Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

I visited Cambodia early in 2011 and during my stop in the national capital, Phnom Penh, I paid a visit to the complex housing the Royal Palace and the magnificent ‘Silver Pagoda’ which is located next to the Royal Palace.

Gleaming in gold, the Royal Palace is one of Phnom Penh's most splendid architectural achievements. It is home to His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk and Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath. The palace was built in 1866 by His Majesty Prince Bat Norodom, the great grandfather to the current King. The Royal Palace is built on the site of the old town. This site was especially chosen by a Commission of Royal Ministers and Astrologers because it had great geographical significance in relation to the King, who was regarded as a direct descendant of the gods. Credit: Tourism Cambodia… 

Among the images in the video are the Stupa of His Majesty King Suramarit and Her Majesty Queen Kossomak. A stupa (Sanskrit for "heap") is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing "relics", typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns, used as a place of meditation. Most of the images are of the ‘Silver Pagoda’ and some of the monuments surrounding the building.

The 'Silver Pagoda' sits next to the Royal Palace. The Pagoda's proper name is Wat Preah Keo Morokat, which means 'The Temple of the Emerald Buddha.' It has received the common name 'Silver Pagoda' after the solid silver floor tiles that adorn the temple building. The pagoda compound as a whole contains several structures and gardens, the primary building being the temple Wat Preah Keo Morokat and other structures including a library, various stupas, shrines, monuments, minor buildings and the galleries of the Reamker.

Credit: Canby Publications… 

The brief video footage shows one of the wonderful Ramayana Frescoes that line the interior of the pagoda compound walls. The murals were painted in 1903-1904 by a team of students working under the direction of artist Vichitre Chea and architect Oknha Tep Nimit Thneak. Over the 100+ years since they were first painted, some sections of the frescoes have become badly damaged and worn. While I was there, a small team of artists were at work on the frescoes conducting the painstaking work of restoring one of the longest murals.

More:

Tourism Cambodia website...

Royal Palace Wikipedia entry...

Canby Publications…

La Placita Village, Tucson, Arizona

Ok, let me be straight up with you right from the start – La Placita Village, in downtown Tucson, Arizona, is not a traditional village in the old Southwest tradition.

Instead it is delightful collection of adobe, brick, and wood frame buildings designed to resemble a Mexican marketplace.

When I visited the complex on a blazing hot day in the middle of September, there were not a lot of people about, which gave me plenty of time to shoot some video footage, take photographs, and examine each of the buildings with their wonderful patchwork of vibrant oranges, purples, yellows, blues, greens and reds.

The village itself is home to the Tucson Visitor Center where you will find the usual assortment of maps, brochures, and merchandise. 

There are numerous buildings housing boutique shops, cafés and restaurants, and other small establishments, and the Village is within easy walking distance of several excellent museums, a Convention Center, Music Hall, the Fox Tucson Theater, and much more.

During the warmer months, free screenings of classic films are presented on the Village plaza, and other outdoor events are scheduled throughout the summer months.

Here is a short collage of video footage and photographs of the complex...

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La Placita Village

110 S Church Street

Tucson, AZ, 85701.

More Info:
Visit the Official Tucson Travel Information Guide…

Greek Island Cooking: Rice Stuffed Zucchini

Another in my “Irene’s Kitchen” series featuring the Greek Island cooking of my sister, Irene Gevezes. This time Irene is cooking Stuffed Zucchini, a very simple vegetarian dish. 

Finding large zucchini (also referred to in some countries as Courgette, or Squash), of the size seen in this video — which came from Irene’s homegrown plants — may be quite difficult in modern supermarkets since they tend to favour short, thin fruit under 20 cm (8 in.) in length.

Look for the larger zucchini at weekend farmer’s markets, or better still — grow your own.

Ingredients

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Four large zucchini halved

2 cups uncooked rice

5-6  Spring onions

3-4 Garlic Cloves

Fresh mint

1/2 cup Olive Oil (for frying)

Condiments: salt, pepper, turmeric to taste

Filmed on the Greek island, Ikaria, in 2014. With thanks to Irene Gevezes for her patience, culinary skills, and delightful meals. 

You can see more of my videos online via my YouTube channel...