Housing for Buddhist Monks in Wat Kampheng Temple, Battambang, Cambodia (photo)

Housing for Buddhist monks in Wat Kampheng Temple, Battambang. Battambang is the provincial capital of Battambang province and is the second biggest town of Cambodia. However it still has a very local, untouristed, provincial atmosphere. In the afternoon, we will stroll around the city to see the old colonial buildings, such as the Governor’s residence, the small museum which hosts some interesting pieces such as some carved lintels coming from the surrounding temples and some stone or wooden Buddha statues and Wat Kampheng, a colourful temple in a peaceful garden. Named after the vast, colourful and distinctive statue that squats imposingly at the Highway 5 roundabout (on the way to and from Phnom Penh) Battambang is Cambodia’s second city and the new kid on the tourist and traveller’s block. ‘Dambang’ means ‘stick’, whilst ‘bat’ means ‘to vanish’ – so welcome to the town of the vanishing stick, named after a peasant lad with magical powers who could control cows just by throwing a stick at them. Photographed in 2013