Day Trip at Ou Dong

It was International Women Day and I brought all my family member to visit Ou dong Monument, situated in the foothill of Oudong Mountain in Kampong Speu Province. It is in the northwest and 40 Km from Phenom Penh.

We prepared food, drink and snack from home then departured at 8AM. We believed that the street would be busy during that public holiday.

We traveled along the national road No 5.  On the way, we can see small stalls selling lotus, melon, corn and other handmade souvenir things. We did not stop ,but promised to buy melon when we comeback.

The road was getting busy when taxi, truck, bus, and car are going up and down. Sometimes, we have to stop and wait for the trespassing or traffic jam. But anyway, it is normal because road No 5 is under construction. I saw the road side are being enlarged.   

We arrived Oudong at around 10:30AM then parked at one of our favorite restaurant. 

We ordered one chicken only because we prepared food and drink from home.  One chicken is cost 40000r ( $10) -50000r  ($12.5) depending on the size. If we buy any kind of food, stall is not paid. But if not, we have to pay 40000r for stall.

Near the restaurant on the other side of street, there are many small stalls selling grilled fish, chicken, frog and local cake. Visitors prefer buying something at the restaurant for stall only. The main food, they buy it from the small store because it is cheap and fresh.

Small stalls near the restaurant

 We started our lunch at 11:30AM with chicken, frog, past fish, local oyster and many more. They really tasted good with beer and drink. Only 2 of us enjoy beer, the rest was happy with soft drink.

Final food for lunch

Past Fish

Grilled frog

 After lunch, I got short snap then climbed the hill to visit stupa on the top hill.   I walked up 506 steps before reaching the top hill..Along the way, I enjoyed playing around with monkey when they jump up and down the tree to find food. It is not dangerous at all if visitors walk silently. But be careful when you carry food, camera or something that is not well protected. Monkey is fast and catch those thing unexpectedly.

I reach the top at about 12 PM. There I can enjoy with spectacular of rural view,  relax with fresh air and listen to some stories related to the site. I took some photo then continued to one secret place which contained thousands of small statues of Buddha. I prayed for my family and friend happiness then head to other side of stupa with elephant statue. I walked around then decided to return back because I felt hot and had no small change to buy water.

Short break after 506 steps climbing

View from hilltop

We really enjoyed the site because there are not many beggars and security is well protected. Food and service were really appreciated.  I recommend this destination to you for day trip from Phnom Penh. 

We arrive home at 4:50 PM with safe. 

Effusion of the suffering, as the "King Father" is cremated

The king funeral pyre  was lit by the son of Sinhanouk, King Norodom Sihamoni, and his widow, Norodom Monineath, in a Buddhist ceremony close to  the ground of Royal Palace yesterday.

In the same time, King Sihamoni granted the amnesty to 400 prisoners in the memory of his father, and a sea of the people in mourning remained support around the pyre after the official ceremony was concluded, of the incense burning or to draw and take the picture and the video of the event.

During two days following, the king and the queen mother will place on a royal barge to disperse some of ashes of Sihanouk in river.The rest will be placed in a diamond ballot box, that the mother and the son will ravel by the site of incineration before storage at Royal Palace.

King father cremation ( update)

President Barack Obama, one of the only leaders was attending a regional summit in Cambodia in November not to pay his respect before King Father Sihanouk's body. No reason is revealed of his absence.

Representing the United States is Ambassador William E. Todd. The U.S. Embassy did not directly respond to explain such a relatively low-level representation given the long U.S. involvement in Cambodia.

The funeral is being attended by French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Prince Akishino of Japan, leaders of neighboring countries and China's Jia Qinglin, a senior government adviser and former high-ranking Politburo member.

Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Cambodia's capital Monday awaiting the cremation of former King Norodom Sihanouk, the revered "King-Father," who survived wars and the murderous Khmer Rouge regime to hold center stage in the southeast Asian nation for more than half a century.

Map of King Father Ceremony from Royal Palace to the Meru Mount

The ceremony would start from the morning of February 01, 2013 from the Royal Palace on the route of Preah Sisovath Blvd. to Baksey Cham Krong Blvd, turn left to Wat Phnom Historical Site and take a round trip then continue on Preah Norodom Blvd, to the south up to Independent Monument, turn left on Preah Sihanouk Blvd to the East to Sotherous Blvd., turn to the North up to Preah Merhu and place there for a period of 3 days and the cremation would be on February 04, 2013.

