Philippine Travel Notes

This one is not a temple but sacred too, even considered 'holiest' by the Lao people - probably because it weighs big in the Lao cultural identity and spiritual well-being. Makasaysayan at me masalimuot na intriga ang museo na ito. At aba, international! Like Wat Sisaket across the road, this museum also opens at 8AM for us tourists. This was the first I came back to on my return walk, before going to Sisaket Temple. And like at Wat Sisaket, I also did not pay and enter to see this museum. I knew I had not much time to spare. I needed to be back at the hotel and expect my associates for a meeting. But as I said earlier where there's a will, there will be a way ! Ako pa! At that counter, you could clearly see the chapel/museum building (talikod ka) . This: You leave your footwear on the ground (at the foot of the stairs), then you go up, and around that loggia (external hallway) since many of the museum's displays are there. Once you enter that main doo...

Still eastward, diagonally across the Presidential Palace , I saw Wat Sisaket . Ayii, I was too early, they open to the public at 8AM, so I said I will see it later, on my way back. I went on with my walk (this road goes southeastward) noting that I'd come back this way anyway (that would probably be already past 8AM) , so I would then enter to visit. Make the long stort short, I came back! Oh eh, anupangaba, ituloy na natin ang kwento noong nakabalik na ako. This: And I discovered... nge, andami nang tao nakapila going inside the temple/musem. And that's already the 2nd pila. You first have to pay at the ticket counter - pila rin! Discouraged, pressed for time, I only shot pics at this garden near the ticket booth. And even outside, by the curbside, where there is this concrete marker (mohon) ! And the vehicles that brought those groups of tourists "upon opening of the gates "! Aw, I must tell you, behind me as I took that photo, were many more buses...

Wonderful Khmer Architecture! Everywhere is " instagrammable "! But let's start from the very beginning! Visit Times & Duration Foremost, you may encounter a 'minor issue' on the web, about opening and closing times for palace visits. Some say 7-11AM & 1-4PM ; some say 7AM , 8AM and so on. On this visit, it was written everywhere, 8:00AM~11:00AM AND 2:00PM~5:00PM . Heads up to my boldly written AND above. It can make or break your satisfaction! It means that: at 11AM the palace closes (for lunch?), so all guests will have to leave. Di ko alam kung me loudspeaker yan or megaphone na ipagtatabuyan kayo, o baka me mga guards na umiikot para sabihan kayo, o maybe the paths are cordoned-off. Basta ang sa akin, isang tanga at kalahati ka, kung papasok ka pa ng 10AM. Eh ang laki kaya ng compound na yan! Many tour groups aim for the earliest entry - at 8AM. I surmised, sangkaterbang busloads siguro ang tourists entering at 8AM. Hiyay! So, I ...

Let's explore this museum. It's (of course) the biggest in Cambodia, and more about the country's fascinating (Khmer) culture and arts of the past than present or future. So 'wag kang umasa na me makikita kang 'rocket science' or 'captured military tanks' ! Wala ring 'landmines' or 'genocide' dito. Or at least wala akong ike-kwentong ganyan! In fact, nabasa ko ang Objectives nila: The National Museum of Cambodia houses one of the world's greatest collections of Khmer cultural material including sculpture, ceramics and ethnographic objects from the prehistoric, pre-Angkorian, Angkorian and post-Angkorian periods. The Museum promotes awareness, understanding and appreciation of Cambodia's heritage through the presentation, conservation, safekeeping, interpretation and acquisition of Cambodian cultural material. It aims to educate and inspire its visitors. Things on display are about their ancient culture and arts until...