Lots of expectations for everyone at tonight’s cremation ceremony for the late King Norodom Sihanouk (see here and here): smoke, no smoke? White smoke, black smoke? What we mostly had was a lot of security guards. Clearly the media savvy ‘Papa Sihanouk’ is gone and we have now entered another era with less space for freedom of the press (taking into account of course the legitimate issue of a loss within a family). And when I say ‘we’ I say the press microcosm. The Cambodian public altogether was left looking at TV screens and hanging at police guarded gates as it was not allowed to approach the ‘Veal Meru’ or even the Royal Palace within hundreds of meters. So what do we, the press, have to complain about? Really?
iBook for the iPad soon available…
Sony RX1 pictures…
This is supposed to be the last day where people can come to pay respect to the late King Norodom Sihanouk (see here and here) at the ‘Veal Meru’, or cremation site. Tonight the King’s remains will be cremated and while some of it will be scattered in the Mekong waters, his ashes will be kept in an urn under a stupa at the Royal Palace.
To be continued…
An iBook for the iPad will be available soon. Stay tuned…
All taken with the Sony RX1.
The big crowds are still prevented from reaching the Royal Palace to pay respect to the late King Norodom Sihanouk (see here) on the day before his cremation. The police lets people through on a fairly arbitrary basis. The idea is probably to prevent a stampede. But those who came from the provinces are disappointed.
You can also follow the funeral on my Tumbl’r account (see here).
This and the previous post were done on my first retirement day. Did I say ‘retirement’? Really?
All taken with the Sony RX1.
From early morning on even bigger lines of rather orderly and devout Cambodians stood in the blazing sun to pay respect to the late King Norodom Sihanouk (see here) at the ‘Veal Meru’ or cremation ground, where the coffin containing the remains of King are exposed.
To be continued…
Chances that the iBook for the iPad will be ready in the coming weeks are great… Just a few more hurdles. Stay tuned…
All pictures taken with the Sony RX1.
The area in front of the Royal Palace was closed to the public today because the Royal Family gathered at the funeral pyre to pray for the late King Norodom Sihanouk (see here), together with all the members of the government. A private affair sort of. And for sure an affair where you need longer lenses than a 35mm to get the shmoozing… But I tried: waited 1 1/2 hour hidden with the soldiers on the good side of the road until I got sent to the far side 10 minutes before the big guns arrived. The public was relegated to the Sisowath Quay to enjoy the fireworks I can hear now as I am writing this.
Long lines have formed near the Veal Meas (Veal Mean? Veal Meru? I still haven’t found out how the royal cremation ground in front of the National Museum is called) of people wanting to pay tribute to King Norodom Sihanouk on this second of the last four days of ceremonies for the deceased King Norodom Sihanouk (see here).
(all x the Sony RX1)
Probably out of security concerns and with the Koh Pich tragedy in mind (see here), access to the area in front of the Royal Palace is discouraged by fences manned with dissuasive policemen. People nevertheless manage to talk their way through to pay respect to the late King Norodom Sihanouk (see here).
An iBook for the iPad about the funeral should soon be available.
(All Sony RX1 pictures)