Life in Cambodia

Phnom Penh is a bustling and lively city; and there's hardly any place in the city where you don't hear either construction noise or traffic. People honk, dogs bark, and occasionally we hear a sirene from a motorcade of some VIP people with their body guards passing by. In the middle of its rapid development and commotion, I could find peace and serenity in temple grounds, where changes seem remote from life there and where people are happy to resign from the chaotic world outside. These are two of my favorite scenes from my last stay in Cambodia. The black and white one shows a sweeper at Ta Phrom temple, Siem Reap, who becomes the face of the Lonely Planet guide book. The second one is a monk who lives in a quarter next to Wat Ounalom, Phnom Penh. The house which is located in a small alley is painted in bold yellow and strikingly beautiful.