The dancing king of Cambodia
N 11°36'03.4'' E 104°55'52.1''
Date:
10.06.2017
Day: 711
Country:
Cambodia
Location:
Phnom Penh
Latitude N:
11°34’03.4”
Longitude E:
104°55’52.1”
Total kilometers:
23,937 km
Maximum height:
10 m
Total altitude meters:
71.177 m
Sunrise:
05:35 h
Sunset:
6:23 pm
Temperature day max:
35°C
(Photos of the diary entry can be found at the end of the text).
Now that we have the updated vaccination certificate for Ajaci, we will continue our journey tomorrow towards the world-famous Angkor Wat temple complex. We use the day to pack everything we’ve needed for the last 1 1/2 weeks back into the bike bags and trailers. “We’ve been in this city for so long now and haven’t managed to visit the royal palace. What do you say we head off after lunch and pay a visit to this highlight?” I ask Tanja. “The Killing Fields and the S21 prison are still in my bones. Maybe the royal architecture will bring us back to positive thoughts,” she replies.
“Did you know that our king is an international award-winning ballet dancer and choreographer? At the age of 18, he was even awarded the first national prize for classical dance in Czechoslovakia. At the age of 14, he was also given the leading role in the film “Le petit prince” (The Little Prince) produced by his father, King Norodom Sihanouk”, we hear the proudly impregnated voice of a guide standing next to a small American tour group. Click, click, click whir the cameras of the overweight tourists sweating in the sun. None of the guests seem to be listening to the man, because each of them is making a real effort to burst the memory chips on their cameras. No wonder, because the Royal Palace, built in 1860, and the famous Silver Pagoda are testimonies to the breathtakingly beautiful Khmer architecture.
“Prince Norodom Sihamoni then studied art in the former Soviet Union and in North Korea,” the tour guide continues, not letting the fact that his listeners are not paying too much attention to his words bother them. “In 1976, at the age of 23, he received a diploma in cinematography, in film art, if you know what I mean.” “So the current King of Cambodia is a real artist, then?” says a corpulent man in a wet, sweaty T-shirt with an unmistakably condescending tone. The tour guide is not provoked by his paying guest and continues. “Oh yes, many of Cambodia’s rulers were extremely creative, but they were also great strategists and military leaders of world renown. If you visit the famous temple complex of Angkor Wat on your next trip, you’ll understand what I’m talking about.” The American takes off his peaked cap, wipes the sweat from his forehead and looks at the display of his camera, grinning stupidly. “Before I tell you more about our beloved king, I’ll show you the palace’s silver pagoda, the entire floor of which is covered in silver tiles.”
Tanja and I follow the small group. When she stops next to the impressive Silver Pagoda, we sit down on a small bench in the shade of a lush green bush within earshot and listen to the educated Cambodian, who obviously enjoys his job. “We call the silver pagoda Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot. It is also known as Wat Preah Keo, which translates as Temple of the Emerald Buddha.” “Is that also the name of the famous royal temple in Bangkok?” interjects the very corpulent guest, who is obviously listening to his tour guide. “Yes, the name is the same, but our silver pagoda has nothing to do with it,” replies the guide.
As we continue on our way through the six-hectare grounds, with their beautiful gardens, many exotic flowers and lush green lawns, we hear more about the prince’s interesting life story. “After our prince and his family were placed under house arrest by the criminal Khmer Rouge from 1976 to 1978, he moved to Beijing until 1981. He then emigrated to Paris for 20 years, taught as a professor at the “Gabriel Faure” conservatory, founded his own dance group called “Ballet Deva” and was Cambodia’s ambassador to UNESCO in Paris from 1993 to 2004.” “Wow,” I say quietly as the tour guide takes a short break. “After Prince Norodom Sihamoni’s father was too old and ill to continue to run the government, the heir to the throne returned to our beautiful Cambodia and took over responsibility for his 12 million subjects. On October 29, 2004, at the age of 51, he was crowned the new King of Cambodia. Let me tell you, it was a wonderful coronation. I witnessed it. We have a tolerant, very modest monarch in him. After his coronation, he said: “I thank the political leaders of this country, the leaders of Buddhism, Islam and other religions who trust me and allow me to serve the country in religious, educational, social and humanitarian matters.”
As the guide finishes his story, he looks over at us. I put my hands over my head and applaud quietly. The man gives us a friendly smile. Nodding our heads, we rise from the bench, leave the tour group and stroll slowly to the exit of this impressive complex. “Who would have thought that we could experience such a great guided tour here,” says Tanja enthusiastically. “And to learn about the monarch of Cambodia in such a wonderful way,” I add in the best of moods…
If you would like to find out more about our adventures, you can find our books under this link.
The live coverage is supported by the companies Gesat GmbH: www.gesat.com and roda computer GmbH http://roda-computer.com/ The satellite telephone Explorer 300 from Gesat and the rugged notebook Pegasus RP9 from Roda are the pillars of the transmission.
