of Bayon and a few hundred meters later we find the Baphuon (L163 - M114), a monument that is the representation of Mount Meru, a building built before Bayon, this building has three floors, with 12 towers, plus a side Central. He is currently being restored by the French team. The stones of the temple were placed on a sandy bed, over time the roots of plants are penetrated by moving among the boulders, allowing rain water to penetrate and remove the underlying sand bed that has been ruinous collapse of the temple. In 1960 began the first restoration work by the French, interrupted because of the civil war, the restoration continues, and thanks to the photographic documentation of the last century, the sandstone blocks are stored in their original position and if they were too damaged, they are replaced with new blocks faithfully reproduced with the help of the documentation on file, you can now see two of the 12 towers, faithfully restored. The entrance of the temple was to the east, preceded by a sandstone platform 200m long.
We continue onto the tour area and past a wall, the perimeter of 600 to 350 m, access from a portal, restored in 1990 by archaeologists in Indochina, in what was the Royal Court (L164 - M115). The first temple we see is Phimeanakas (L164 - M115), "Palace in the sky", dates back to 944, is also a representation of Mount Meru, was used exclusively for the coronation of kings, there are two tanks that were used to washing real. The Royal Palace in gilded wood is 50 meters from the temple, but was destroyed in the war against the Siamese.
Leaving the perimeter wall directly access (south) to the "Terrace of the Elephants" (L165 - M115), a gigantic gallery 350 meters long, which was dedicated to the public ceremonies and shows of the circus, here are organized buffalo fighting, fights between cocks or wild boar. In the same area, when a king was crowned, held a celebration that lasted 5 days. Front and placed at the opposite limit, rise the towers, among them were pulled ropes where performing balances. The terrace for the Cambodian people, takes its name from the sculptures of elephants that are carved on the facade. At the end of the terrace stands a wall with two to three elephant heads, a symbol that represents the three Hindu deities.

Angkor Thom - 2nd part

Not far away a little more terrace at its top has a statue, the statue was originally the "God of Death" and was positioned at the place where kings were cremated, the people he called "the statue of the Leper King" (L165 -- M115), the origin of the popular name derives from the fact that the sandstone statue shows the mutilated fingers and looked so aseptically, truly resembles a leper.
Let the archaeological site and return to the hotel, buffet lunch, a brief stop and then start. Return of the temples in the area, check-point where you must show the permissions that are checked thoroughly by the guard and soon after we arrived at Angkor Wat (L154 - M108), this building is the second complex protected by UNESCO: the temple par excellence of Angkor, which started in 1113 and completed in 1150. We enter from the west than for the transit of kings. The sun illuminates the building infusing a particular light, it is truly one of the wonders of the world. The construction of Hindu origin is majestic and imposing, built in sandstone also represents the Mount Meru and is surrounded by a moat symbolizing the seven mountains and seven seas must pass to reach the sacred mountain. Near the moat in the calm water, covered with water lilies, the temple is reflected, creating an atmosphere and a vision worthy of the most beautiful photos. We find a group of Italians from Milan, exchange a few words with fellow is always beautiful. Turn around the moat, we approach to the imposing building, the entire outer wall is surrounded by a colonnade, on the wall is a bas-relief carved with Hindu stories, in sec. XVI was the bas-relief painting, some traces of color are still visible. At first floor the building has four courtyards surrounded by colonnades fully covered, at the center of the courtyards accessible from a staircase and surrounded by a border, there are swimming pools that were used for the recovery of rainwater. The sandstone has been deteriorated by time and by forest, this temple built on a sandy bed, and in the basins is good that the rain water remains as little as possible to avoid further damaging the structure (only the outer ditch, which we seen before has a sandy base that allows the permanence of water).
In the arcades are 1000 statues of Buddha dating back to the sixteenth century.; The frames of the roof of the portico are decorated with heads of naga, serpent sacred. The arcade consists of a structure formed by four columns surmounted by a ceiling with a particular form, the columns are arranged so as to create a wider central passage and two side steps closer, the two sides transits the ceiling is one quarter of circle, where the lower part is outside and inside the top. In the central part the ceiling consists of two sandstone walls that rise vertically and then block, also of sandstone, which deteriorates with triangular ranging upwards to close the vault.
Going into the visit of the palace through a narrow and steep staircase access to the second floor, in a courtyard where there is the pyramid terminal. The group will stop in the courtyard, and only a few climb on the pyramid, the same access is given by a steep staircase narrows as you climb, the view from the surrounding temples and on the details of the underlying structure . The descent is facilitated by a rope, the steps of the pyramid are very tall and narrow, I wonder how did the khmer to get on and off, since their height is not high.
Leave the temple when the sunset is approaching, orange illuminating every detail of the stone, the view is really impressive, it is truly one of the wonders of the world.
We continue the tour and nearby bus stops because we are at the base of the hill where the temple of Phnom Bakheng (L168 - M111). E 'possible to accede to the top of the hill using a transport service to the back of elephants. Someone in the group takes advantage of this service, but there is more availability salgo a walk along a forest road that gently around the hill 60 meters high. At the top of the temple lies the destination of many tourists more to see the sunset on the plains below, to see that this structure based on the 5 scale with terraces adorned with lions. From above you see the setting sun illuminates Dorando the lake and the plains at the base of the hill, the contrast with the forest is always strong, light and shadow, constantly struggling and the light gives way to darkness of night descends.
Downstream the hill, the night when it prevails, the last meters are made in the dark, luckily someone had flashlights. Return to hotel, shower, dinner buffet and then .... the group is reflected in the bar, is the birthday of Louise, who are celebrating with a good cake. Greetings! This tour is marked by birthdays, really nice.
At the end of the celebration a little conversation with someone in the group and finally a sleep restorer.

