Like the Pub Street and the Night Market are the most happening places in Siem Reap, the Mekong Quay is the most happening place in Phnom Penh. Mekong is a huge river and I guess it is because of this that it is almost always very windy in the evening.
Also, some of the most impressive buildings of Phnom Penh, the Royal Palace, Independence Memorial, Wat Phnom, and Wat Ounalom, are very close to the Quayside. You can walk everywhere.
All of these buildings have interesting contours and make the skyline of Phnom Penh really interesting. The colours add to the vibrance of the entire city.
The road next to the quay is extremely busy. The photograph above showcases only a fraction of the traffic. However, absence of honking is remarkable and that is why one is still able to sit on the quay and enjoy the view.
You see all kinds of interesting people on the quay. Here you see two monks, of different age groups, in deep discussion. The strange thing about Monks is that you see them with the unlikeliest of accessories. Sometimes you see them with a stoup, sometimes with an iPhone. The older monk here seems to be carrying a leather bag.
You also find people playing games, such as sey (known as Jianzi in China) and football on the pavement at the quayside. Sey is particularly interesting to watch. The agility with which most people manage to keep the shuttlecock up using their feet is incredible. Upon doing some research, I cam across an indication that the game was once also prevalent in India, before badminton became the rage. At that time it was known as Poona.
Now here's a monk enjoying solitude, probably listening to music, with a book by his side. I love the colors of the monks' clothes. Various shades of orange, red, deep pinks, yellows, and browns.
Though the Mekong is huge in this part of the country, it is a comparatively serene river. You find several cruise boats floating around, as well as some tiny fishing boats. In fact there were some people fishing on the bank too. Most of them are excellent swimmers. One would dive and stay beneath the water for what seemed like ages. I was almost worried.
Lined along the quay are the flags of all the countries that have embassies in Cambodia. India is one of them, and here we are being silly beneath the Indian Tricolor. To be honest, when I was alone in Phnom Penh, I did get a bit emotional about this flag. I used to sit beneath it and enjoy the cool evening breeze.
Here are some more monks. I love the serene smiles in this photograph. They light up the entire canvas. I am very curious about what monks do when they are not praying. What do they talk about? What is their lifestyle like? And so on.
Now this is not a common scene on the quayside. In fact during our stay in Cambodia, this was the only time we came across PDA. No one stopped and stared at them. There was no ogling. Cambodians are a decent bunch of people, but there seem to be unwritten rules about this kind of expression of love. You will not witness Cambodians indulge in it, but they mostly let other people be.
In the meanwhile, sky turned up the drama by a few notches and turned various shades of red, yellow, orange. Just like the monks' clothes. This was the case every day. Different pictures were painted, different canvases created with nothing but the skyline, clouds, and a little sunshine.
You will find monks of various ethnicity in Cambodia. However, I have included this picture for more reasons than the monks. The fairy lights you can see wrapped around the trees in the background are a standard fixture in Cambodia. The markets, the shops, the buildings, the quayside, are all done up with fairy lights of different colors.
To spice up the scene a little more, there are the jovial cycle-rickshaw and tuk-tuk drivers. They are some of the liveliest people on the streets. They are friendly and helpful, despite being inclined to overcharge you for every ride. Bargain hard with them.
At night the cruise ships come out and you can hear their music from a distance. You can see people dining, dancing, or just sitting an chatting. Some cruises seem quieter. If you happen to take one, make sure all the boxes of your choice are checked in the deal.
We did not choose to go on the cruise. We decided to sit on the quay and enjoy the lovely lights these ships cast on the dark water. Along with the lights from the buildings across the river, these lights create magic.
The Mekong Quayside in Phnom Penh is where you can get to know the city, its customs and its people. If your itinerary allows, don't set any time limits for your trip to the quay. This is a great place to sit and observe life as it goes by.
.jpg)