Cambodian Royal Palace

After touring the temples of Angkor Wat at Siem Reap, I hopped a bus to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.  Situated along a riverside, Phnom Penh is actually a nice-looking city. 

I toured the Cambodian Royal Palace which is actually several buildings serving various functions, surrounded by immaculately maintained gardens.

Royal Gate

I think this building is the Meeting Hall.

The large building on the left is like a giant ball room. Huge chrystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling which is painted with Hindi lore from The Upanishads.  Unfortunately, this and other building forbade picture taking inside, but a lovely veranda stretches around the ball room offering nicely elevated views of the grounds.

 

The building being restored is in the style of the Italian Renaissance. 

A monk's travel accessories: Lonely Planet guide and cellphone.  Who says the modern monk most forsake all wordly possessions?

This painted wall goes all the way around one large section of the grounds.

Small shrine

Little temples like these are outside every house in Cambodia in about the same spot where an American house has a mailbox.

Large, colorless pillars on the grounds commemorate the dead. 

After a day in Cambodia, I hopped a night bus back to Vietnam for a two-day boat tour of the Mekong Delta...