WAT LANGKA AND PHNOM PENH NIGHTLIFE!

This is my favorite picture of the day!  A kitty sitting atop a Stupa in the courtyard of Wat Langka!  (Oh, how I wanted to bring that kitty home for a bath!)

 

But first, SOMEONE had to enjoy this beautiful pool this morning!  John and I volunteered.  We were the chosen two!  And we enjoyed every single second there!

Our first stop of the day was MY STOP, Wat Langka, because on Monday evenings the public is welcome to come in and meditate for one hour with the monks!  John and I arrived early (of course) and got to walk around the beautiful Wat.

There were a lot of stupas, big and small, around the courtyard.  (FINALLY, I understand what they are and why they are there!)

And statues as well—ya gotta love these gorgeous Buddha statues!

This is where John deserted me!  When it was close to meditation time, John bolted (can you EVEN believe that?) and left me to go upstairs into the temple ALL BY MYSELF! 🙄🙄🙄

This sign helped, as there was no one at the doorway to tell me what to do!

As I made way into the temple, I was struck by the beautiful canvas paintings that were on display.

There were two people already meditating, a “nun” (female monk) and a young gentleman.  I pulled up a pillow (even though there was still twenty minutes before the one hour meditation started!)

We “meditated” (I use that term lightly for myself; the other two didn’t move a muscle) through the six o’clock start time (the only way I could tell it was 6:00 was that more people joined us).  But not one monk showed up!  I thought I’d get a break to MOVE when the meditation officially started, but everyone came in quietly and began their session.  Sweat was dripping down my face.  Periodically, a cool breeze would come through the door.  (But only periodically!)  My legs fell asleep but I found that if I just raised them up a couple of times, the blood would get moving pretty quickly.  ONE HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTES later I got up with several others and walked out.  It was a TOTALLY different experience that what we did in Laos, as there was no one present to guide the meditation.  I believe this is actually how Buddhists meditate at the temple. What an experience!

John, on the other hand, went walking around the neighborhood all the while I was doing my thing. He spotted a man feeding cats.  Apparently he does this often, as cats came running from all directions when he called to them.  Sweet!

He listened to some beautiful cello music a guy was playing from his computer in a hotel lobby.  It was also a microbrewery!  (John has a way of sniffing these places out!)

And then, while I was across the street sitting cross legged in a puddle of sweat, he enjoyed TWO ice cold beers while he waited for me!

Promptly at 7:00, he DID cross the street to pick me up!

We returned to the perfect table (with a view) and stayed for dinner while watching all the activity along the street!

We had Morning Glory, Beef Loc Lac and Pad Thai.  (Sorry for all the food mentions BUT the Diedam family LOVES seeing the food!). Here you go, Diedam’s!!!

 

We strolled along the River Walk and enjoyed the wonderful breeze and delicious smells coming from all the food vendors along the way.  And then (when it was officially late enough for the night life to be in full swing—yea, our jammy up time), we walked down one of the ”party” streets.  Some was FASCINATING to watch; some was HORRENDOUS to watch; some was PITIFUL to watch.  Yea, there was something there for everyone.

But we ended a really good day in the most PERFECT way....