Cambodia: Wat Ounalom in Phnom Penh

****** Happy New Year! ******

On Saturday I got two postcards: one from Cambodia and one from Belgium.

The card from Cambodia shows Wat Ounalom in Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and the country's economic and cultural centre. The city was founded in 1372 and was capital for the first time between 1434 and 1497, but after loosing the status it just regained it in 1865 during the French colonial era. Back then it was considered to be one of the loveliest French-built cities in Indochina and was nicknamed Pearl of Asia. Today it is again a popular tourist destination. Wat Ounalom is the most important wat of Phnom Penh and the center of Cambodian Buddhism. It was damaged during the Khmer Rouge period but has since been restored. The main complex houses a stupa that contains what is believed to be an eyebrow hair of Buddha.

Stamp:
55 years Cambodian-Chinese Friendship (from set of two) (issued 14-05-2014)

Thank You very much Jobbo!