Angkor Thom - 1st part

Breakfast and then departure for the tour of the last temples, Sarath always greets us with "Good morning ladies and gentlemen, as a state, all right?" Is' a greeting that has become a pleasant ritual. Like all guides Cambodian Sarath wearing his uniform, black shoes, blue pants, khaki shirt with appropriate badges on the sleeves of the guide. Around the temples, the guides are always identifiable.
Return to the archaeological area and the first temple that we see is Banteay Srei (L178 - M123), "The Temple of Women", built in 967, is made from yellow-pink sandstone that gives a very nice, the colors are delicate and the entire hotel is completely decorated. In the portal bas indusiata illustrate stories of the goddess Vishnu, inside the wall, next to the main temple stands a finely decorated building is the library. Some bas "taken" by a Frenchman (and still present in the museums in Paris) have been replaced with copies faithfully reproduced. The bas-reliefs carved nell'arenaria colored infuse the feeling that the structure is of carved wood and stone, the colors are warm, harmonious and enveloping.
Outside the temple sellers insistent, at times infuriating trying to sell souvenirs. Along the way a market: a comparison of prices with Burma, Cambodia are much higher, could be the effect of tourism much more widespread here in the state.
Let us go to other temples and along the road we stop in a village where the peasants prepare sugar using the fruits of the palms. With Spartan stairs, practically a bamboo stalk with leaves propaggini that is linked to the trunk, the peasants rose plant collecting the products of the female plants (coconuts still in its infancy) and the pods of the male plants: the lead to ground and using a rudimentary tool, the crush to exit the liquid contained in them. This liquid is boiled in pots placed on an oval wood fire and after two hours of cooking the product is cool it is ready a brown sugar and very sweet.
We leave the village and continue to the temple of Banteay Samra (L174), this temple was built by the Hindu goddess Vishnu, originally was the Temple of the peasants, but was used by the Khmer Rouge as a prison. The entrance to the temple, raised above the surrounding land, is located at the end of a street situated on a terrace to the sides with statues of lions and naga. The internal structure of the temple is made of gray sandstone, while the walls are built with laterite brown, the game of colors creates a beautiful color contrast, inside the temple there are other walls and a series of courtyards, as well as a number of columns and bas-reliefs.
Heading towards the hotel on the way we see the temple of Pre Rup (L174 - M119), single structure with four towers toward the cardinal points and a central body, the grandeur of the five towers is also noticeable from a distance.
Return to hotel for lunch buffet, a brief stop to avoid the heat and then we start to visit the temple of Preah Khan (L171 - M119), the temple was completely enveloped by the forest that has collapsed, partly restored by the Americans, has many blocks of sandstone scattered disorderly on the ground. The temple of the Hindu-Buddhist origin, has the walls of bas-reliefs and lintels supported by columns, there are a series of bas-reliefs depicting dancers. The center of the temple is a room where, on the four cardinal sides, open corridors dotted with columns topped by beams. The optical effect is truly beautiful, everywhere you look, the view is the same (removed the collapsed and not restored).
We continue the visit and see the fourth day, the temple of Preah Neak Pean (L172 - M120). The temple is built on an embankment where, all around was a dam built to contain water for irrigation of rice paddies, the temple is accessed through a dirt road surrounded by water. The complex consists of a central and four side tanks. The central square is also surrounded by a bathtub, in the middle of the round building is the temple, at the base are two naga with tails crossed, the heads are directed to the east and west facing code. Once it was the place of reverence and care of patients, which draw water from the tub and the Central used it to heal from illness. The sides, adjacent to the four tanks four side chapels, each containing a statue / symbol: a statue to the east, which means wisdom, to the north statue dell'elefante which means happiness, to the west of the horse statue that means speed; to the south, the statue of the lion which means power.
We continue the tour by visiting the last day, the temple of Ta Prohm (L166 - M117), it is perhaps the most famous temple in the area, completely surrounded by jungle is photographed and is present on all the tourist guides. Plants have roots among the place of sandstone boulders are grown and have divelto much of the complex, huge plants, with their large roots clamped fast the huge boulders of sandstone. Efforts are under way of the restoration. Inside the temple is a statue of Buddha with incense lit. Originally the statue was adorned with precious stones, which over time have been removed. We return to town and we stop in a shop for tourists, even here we must negotiate the price but the goods, even if traditional craft and has a lot to tourists.
During the return Sarath, explains the situation in Cambodia and Siem Reap, the city has 80 hotels in Cambodia, there are only seven tour guides who speak Italian, because Italians are so organized two years alone.
Passed the elementary schools which are present throughout the country, the schools are located only in big cities and farmers find it impossible to send children to school for the cost.
Farmers cultivate rice of which only one crop a year and then seeded watermelons, to increase profits, cut timber in the forest and work the sugar from palm trees. The rice fields are well kept, the natural annual flooding is well exploit the land is surrounded by palm trees for coconuts and the production of sugar. In Cambodia there is a reservoir that serves to keep rain water to feed the rice fields.
State employees receive a salary of about $ 50 a month, the corruption, too, is very widespread.
Cambodian houses are piles with pillars of wood or cement, the height of dwellings is used to prevent floods, or as storage of rice and other products, for access to the upper floors there are always large and decorated wooden stairs.
Passing close to a structure under construction, is proud to Siem Reap, November 25 there will be an international fair with the presence of 121 foreign countries; around the fair in the construction of access roads, we see a truck carrying sand overturned in a ditch on the land.

