First full day in Phnom Penh - visit to the National Museum, Royal Palace, and Silver Pagoda

On the first full day in the capital, it was time to explore the surrounding attractions. I woke up early, and a small lizard was just running over my hand, having presumably snuck into my bed last night. A brief scare, and I was wide awake...

After freshening up (which, in a very literal sense, I later realized required the bathroom fan to be on for hot water to shower), I casually searched for a local breakfast spot; today, I ended up having Indian food... Since the Royal Palace and the adjacent Silver Pagoda closed for the lunch break from 12:00 to 14:00, and I wanted to avoid any time pressure there, I first strolled over to the National Museum. Here, I could admire many magnificent art pieces from various eras and origins. It was noticeable that the provenance of many items often wasn't clarified. The National Museum is also constantly being expanded, as many national cultural treasures from the country have reportedly been taken away or fallen into different hands...

After that, I continued to the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. By the time I arrived, I had a bit of time until 14:00, when it would open after the lunch break, which I spent particularly at the riverside where the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers converge... I observed several groups of locals playing a strange game. They kicked their flip-flops around on the smooth stone promenade, trying to hit each other's sandals and somehow kept betting money on it... The content of the game, especially the betting amounts, was not entirely clear to me... Some locals were bathing in the midday heat in the muddy Mekong, and everywhere small food stalls were sizzling away...

Then it was 14:00, and the gates of the Royal Palace opened to me. An incredibly beautiful area with richly decorated buildings and many hardworking gardeners. However, many areas are forbidden for entry. I spent over 2.5 hours there, exploring the entire grounds with the temples, the adjacent Silver Pagoda, and some exhibitions.

At 34 degrees again, which felt like 38 degrees according to my weather app, I strolled back to my hotel through small streets and markets. After relaxing a bit at the hotel, I headed out for an evening meal at nearby venues with musical accompaniment and refreshing drinks...