2008-11-09 - Independence Day 1

Wandering out onto the balcony on Sunday morning revealed various official looking types walking down the street away from the waterfront. Curious, I grabbed the camera and went for a walk again. Turned out there had been another official military thing at the National Monument (which must have finished by 7am), and going further revealed an Independence Day parade about to start. They were staging in the Sothearos St which runs past the palace, where important people were sitting in pavilions outside the palace.

It turned out to be quite a long parade, and while I’ve never been into that kind of thing, it was actually quite enjoyable – a sort of snapshot of the entire country (somewhat idealised of course) in 1.5 hours. It seems that government ministries all put in floats, as well as other notable public institutions and organisations. Quite a lot of effort had been made by all involved, and it finished with some sort of troop inspection outside the palace.

There are a lot of pictures, so in 3 parts.

Government vehicle car pooling

Red carpet cleanup from the earlier ceremony

National Monument with bells on

Nice French-style building

The standard Phnom Penh intersection

Another nice French building

Last minute rehersal

Military types standing around

Queueing up on the parade route

The band

Cambodian Scouts

The front of the parade

Royal Palace with waiting dignitaries

Off we go

Female officers

Small group with big guns

Float #1

Ministry of ???

National Assembly float

???

Ministry of Justice

???

???

Carrying posters of the King, Queen and Prince

Cyclos - a crowd favourite

Motodups - the only time you'll see them wearing helmets

This is a bit wierd - taxis - recently introduced (as a concept) into Phnom Penh

Ministry of Agriculture? Real rice plantation on their float.....

.....fake cow though, sadly