Angkor Thom - 2nd part

The Cambodian economy is based on the production of rice at the end is sufficient for national needs, the fruit is imported from neighboring Thailand and Vietnam. Export as there is clothing and silk, manufactured are exported to China, Malaysia and the United States.
Return to the hotel that evening was, shower and then dinner welcomed by a performance by Cambodian dance and music. After dinner, a few words with the group and then to bed.

Phnom Penh - 1st part

Alarm at 6.15, prepare bags for the return home, the garments are made of heavy hand to be recovered tonight before embarking for Italy, where the temperature is decidedly less hot here in Cambodia; wear for the last day light trousers and shirt. Breakfast and then before you leave, we give Sarath clothing to be distributed to local farmers and workers. Leaving the hotel we go to the city to take the direct flight to the capital, in order to take on to pay airport tax of $ 6. Paid the fee can enter the waiting room and a fly on ART 72 Phnom Penh. In Italy are 3, here are the 8th
I note that airports in Cambodia and Burma earlier, exposing all the words ISO 9001, almost to show that all goes well, that are respectful of the law and of international quality system.
Take off and fly over the ordered rice surrounded by palm trees, I see the extension of Tonlé Sap, then other rice fields, a river and tirelessly traveled the plains with sinuous curves is lost on the horizon, a mountain covered with forest cut the rice, which are a loss an eye.
Landed in Phnom Penh, we find that the guide will accompany us for the whole day, is called Ra is cambodian and was in Italy seven years, worked as a steelworker in the province of Brescia, speaks with an Italian accent Brescian correct.
Walking about the streets of the capital, we note that the movement is a little "free", in fact, the bicycles and motorbikes seem to move without any rules and it seems the rule of "who goes first, pass." Ra tells us that in Cambodia the insurance is optional for the Cambodians but it is mandatory for foreign nationals in the event of an accident the issues are resolved between the two contenders, and in case of fatal accident there is prison.
We observe that the Cambodian women tend to cover the face, Ra explains that this is to avoid the sun, is very widespread belief that people are tanned farmers and consequently little tanned women are more likely to find husbands.
The first stop in the capital is at the National Museum (L80 - M73), the museum is structured according to the four historical periods of Cambodia and the rooms are organized by objects made of materials similar, almost to show the trend. Begins around the museum with a room containing a bronze statue from the XI to the XVIII century. And some high bill. In the next room there are statues of sandstone. statues of schist and marble, many of them come from the temples, since before the fourteenth century. temples were not only monks but statues. Turning into the museum and see the seating for the monks and saddles for the real elephant, known to an albino elephant. Are shown in real sedan made with bamboo fabric and embellished with gold. In other rooms you can see textiles, pottery, terracotta pots, and a hall containing statues of Buddha from various pagodas.
Leave the National Museum and we head towards the Russian market (L104 - M75), where a blanket is all clothing, handicrafts, hardware, jewelry, music, and the prices are sometimes negotiable, sometimes much less, group there are those who buy and those who only runs between the stalls.
