Today, we spent our last full day on the Jahan. At 6:30 a.m. we ventured out to Wat Hanchey, also known as Hanchey Kiri, a contemporary Buddhist temple and monastery complex, built on a prominent hill. Our group members were excited about the option to ride on a “hog” or moto with the locals. It was only $1 for the ride. Arriving at the top at the temple, one gets a commanding view of the Mekong River. The site still has a seventh century brick structure of a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. The brightly colored temple has giant fruit sculptures everywhere.
Back on the Jahan, we awaited two monks to arrive to do a blessing ceremony for guests and Jahan staff on the terrace deck. Two chairs are arranged in front of a table, filled with flowers and fruit. The blessing was recited in both Pali and Khmer, while water was sprinkled on the respectful crew seated on the floor with heads bowed and hands pressed together. Donations were collected for the monks and their temple, and fruit and food were offered to the monks. One of the guides explained the proceedings and answered questions. It is customary to show respect to the monks by touching the ground or moving the hands in prayer three times to indicate the Buddha, Dharma (or Teachings), and the Sangha (or Monkhood).
Just before lunch, National Geographic expert, Barry Till, gave a detailed lecture on the Angkorian temples as well as a short lecture on the significance of stupa. Shortly after lunch, the ship arrived at Kompong Cham and docked near the Japanese Friendship Bridge. At 3 p.m. we left the ship for our excursion to Wat Nokor, a modern temple and monastery with a rather interesting ruined late 12th century Buddhist temple, built by the greatest Khmer King Jayavarman VII (r, 1181-1215). It provided a preview of the style and structure of temples we will be exploring in Siem Reap. What is really unique, is the fact that a more recent colorful Hinayana Buddhist pavilion has been created within the central court of the older temple. The ancient temple showed distinctive signs of charred walls either due to a fire started to get rid of snakes or because of shelling which may have occurred in the 1970s by Lon Nol’s troops.
On the way back to the Jahan, we stopped to view the town’s amazing bamboo bridge, which lasts only six months and then has to be rebuilt when the floodwaters recede. It was nerve-racking to walk on the bouncy and flimsy bridge as motorcycles drove by. Several people walked back two miles or so to the Jahan.
As this was our final evening on the Jahan, various festive events were planned, including a staff presentation. All staff members, who have made our stay so pleasant and assisted us in every way possible—getting us drinks, cleaning our shoes after excursions, providing delicious meals—were recognized. Our final dinner had a fun dessert presentation delivered in the dark with sparklers. Max gathered tour members’ photos and made a stunning slideshow. What a great idea to capture our fun memories.
