The Royal Palace

Today I would join Roy and Mel to go visit the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. It was a scorcher of a day and per customary respect, one must wear clothing that covers the knees and shoulders. For that matter, the more the better. For some reason, probably because I just had laundry done, I chose to go out wearing my black pants (bad idea) and the yellow shirt (good idea). With this combination, I would be drenched in sweat under the bright sun by the end of the day. Again, it's cold back home and I'm loving every minute of it.

Mel, Roy, and I have a good time. We joke around and somehow the Mel's hat became known as the Vietnamese condom. I can't remember how that happened, but here we are and of course it made for a good running joke throughout the day. We walked over about 10 minutes toward the Royal Palace and joined the queue to get in just after 2pm when it opened. Mel had been wearing a tanktop, but threw a shawl around her shoulders to cover up actually very nicely. Our luck, however, was having none of that and she of all people first was forced to buy a $2 white t-shirt which actually exposed more skin than what she was already wearing, but then also had to give up the Vietnamese condom as hats were not allowed. All this was happening while people were taking hats in right passed the gate and both women and men were walking by wearing revealing clothing. Just roll with the punches.

Once inside we were inspired by the magnitude of the palace grounds and gardens as much as the architecture of the various structures. At one point in the beginning a French tourist wanted to take my picture in the flower beds because my shirt allowed me to blend into my background. Crouching David, hidden...well Mel's hat was gone...Anyway, I had convinced the others and myself most of all that I had a bunch of karma built up because just a few days earlier some money fell out of my pocket onto temple grounds, which I called banked karma, aka free latitude to have a bit of fun! When I asked Roy to take the picture of me laying on the ground next to the statues doing the same, I even had another German tourist laughing as he watched the little scene unfold. It was a good day with amazing buildings and as I discovered, it's good to be king!