Phnom Penh, November 2009

This boy seemed very unsure of me, as I sat on the log while Bill 

was in the barber's chair. Turned out he is the barber's son.

Bill getting a $1 haircut.

This seedling caught my eye, amid the vast swath of grass,

 as I walked in Hun Sen Park early one morning. 

Huge cotyledons. I think it is a tamarind seedling.

My very special Resurrection Plant (thanks S). When I moved into the Lavender House (the first flat), I found this little stub of a plant lying on its side on the balcony. I replanted, watered and talked to my green friend.  By the time I moved out of the flat, it had fully rooted itself, grown nodules on its trunk, and sprung a couple of leaves. I will post that picture soon.

An attendee of a Poppy Day celebration.

Father and daughter, it seems, with beautiful smiles. Poppy Day.

Poppy Day

Poppy Day

Poppy Day

Poppy Day

Guess! Poppy Day!

Poppy Day

Poppy Day

One shampoo can change your life.

You already know what event this is.

I think this man is the grandfather of the daughter from the earlier photo.

Poppy Day

At the Lavender House, I could watch the sky, in all its glory. 

Aluminum to be cast, at the foundry that cast 5 faceplates for me.

Charcoal for heating up the aluminum.

Above and below: Foundry staff working on molds/cores.

View of my front balcony, at the Lavender House.

Above and below: the first flat in Phnom Penh, near Psar Toul Tum Pong (Russian Market)

Above and below, boat races during the Water Festival, end of October, 2009.

The Royal Palace, a portion of it, at least.

Above and below, boat races during the Water Festival, end of October, 2009.

Above and below, on the road, returning from Kompong Som.

View from the bungalow at Lazy Beach, end of October.

A painting of a young Dy Siveth, next to the actress herself, at age 70.

From the 60's-70's Khmer Film Festival Exhibit. 

Detail photo of a large map of Phnom Penh. 

The map contains models of the cinemas in PP before 1975.

Above and below: This is the top level of a new shopping mall.

They have just finished construction. I think the wood was used for staging

or support for the concrete (floors, walls) while it cured.

And even more Kirirom pics

The remaining chimney from the King's house,

atop Kirirom mountain

Tree Bark I

See the face?

Park Map

More Kirirom Pics

View of Kirirom from about halfway up 

the mountain.

Here are some medicinal roots and woody

plant stems, laid out to dry.

A road in the park

There are conifer trees at the park!

The water is so clear in this stream, you can

see the rock under the water's surface, 

between the two plants in the foreground.

This shot was taken under tree cover, yet

the water is not black.

Kirirom National Park

Disclaimer: This is my first post. The formatting can only get better!

Needing some fresh, non-city air, I joined two friends for a day trip to Kirirom National Park. With Kirirom being 112km southwest of Phnom Penh, we started off at 8am and planned to return in the late afternoon. 

Taken from Wikipedia, 

The meaning of Kirirom is "Happy Mountain". This name was given to the area by King Monivong in the 1930s. The ancient name of the place was Phnom Vorvong Sorvong for the main two hills there were connected with the Cambodian popular legend about two heroic princely brothers, Vorvong and Sorvong.