OuDong mountain is about 45 kilometers north of Phnom Penh along National Road #5.The mountain dates from the early 7th century and was the old capital of Cambodia back in 1618 - 1866 before the capital was moved to Phnom Penh. It now officially rests place of the most sacred of Buddha's bones possessed by Cambodia that before then stored at the monument in front of the railway station in Phnom Penh.
Normally a Buddha statue is built faces to the east to greet the rising sun. However, this large statue of Buddha on the top of the OuDong mountain was built by Chinese and faces to China. It is thought that this was to move the power of a sleeping dragon that lies within the mountain over to China.
The large statue of Buddha on the mountain is being renewed.
From left to right: Gina my close friend who was my lecturer at UC, Mark has been my good friend for years when he was in America and I recruited him to work for my company in Phnom Penh. Sim is my loyal staff has been working at my company for 7 years. The end right in green is me who likes to make friend with anybody without discriminating age nor race.
At the mountain there were many beggars... what impressed me was the several young kids have their way to earn money admirably. They are younger than 14 years old, though they can speak well English, telling us stories about the mountain and history. Moreover, they holding a fan and keep fanning us while guiding.
Me and Samnang my favorite fan-boy. He was friendly, lovely and speaks pretty good English.
Did i say there were many beggars at the mountain? Yes! there were kids, men, ladies, old people, incapable people and even animals!!!
A monkey sitting on the staircase having that thing for keeping the money people give to him.
Even the dogs also know how to earn money for their owners.
People say on the New Year we should climb up a mountain so their luck will be raised too. Gina managed to achieve her goal to go to the top of the mountain and she made it. On the mountain she met Ms. Tingi a Filipino who is a former staff at Ministry of Wealth fair and Development in Philipin. She now works for World Bank in Phnom Penh.
Gina and Tingi who works for World Bank in Phnom Penh.
The stupa above was built in 1623
This is the highest stupa which the most sacred of Buddha's bones are stored.
A new big pagoda complex of the dead body of a famous monk.
I manage not to post a photo of the dead body of the monk here. However, if you are interested to see the photos, i can send to you via email. Just drop me a line.
For Chinese, they have the Dragon Dance on the Lunar New Year. For Cambodian we have Trod Dance.
The Cambodian Trod Dance on Khmer New Year. We have this dance as the belief of fighting the bad luck and bringing the good luck and happiness.
The long hair lady Neang KongHing and the crocodile in an old tail. You can see this same statue at the roundabout near Olympic Stadium.
Resting under the shade after walking under the heat.
wow...this place looks very impressive. I will have to take Brandy!
ReplyDeleteDanny