More from the Palace

A panorama of the Royal Palace grounds with the Throne Hall in the center

In rounding off my recent visit to the Royal Palace with Now, on one of her rare visits to the capital and her first time inside the Palace grounds, here are some more snaps for your viewing. Most visitors to the city take time to visit the RP so I'm probably not showing you anything that you haven't seen before. For those who've never been, this is what you can see. I'll round off my Silver Pagoda visit with a few more pictures very soon.

Now on the steps of the Throne Hall with the Chan Chhaya Pavilion in the background

The Chan Chhaya Pavilion, from where the monarch makes speeches on special occasions

The decorative pediment of the Throne Hall and the royal crest

Built in 1917 this was used for the King to mount his elephants - its called Hor Samran Phirun

The royal crest as seen on doors and windows throughout the Royal Palace

A display of royal regalia can be seen inside Hor Samrith Vimean, the Bronze Palace

The corner of the Napoleon III Pavilion and the Throne Hall behind

Now used for receptions, the Phochani Pavilion was originally a dance theater

Decorative frescoes are on the ceiling of the Phochani Pavilion, also home to many small birds

The Victory Gate is used by the monarch and important visitors only

Touristy snaps

The Throne Hall in all its glory on Sunday morning, the best time to photograph it

Although football is taking a front seat at the moment on my blog, I haven't forgotten my visit to the Royal Palace on Sunday morning. Here are some of the normal touristy photos you too would snap if you were visiting the Palace, which was originally built in 1866 though many of the buildings have been added over the years including the Throne Hall (or Preah Tineang Tevea Vinichhay) which was constructed in 1917. Photography inside the Throne Hall and the adjoining Silver Pagoda are not allowed.

A front view of the Throne Hall. I don't think the red carpet was especially for me!

The 4 faces on the tallest spire of the Throne Hall

A peek over the wall and inside the King's private quarters which are behind the Throne Hall

The well-maintained gardens leading to the Chanchhaya Pavilion, that fronts onto the riverside. It was built in 1917 and was fomerly used for classical dance performances.

The unusual iron built Napoleon III Pavilion, which was presented to Cambodia in 1876 by the French Emperor and is closed for renovation

Welcome to the King's home

The iron gateway at the visitors entrance to the Royal Palace with the figure showing welcome and respect

This morning I took Now for her first-ever visit to the Royal Palace compound. The entrance fee was $6.25 for barang, free for Khmers, which I think is the type of dual-pricing system I like at national treasures like the home of the King. She enjoyed herself even though it was extremely hot and pretty crowded, and it was quite early, as we made it through the doors just after 8am. I won't post the most obvious photos just now, rather I'll concentrate on a few pictures I took that most people will ignore, especially of the wrought-iron gates into the Silver Pagoda area, which have the same design, showing a male figure with hands clasped together in a sampeah welcome. More photos to follow but I'm off to the football at Olympic Stadium very soon.

The wrought-iron gate at the visitors entrance, showing two figures

A small scale model of Angkor Wat sits behind the Silver Pagoda

Another sampeahing figure as you enter the Silver Pagoda compound from the Royal Palace

Much of the frescoes along the inner wall of the Silver Pagoda have been destroyed by time and weather. This is a scene depicting French landowners at court. The murals were originally painted in 1903.

This lady is wishing herself luck with water in the presence of the sacred Nandin bull. This is in the library next to the Silver Pagoda where fortune tellers read your fortune.

The welcome sampeah at the southern gate of the Silver Pagoda compound

Four reclining Buddhas in the Keong Preah Bath shrine which also houses a large Buddha footprint

The final welcome sampeah figure at the western entrance to the Silver Pagoda area

Palace views

They are not joking when they claim to have a great view of the Royal Palace

I popped out of the office to have a quick look at the FCC's latest addition to their accommodation stable, namely the one-roomed Palace View they have just opened, which fronts onto the popular Royal Garden spread out at the foot of the Chan Chhaya Pavilion and the Royal Palace behind that. Great views from the room and the private terrace up above though its a popular area at all times of the day and the room is more what I would call intimate than spacious. The FCC already has nine rooms at their original location and another 16 rooms at The Quay, with plans to turn the run-down colonial building known as The Mansion into another hotel outlet. I also stopped off at Sorya Market for a whizz up to the top of the building and a look at the views from the balcony over the under-renovation Central Market and across the rooftops of the city. It's now just started raining cats and dogs and fingers crossed it'll clear up before tonight's double-bill screening at Meta House of the documentaries, The Tenth Dancer and Samsara. They are certainly two films that deserve a big audience but you can never really judge how many people will turn up until it starts. Get along if you can, it begins at 7pm.

The one-room Palace View, part of the FCC stable

The frontage of Palace View, on the 1st floor. A coffee shop is opening on the ground floor, next to Pacharan

A look over the Central Market, taken from the top of the Sorya Market building