the independence monument
this is my last night in phnom penh. i'm leaving just one day before the week-long mourning period for king norodom sihanouk, who was responsible for both cambodian independence from the french in the 50s... and the khmer rouge in the late 60s/early 70s. i just bought david chandler's book on cambodian history from 1945-1970, so next time we meet i'll be able to fill you in on all the details. just ask.
a tiny part of me is sad to miss this event, most likely the last of its kind in cambodia, and for one of their most iconic and beloved figures, but the rest of me is SO RELIEVED that i'm slipping out before the estimated 3,000,000 folks from the provinces descend on the capital. after what happened here in 2010 during the water festival, i'm sure the city is ready... but i'm quite happy to confirm that from australian news sources. no need to be on the ground.
it was a good trip, despite my initial reticence. i managed to learn a few things and meet a few people, i made a tiny bit of progress on an article. i discovered khmer cuisine and confirmed my love for cambodian music. i had a thai massage and a yogurt scrub. all good things, indeed. but next time, i'm bringing kp with me. you know what they say: phnom penh is for lovers.
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