Urgent Update for Tourist

CATA would like to update as the following:
 
1. Royal Palace will be closed from 01-07 February 2013

2. National Museum will be closed on 01 & 04 February 2013

3. Wat Phnom  will be closed on 01 February 2013

4. Cheung Ek, Toul Sleng is opened as usual

Leisure and Honeymooner in 2013

The most attractive destinations for Leisure and Honeymooner in 2013

1. New York City, USA

2. Rome, Italy

3. Cancun, Mexico

4. Phuket, Thailand

5. Algarve, Portugal

Announcement from CATA

The Royal Palace will be closed on 01st and 04th February 2013 and both public and private employees are allowed to take leave on those days to join the ceremony.

The Royal Palace will move the body of late King Father Preah Norodom Sihanouk Preah Borom Ratanak Khod from the Royal Palace to Preah Merhu for cremation ceremony. The ceremony would start from the morning of February 01, 2013 from the Royal Palace on the route of Preah Sisovath Blvd. to Baksey Cham Krong Blvd, turn left to Wat Phnom Historical Site and take a round trip then continue on Preah Norodom Blvd, to the south up to Independent Monument, turn left on Preah Sihanouk Blvd to the East to Sotherous Blvd., turn to the North up to Preah Merhu and place there for a period of 3 days and the cremation would be on February 04, 2013.

For other important location such as Cheung Ek, Toul Sleng is opened as usual. However, Wat Phnom will be probably be closed on 01 February 2013 as the body of late King Father moves across this area, While National Museum will also probably be closed or hard to access as some roads was blocked.

Bamboo Bike Available now in Cambodia

It is called Bamboo bike because the body of bike is made from  bamboo tree dried up to 50 hours before installing with other spare parts. The idea comes from the experts in Vietnam  who love and want to contribute in environmental protection and tourism attraction.

Currently, Mekong creations is Managing this project under the umbrella of Mekong Plus with support from Belgium Foundation.  This project has been operated for 15 years in Vietnam before expanding its brand in Cambodia. Until now, about 39 bamboo bikes were sold and plan to supply more in the market.

The bike is also available for tourist in Phnom Penh , Siem Reap and soon will run in Svay Rieng. There are 7 to 8 tourists rend the bike every month.

Want to buy! The bike is cost from 180 USD to 435 USD per bike. Eventhoug it sounds expensive ,but the quality is tough and strong. This bike is available for rent and sale at Mekong Creations NGO in Phnom Penh at House No 45, St 240. Time: from 9AM-7PM .

First come first serve.

Vatey and Iksan Birthday

 Today is Vatey and Iksan Birthday. Iksan is Vatey's cousin. He lives in Poy Pet with his family, but comes to Phnom Penh to visit his grand parents.With that good occasion, We dicided to celebrate their birthday at home with around 10 people, all are in house participants. We enjoyed barbecue with soft and alcohol drinks. We were so happy with their smile and laughing.

We took picture and let them pray and cut the cake.  Unfortunately, Vatey got stomach ach and I rushed to buy some medicine for her. I don't know the root of her illness, but maybe her hygience.

Anyway, now she is better and still be happy.

Iksan will be in Phnom Penh until tomorrow and leave for his home on monday, but promises to come back on Cheng Meng Day.

The top 10 most beautiful countries of the world

These countries have been voted as the most beautiful countries of the world based on their culture and food.

1. India
2. Thailand
3. China
4. Japan
5. Brazil
6. Mexico
7. USA
8. Italy
9. Cambodia
10. South Africa

Boost Iron Exports, Cambodia Secures $11bn funding

 Cambodia Iron and Steel Mining Industry Group (CISMIG) and China Railway Major Bridge Engineering have signed an agreement to jointly invest US$11.2 million in the projects.
CISMIG is 70 per cent Chinese-owned.
 

The railway line will cost $9.6 billion to build and will run from Preah Vihear province through Kampong Thom and Kampong Speu to Koh Kong.
Construction of the seaport in Koh Kong will cost $1.6 billion.

It will support the metal and mining industries in Preah Vihear, providing an outlet for exports to China and other markets.
Work on both projects will begin in July and is due to be completed in November 2017.