Wasting time is not wasted time....

Today was going to be somewhat a bit of a wasting time day. I booked my ticket to Saigon for tomorrow, so that I will arrive a day before Basti and will be able to explore the city on my own a little bit.

As I wasn't filled with energy in the morning I missed the early visit time for the Royal Palace and spent my morning in the coffee shop across the road again to catch up on some of the blog and read an English news paper.

After this I went down to the Palace and did the tour.

It was nice and the buildings looked beautiful but although they had slightly different architectural themes than the ones I have seen before, it started to look the same as other temples or palaces on this trip. Anyhow, it was worth a wander around the site.

Since I had seen everything I wanted in this town I had to come up with something that was not on the essentials list but still worth seeing.

My choice was the Olympic Stadium on Phnom Penh. Yes, they do have an Olympic Stadium here but have never had the games.

The Stadium is a very basic open bowl design but does boost 50000 seats and was built to host the 1963 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, which unfortunately were cancelled due to political problems in Cambodia. So, to be honest I don't know why the call it the Olympic Stadium, but they do.

The visit was worth it though, as I could see locals enjoying the evening while playing beach valley ball, soccer or just running some laps around the stadium.

On the way back to the hostel, right next to the stadium a newly built office building drew my attention, so I had to have a look inside.

It was the office for a large commercial and residential development around the Olympic Stadium which was just on the way with loads of cranes and diggers all around the place (just like most places in Phnom Penh btw.).

Since they had nice, colourful brochures with floor plans and computer graphics I took one and also requested a price list (just in case).

It would be quite a commute but I would save on the rent after just 10 years if I bought now.
Walking back to the hostel I passed through some really cool neighbourhoods I haven't come through before. These were very local, with great scenes in the streets, shops, restaurants and markets.

I got some food with the Chilean (who also brought another Chilean) and then packed my bags as the bus was to leave Phnom Penh at 9 am the next morning.