Wat Phnom Clock

This giant clock, almost 20 meters wide, was a gift from China in the year 2000 and replaced a previous one that came from France and was installed in the early 1960s. The clock is in front of a monument commemorating the return of the western provinces of Battambang, Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey from Thai control in 1907. The main reason I wanted to make this post was to show the incredible changes over the years, especially when you see Hopper Stone's picture from 1993.

View around 1940

1946

1961

1961

1970

Nigerian UNTAC troops in front of a forlorn looking hill 1993

A recent view.

The Hopper Stone picture is from ethicaltraveler.org
More of Hopper's work can be seen on his site: stonefoto.com

The Bells of Phnom Penh Cathedral

I made a post back in October 2009 about this cathedral which apparently was inaugurated in 1955. It was torn down in 1975, and its bells were thrown into the lake behind. They were later recovered and can be seen on the steps of the National Museum. I was working there recently and took some close-ups of the decorations on them. They are all quite common Christian themes such as crucifixes and the bleeding heart but unusual in Phnom Penh. There are two bells that are in good condition, and one of which only the top part remains.

This aerial image shows the cathedral in front of the lake, which has now also disappeared

 Here's the 2009 post on the cathedral.