Car Tour of Phnom Penh

I remember a family car trip to Canada when I was nine years old. We had some car troubles and ended up spending an unexpected day in Calgary - only to discover the Calgary Stampede was in in progress.  The lesson I learned that day is that sometimes plans change and you stumble upon a great surprise.

While our trip to Cambodia did originally include three days in Phnom Penh, had things gone according to plan we would have departed this morning for our Mekong River Cruise.  Instead, we spent the morning at Royal PP Hospital again for outpatient treatment #2.  

Shirley was feeling a bit better, so I contacted our guide, Nara and arranged to be picked up at the hospital and we went for car tour of the city.  And that's when the the surprise was discovered.  Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953.  Their independence day is November 9 - that's tomorrow.  According to Nara, while they celebrate every year, every tenth year they go all out.  Tomorrow is the country's 70th anniversary.

As we drove around the Capital city, we not only saw all the flags, banners and decorations going up, but we also saw rehearsals of various ceremonies going on around the city.  I don't know if we'll get to see the actual events tomorrow, but seeing the rehearsals up close without the crowds was fun.

Phnom Penh is a city growing at a crazy pace.  We drove across a new bridge (just opened yesterday) to an island where a new city is being constructed. The project is being financed by a development company out of Singapore.  Construction of buildings has just begun, but the plans call "to create a center for international and national commercial hub including luxury residential area. The most iconic landmark of the city is the 555-meter (1,800 ft) skyscraper facing the Mekong River and Bassac River."

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped off at the Riverside Restaurant and ordered food to take back with us.  Continuing my quest to eat something new everyday, I ordered a stir fry with water buffalo and pumpkin.

Military guard rehearsing by Statue of King Sihanouk

Buddhist Institute

New Phnom Penh is ultra modern

Driving back across the brand new bridge 

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