We cross the city to go to the restaurant placed in the river and along the way we see the building of the parliament building, in a square and the colossal modern mausoleum of independence (L83 - M77).
We arrive at the restaurant, finally the opportunity to taste the true Cambodian cooking, not just the proposed international buffet from Siem Reap, peanuts, rice rolls, rice pasta with shrimp, cambodian carpaccio (beef, onion, peppers, whole seasoned with local fruit juices), vegetables without meat, a local dish (fish, mushrooms and lemon grass), sweet (pineapple in pasta and fried rice, coconut pulp of banana leaf and other fresh local) at the end of the lunch fruit: pineapple, banana and watermelon.
We leave the restaurant to head for the Palazzo Reale (L78 - M69), in the courtyard on a yard waving the flag of Cambodia, which means that the king is in the country, otherwise the flag is positioned lower. Next to building a highly decorated building attracts attention, is the place where the kings are cremated. Enter the building, in part accessible to the public. The palace was built in 1913, in strict respect for the tradition was only made of wood, now rebuilt, is a solid brick structure adorned with golden decorations. The building has a total of five inputs, each dedicated to a specific transit type, the entry of the king, that for the people, one for monks, one for the exit of kings died and the part of the building is open only to three areas.
All buildings are decorated and colored with four colors; cha is green vegetation, blue is the color yellow represents Buddhism and the white used for the columns represents Hinduism.
We enter a courtyard and there are a number of buildings all finely decorated, the harmony is great, the gardens are well cared for, the atmosphere is very regal.
An imposing building with a large staircase, is the throne room, it is necessary to go to remove the shoes as a sign of respect, it only passes on the right side of the room, the room is impressive, the ceiling is frescoed with stories of gods. The golden throne is only used for the coronation of the king, the walls are painted with floral and geometric patterns of white and yellow that give a unique touch of preciousness. Behind the throne used for the coronation of the king, the throne of s'intravede queen.
We leave the throne room and on the left (looking at the entrance to the hall) we visit a museum where clothes are kept by the king, queen, soldiers of the royal palace, and all are finely worked gold. Just down the hall of mannequins wearing the clothes used by the king's handmaids, are seven models, with seven different colors that represent the seven days of the week and seven planets. In display cases adjacent to a wall you can see objects in silver and priestly garments used in actual ceremonies.
Not far away a building decorated in iron, is the pavilion donated by Napoleon III to Cambodia.
Walk the yard, past a wall and access to another area of the palace, surrounded by porticoes painted entirely in a courtyard we see many well kept flower beds with plants and flowers, whose colors brighten the entire area. At the center of Silver Pagoda (L79 - M72), after removing the shoes can access this temple whose name derives from the silver tiles that make up the floor, at the center of a temple of Buddha statue attracts attention, natural height is achieved with 90 kg of gold. Behind an altar, which in its vertical reach the ceiling, we see a statue of Buddha made entirely of emerald. Along the walls are statues of Buddha, gold, gold, jade, marble. In a display case you see funerary masks and the real sedan. There are many votive objects (statues of gold, pottery gold and silver).

