I woke up and had some coffee on the balcony before going down for breakfast. We had a simpler breakfast this time, eggs and toast.

We decided to head to the palace first thing, as it was open 9-11am and then 2-5pm. The palace was about a five minute walk away. We had our most aggressive tuk tuk driver yet approach us on the way to the palace (the east entrance facing the river), but we were right in front of the palace and did not need a ride anywhere. 

The lady at the palace ticketing booth told us that the throne room was closed as the king was entertaining an official visitor. The silver pagoda was open , but the entrance price was still $10, a bit steep for half of the palace being closed, and definitely one of the pricier things we have done in Cambodia. We paid and entered. 

You must cover your knees and shoulders to enter. There was also a sign saying to remove hats and wear a face mask, although this did not seem to be enforced (we were wearing a mask anyway). 

We walked down the corridor that divided the palace from the silver pagoda. The passage was lined with flowers and bushes. We then turned left and entered a large courtyard where the silver pagoda and many stupas were.  The entire way around the courtyard the walls were covered in colourful murals depicting stories. We investigated these murals for quite awhile and then went to look at the elaborate carved stupas. 

We then entered the silver pagoda which was right in the middle of the square courtyard. You are not allowed to take photos in the silver pagoda, so I will try my best to describe it. The walls were lined with artifacts made of gold and silver buddhas presented to the king by various officials (like world leaders, there was one from Clinton). In the middle of the room was an emerald buddha, housed inside an elaborately carved and gilded stupa, or maybe a paraquin, I am unsure where the line is drawn between those two things, either way, it was housed in a mountain of golden carving. 

We then explored a little shrine surrounded by greenery and saw a to-scale replica of Angkor Wat. 

As we exited there were quite a few areas to look at old photos and some more artifacts as well as musicians playing what looked like wooden xylophones. We spent an hour at the palace total, but I assume we would have spent two hours if the palace portion had been open to the public. 

Next we walked a few blocks to a temple called “Ounalom Pagoda”. We peeked in one entrance, but a tuk tuk driver said it was closed. Whether or not the pagoda was closed, we don’t know (it’s a tuk tuk driver tactic to try and get you to go on a tour with them instead). We walked away and found a different entrance and looked around a bit at some stupas and a lot of beautiful plants. 

We then headed back to the hotel via a shop to buy some kleenex and water for Jives. I sat on the balcony and had a beer as Jives rested in bed until we went out to eat dinner. I went down to the pool and had a swim by myself. Once again it was supposed to rain all day but it didn’t . 

At 3:30pm we went down the road to a place for some pub food and craft beer. I ordered fish and chips and Jives got a shepherd’s pie. I got a passion fruit lager and Jives ordered a stout. The beers were both excellent! The food was really really good as well. The bill total came to $23, but we left $25. We then headed back to the room and watched some shows on Youtube before bed. Tomorrow would be a long travel day….