Chrouy Changva Take 1

The view from the Chrouy Changva park across to the Royal Palace

At a loose end this morning, I realised that I hadn't popped over the Japanese Bridge to Chrouy Changva for a few years, always a nice and quiet refuge from the hot and humid city center. Over the last few years Chrouy Changva has changed almost out of recognition so I stuck to the western side along the Tonle Sap river and visited the three pagodas there. At Wat Prachum Sakor, the number of stupas has multiplied significantly, as has the size of the troop of monkeys in the sacred banyan tree. I counted at least twenty monkeys including many babies. The monks had just been called to lunch so one of the achar opened the main vihara though the paintings weren't of anything other than of moderate interest and with no Neak Ta to see, I moved onto the golden boat temple (Wat Sampeau Trileak). No-one was around at this rather unique if gaudy and uninspiring modern temple which depicts the boat which Buddhists who are without sin sail to heaven. I will cover the peninsula's third pagoda, Wat Botiyaram in my second post. The park that fronts Chrouy Changva directly opposite Sisowath Quay was a haven for young courting couples before I returned to the other side of the river for lunch at The Rising Sun.

Mother monkey and child avoid a nosey photographer and the midday heat

A painting of Buddha receiving food from a monkey and elephant at Wat Prachum Sakor

The gaudy golden boat temple at Wat Sampeau Trileak