As I researched, Wat Ounalom is known to be the most important pagoda, the center of Cambodian Buddhism rather here in Phnom Penh, and also one of the few oldies in Cambodia.
Wat Ounalom, built in 1422, rests in the great Phnom Penh Riverside, its neighbors comprises of The Royal Palace, The National Museum, and not so far away from our Independence Monument.
Famous monks from across the country, prayers said through decades, they all started in Wat Ounalom. For instance, Samdech Chuon Nath who created the first ever Khmer language dictionary and wrote and composed our National Anthem started from here. Wat Ounalom is home to what people believe is an eyebrow hair of Buddha and a letter written in Pali.
As I reached there, from just across the street of the pagoda, the view I saw through my camera was neat, as in the positive kind of “too much”.
The main gate was wide open, I walked in, no restrictions whatsoever and that gave me a good vibe about this whole article. First of all, I wasn’t feeling intimidated by the serenity of a pagoda of this status. Second, I felt like home, it was welcoming me.
For the first time, I was seeing the monks from a different angle. I saw them just like us, a bit more of silence involved though; else, they are just us.
As I switched on my Imagination mode, there seemed to be two different dimensions divided by a thin wall of glass, just like the ocean. The moment you step out of the pagoda’s gate, it’s an entire different world: loud, vehicles honking, Tuk-Tuk drivers interrogating if we need a ride, and somehow, even the weather is different. I roamed around the area taking photos and all, it was quiet and peaceful. There was a fraction of a crowd in there, but they did not sound like one, as if the pagoda can make everyone calm and mute the moment they get in. And I liked it a lot.
I dare to say that I would love to live there, the calmness, the monks, the simplicity, the environment, literally no disturbing noise were made. To live with the Gods, sending prayers everyday, live like the monks; one day… why not?
As I got inside one of the halls, I did take permission, it was a big hall, not very big but would have easily fitted at least a hundred prayers. It was a wide open hall, doors and windows wide open and that felt great. As expected, a stage set up with numerous variety of Lord Buddha statues caught my eye. I bowed and showed my share of believe on him. There was an old nun who was making the blessed red color bracelets, she smiled as I walked in. She watched me GoPro the statues, and giggled solemnly. I wondered how her life would be like.
I felt free and it looked like I was allowed to do what I came to do there. I sat down, looked around, took my fotos, took few more and few more, I felt no authority in there. None came to me and asked what I was up to. That really made me feel great.
It was as if God was happy to see me and so, told all his monks to let me do my job. I was so close to the Gods that I could whisper my prayers to his ears and he would have gotten it all.
I also felt as if he was whispering to my ears, “hongyy, do your job nice and calm, take your time”. And, so I did; took this nice big frame. I took more, even took a panorama. How could one take a panorama shot of the inside of a prayer hall in a pagoda on a regular day? I did, it was a nice day to go see the God. I sat down again, looked around, took more fotos of him, didn’t take a selfy with him though, out of respect. There were a lot of boxes, it was hard to choose which one to go for, so I randomly chose one and hoped that it will reach its purpose, the fastest. So I walked out of the hall, and I came across where the monks live, it was very decent, real, calm, and all the other things I would want in my place. I came out furiously hungry, looking for a place to settle down, and I ended up in a simple porridge vendor which served one of the most amazeball porridge I have ever had. I later checked the photos, and I gave the “not bad at all” face to myself, and I was glad I visited Wat Ounalom.
A GOOD PLACE TO BE ON A SUNDAY MORNING.
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