The sad decline of Phnom Penh's historic Renakse Hotel

The Renakse Hotel in downtown Phnom Penh closed its doors to its last guests almost a decade ago. I was among those that had an opportunity to stay there during the 90s and the early 2000s. Since its closure, it's been in a slow state of decay. But this is no ordinary hotel. Formerly part of the Royal Administration of Justice, the Renakse is a glorious building that sits bang in the heart of the city's Royal Palace compound. It's loss would be a heritage disaster for the city. It's hard to imagine a new structure that could complement the Royal Palace as the Renakse does. I recently had a chance to wander in the grounds and the reception area of the Renakse. Here's some video footage from that visit.