King Norodom Sihanouk's Funeral

[Phuketrichard]

Hello all;
Been here since the 31st and its been amazing. NO where near the million they were expecting an at most the estimates are under 1/4 of a mil. The Procession was yesterday and the streets were lined with people.
People have been camping out in front of the Royal Place in the evenings but around midnight the polie sweep thru and throw them all out. NO idea where they are going as they are back the next morning.

This morning they started lining up at 6 am to be allowed to enter the site of the cremation. White people ( even those of us with passe ) were not allowed.

Many of the roads from street 154-all the way to the Monument and Monivong to Riverside are closed and they are blocked an not allowing just anyone inside that area even Cambodians unless they have a reason to be there.

Along Riverside below street 154 some places are open but most of the bars along the side street are closed. No idea if this will continue thru Monday when the Cremation takes place

This are out takes of what is going on.

Enjoy















Will post more later, Lunch :-)

[Mr Lick]

For those who wish to know more about the King and his life/reign:-

Norodom Sihanouk - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Phuketrichard]

ok?

Some newspapers are claiming up to 1 million mourners but i have not seen anywhere near that number. Seems that they stopped many Locals from traveling into the city and even if they arrived they were not allowed within 2 streets near the palace or Veal Meas ( where the cremation takes place) on Monday.

The city seems empty between The Monument and street 154 an Norodom east to Riverside

[ltnt]

Murder, communist, Khmer Rogue supporter, run away from his people to the safety of the Chinese. No, no questions about Sihanouk. He will be with his friends in hell no doubt.

[Mr Earl]

Yep many of the street were sealed off and completely empty, I managed to sneak through to turn my motorbike back in.
Walking back on the streets was quite pleasant, they should cremate kings more often, me thinks.

[Toby451]

I went and saw the procession on Friday - along Norodom Blvd.

was quite impressive.

one question though: which float held the coffin?

was it the first one, second - or right at the back??

cheers

[Phuketrichard]

the last float, the last pic in my first series and then u can see it going up the ramp in the next set pf pics

another amazing days, Many more people lined up to pay their respects than yesterday

Was finally able to get to the roof top of the Fraganpai hotel overlooking the site this morning

[Neo]

Excellent pictures, thanks for sharing

[Rural Surin]

Murder, communist, Khmer Rogue supporter, run away from his people to the safety of the Chinese. No, no questions about Sihanouk. He will be with his friends in hell no doubt.

All commentary above could be debated and argue about 'til the cows come home....yet, hidden throughout the grand accolades and pageantry that blankets the Cambodian Royals, there are deeper, dark and numerous closeted skeletons.

[prairieboy]

Beautiful photos! What kind of camera do you use?

[Phuketrichard]

thanks;
not that it matters what anyone shoots with but i love my Nikon's :-)

As soon as get back to Phuket will add more for the last 2 days and nights.

[Phuketrichard]

thanks;
dup

[Phuketrichard]

From Feb 2, 3 and 4.

Flew back to Thailand on the 5th and missed the actual placing of the ashes in the urn and taking them on to the boat to be partially spread on the river while some of the remains will be interned in an urn in the palace. But caught it all on Tv.






















The Current Ruling King, King Norodom Sihamoni




















And so it ends

[cdnski12]

Norodom Sihanouk dexterously played every would-be Cambodian conqueror against each other and lived to see them all wiped out. For all his faults he was above all a "survivor"; which is undoubtedly why current Cambodians adore him. They jointly survived the French/Lon Nol/USA/Khmer Rouge/Vietnam/Russian/Chinese interference in their Society.

[Phuketrichard]

Norodom Sihanouk was the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 to 2004. He was the effective ruler of Cambodia from 1953 to 1970. He died on Oct 15, 2012 while receiving medical treatment in China.

Sihanouk held so many positions since 1941 that the Guinness Book of World Records identifies him as the politician who has served the world's greatest variety of political offices.These included two terms as king, two as sovereign prince, one as president, two as prime minister, as well as numerous positions as leader of various governments-in-exile. He served as puppet head of state for the Khmer Rouge government in 1975–1976.

On October 4th 2005, he abdicated and appointed Norodom Sihamoni, one of his sons, as the new king. The elderly Sihanouk was then proclaimed as His Majesty The King Father of Cambodia.

Though he was egotistical, vain and often ruthless, Sihanouk had one quality that endeared him to his people: He genuinely loved his country and its rural villagers, whom he invariably referred to as the “little people,” even when he wasn’t willing or able to do justice to that love. And many of them loved him in turn, even when he didn’t seem to deserve it.

This is the link to the very good shots, Why shoot raw?

Notice the difference between Jpegs untouched and Raw files made into photographs.

Richard Reitman Photography | Farewell for King Norodom Sihanouk

[Scottish Gary]

Surprised his Khmer Rouge mates never gave him a guard of honour