Silver Pagoda
Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 7:24AM 
N11°33.326'
E104°55.481'
Just arrived to Phnom Penh and had the afternoon off before a full day of meetings tomorrow. Walked down from my hotel to the Silver Pagoda, or Wat Preah Keo, which is so named in honor of the 5000 silver tiles that cover the floor, or, if you use the Khmer name, the emerald Buddha made of Baccarat crystal which dominates the main hall. Photography was not allowed in the Silver Pagoda so I just looked around and did some bows, but you could take pictures in several of the smaller temples. For example, in the Pavilion for Housing Buddha's Footprint, or Keong Preah Bath, shown above. The golden slab shown in the center of the image contains four enormous footprints which represent the Buddha's first steps.
Perhaps even more impressive to me, however, was the golden Buddha with the saffron sash sitting peacefully at the back of the hall watching over the footprints. A close-up of this exquisite sculpture is shown below.
[NOTE: I will post more images from my afternoon stroll around Phnom Penh as time - and internet access - allows].