Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Sihanoukville is a coastal city in south Cambodia named for the late king, Norodom Sihanouk.  Total population of the country is 15 million; Sihanoukville has about 160,000 people and seems to be growing. Cambodia is the second poorest country in southeast Asia based on GDP per capita; Laos is the poorest. Sihanoukville was a city of contrasts:  the fishing village was very poor while new hotels and casinos were being built near Independence Beach.

We visited the Tumnop Rolok fishing village, where people live a simple life in small houses built on stilts over the water.  Men were building new wooden boats.  There was garbage everywhere -- our guide said the government is trying to educate the people about recycling and disposing of their waste properly.  Next stop was the Wat Krom Buddhist complex.  The main temple building had a beautiful gold altar, with walls and ceiling painted in colorful Buddha scenes. Outside was a large gold reclining buddha on a covered platform, many more gold Buddha statues, and burial stupas, where cremated remains were stored by wealthy families. A beautiful temple!

Then we visited the large central market, where you could buy clothing, jewelry, toys, food, household goods, and more.  It was dark, warm and busy inside the covered market, but interesting to see the various fruits and take away foods for sale.  The parking lot was so crowded I don't know how our coach made it out. Finally, we stopped at Independence Beach for a stroll along the turquoise water and fine white sand.

Tuk tuk by the fishing village

Boat being constructed at the fishing village 

monks at the Buddhist temple

recling Buddha at Wat Krom

Altar in the Buddhist temple

Joining the line up of Buddhas at Wat Krom

Central temple building at Wat Krom

Selling fruits at the central market

many stalls at the market

Independence Beach

Monkeys along the road