Phnom Penh - 2nd part

The security service is discreet and consistently present in the structure there are large systems of electronic surveillance, but only enough that someone tries to steal any object you look at the damage the alarm and the "unlucky" is subjected to "trial summary "people on the public square. One method is simple and effective way to discourage any attacker.
Leave the royal palace with its colors, its gardens, its elegant buildings that express beauty, and come through the town at the base of an artificial hill, and Wat Phnom (L82 - M77). Willed by Princess Penh, the hill was built in 1372 the name of the capital comes from this union "the city of Phnom and the hill of Penh. On top of the hill, a temple, today destination of many pilgrimages, in an altar with four statues of gilded wooden Buddha in the center of the temple a statue of Buddha. The walls are dotted paintings, oil painting of wood, depicting the life of Buddha. Leave the temple and descend the hill surrounded by kids who want to sell all along the descent of the beggars are and the surrounding park are monkeys.
We continue the journey to the airport and we stop to see Wat Ounalom (L82 - M77), the central monastery, inside there is a stupa with a temple which houses the brink of Buddha, the golden stupa of the fourteenth century., has recently been restored, the internal structure of the temple is in sandstone. Outside there are bronze statues of the thirteenth century. Come from various temples and, as we have already seen at the National Museum, the statues were found in temples before the monks. To the left and right sides of the central stupa are a series of six smaller stupas white.
We resume our journey and we stop to see the confluence of four rivers that come together in one, here some of the stalls selling delicacies for Cambodians. I look good, and I can not believe my eyes! M'avvicino and I realize that the view is not me, on stands arranged in stacks well ordered and there are uniforms, blacks spiders, cockroaches, silkworms, shrimp, whole fried grasshoppers, as well as crab and roasted quail. The seller, all content of the calls someone exposes the group to taste these delicacies, "a gentle refusal seems the best choice, dating coach being hit on the flavor of the Cambodians. Continuing the tour of the city and we stop to photograph the modern mausoleum of independence that we had glimpsed in the morning.
The return trip to the airport in the middle of a messy and chaotic traffic where it seems really that the first pass that would have priority should go anywhere. Ra tells us that in Cambodia the public health is for everyone, but health functioning is private, the board is only for state employees.
We leave Phnom Penh that the sky is cloud and threatening rain, we lived just days after the monsoon, a roar, but all in all we were not very wet.
We arrive at the airport and before boarding the suitcases to Milan, we take the warm clothes we had prepared. The 31 bags are on board, move a little group increases waiting times, but when all is good organization. The controls are strict in output and "rigorous" is also the unexpected airport tax to leave the country $ 25, a real theft. But it is a "stylish" to request a contribution for the construction of the airport and a new bridge, if the Italian state to adopt this system, we avoid the taxes.
Fly to Bangkok, the flight proceeds quiet, after about an hour as we see a myriad of lights, we are in Thailand, landed in Bangkok, just see the plane turns four planes behind us who are preparing to landing. For the umpteenth time passing through the airport, a few hours waiting for the flight to Italy, there's change, let the pants and light shirts and sweatshirts to wear. Advantage of the break to accommodate the notes and write the first thoughts of the journey.
C'imbarchiamo thaj accepted the hospitality of the flight to Milan Malpensa airport is quiet, at 7.40 Italian landed in Burma are 12.40. Over a thousand eyes golden pagodas, hundreds of statues of Buddha, the imposing buildings of Ankor .... Writing this diary recounts the mind as in a film along the entire trip and I hope that the reader can be led by these feelings.
And ... .. curious as a good traveler, even if Burma I was particularly impressed with its beauty, the mind is already thinking about where to go in the next trip ....

Three good motivations to go to :

Cambodia

• Traveling in Cambodia amounts to come into contact with a country just out of the oppression of the Khmer Rouge. It means to observe a civilization that is undergoing rapid change, where the cities are widening urbanistically and where rural life is still the predominant feature.
• Visit Cambodia today can see the archaeological area, many temples still enveloped by the forest and thus be able to witness the rediscovery of the signs of an ancient civilization.
• Traveling in this country does have an already well organized tourism, where the Italians are seen and are expected from the cambodian people.

Thanks to:

At the end of this work, I express my personal thanks to all those who have enabled the realization of this trip is beautiful and fascinating, full of religious sites, historical, cultural but also imbued with humanity, the dignity of peoples and people I had the opportunity to meet. Gratitude to those who encouraged me and who I have seen the creation of this journal.


A special thanks to:
• Don Maurizio Corbetta, priest Rovello Porro (CO), creator of the trip.
• The travel agent to Pavia Alohatour (www.alohatour.it - tel. 0382.5395.65) for the overall organization.
• The tour operator Ancient Splendours of Turin (www.antichisplendori.it - tel. 011.8126.715) for the well-articulated and provided useful information.
• Soso, guidance Burma, for the high professionalism demonstrated, for bringing us closer with ability, preparation and respect for culture and tradition in Burma.
• Sarath and Ra, the Cambodian guide, for the effort shown in the Italian and speak for their preparation.
• The relevant agencies in Burma (Interconnection Travels Myanmar) and Cambodia (Phnom Penh Tour Monsoon), for an excellent proven competence in organizing stays and all land travel, river and air.
• Society of Micro-and Saronno (www.micro-e.it - tel. 02.9602.887) for material technology, computer and have received assistance for the implementation of the diary in the media.
• Who (Francesca, Natalia, Francis, Peter and Laura) in various kinds have contributed to the design, presentation, to correct the diary and the invention of hypertext.