Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Trailor on Tour
We returned from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh in time for the Coronation celebrations, which began on 28th and continued for 3 days.
The new king is called Norodom Sihamoni, who is a 51 year old, unmarried ex ballet dancer. When the old queen, Monineath, was asked if he would take a wife, she replied "Wife? He only feels Buddhist". The old king, Sihamouk explained "He loves women as his sisters. He dares not make a relationship....he is a simple man", who also happens to be very pretty. The words "confirmed bachelor" and "closet" come to mind!
Each day at sunset there was a huge firework display, which could be seen clearly over the river, from our hotel window.
On Saturday, Alan and I got up early to stand outside the palace and watch his first speech as king from the balcony of the palace, accompanied by a few thousand school children and members of all the forces. Maria was not feeling particularly royalist (and was being lazy) and stayed in bed and was still asleep when we returned over 2 hours later! We also managed to glimpse some Apsara dancing, which is incredibly intricate and beautiful to see. The king was also due to sing, but I have a feeling he may have done this within the palace at a private dinner. I can't quite picture any of our royal family doing this!
I was quite impressed that I managed to get up at all as Alan and I had a 7 hour pool and beer extravaganza the previous day. This was followed by a 2 hour chess lesson with Maria and then back to the room to watch A Few Good Men, which finished at 0300. At least it made a change from About Schmidt, which I wasted 2 hours watching before I left and seems to be played here about 5 times a day!
Onwards to Vietnam tomorrow......Sherry xxx
- comments