On The Jahan, our photo instructor Sue led an early morning photo walk in Phnom Penh by tuk tuk to a waterfront park on the Mekong and at Wat Ounalom Monastery, the center of Cambodian Buddhism. The group photographed locals exercising in the park and a ceremony at the monastery.
After breakfast, University of Phnom Penh Professor and Linguist Jean Michel Filippi gave a lecture covering the past 70 years of Cambodian history. We took a break for fresh coconuts on deck before a Q&A session in the lounge.
During the afternoon, National Geographic Archeologist Fabio Esteban gave a talk about “The Power of Art”. Then, we took local tuk tuks through the village of Kampong Leaeng to visit a local pottery artisan. We also learned about palm sugar production with a demonstration on a farm and watched the locals climbing the palm trees to collect the sap, which is later boiled to thicken it.
After dinner, Expedition Leader David Brotherson gave a presentation about “Cambodian Weddings”, sharing his experience and the many costume changes involved.
