Cambodia Landmine Museum in Siem Reap

Cambodia Landmine Museum in Siem Reap

By Unknown   10:58:00 PM   No comments:

During Cambodia’s three-decade-long conflict, approximately six million landmines were planted in the nation, and the Landmine Museum represents an agonizing window into the realism of the country’s landmine situation. This museum was founded in 1997 by Aki Ra, with the prime objective to make the country safe through the removal of mines from wherever he could find them. Aki Ra was forced to work as a mine layer by the Khmer Rouge, planting landmines from an age as young as five.

Later, as part of the United Nation’s endeavor to restore peace in the country during the 1990s, Aki Ra got the opportunity to work as a de-miner. Though the UN left the country in 1994, he continued the mission in his own way, even though it was not according to international demining standards. Initially, Aki Ra turned his own home located on the outskirts of the Siem Reap into a museum displaying decommissioned bombs, landmines and other explosive weapons that he had unearthed since 1995.

In 2001, a Canadian photojournalist Richard Fitoussi founded the Cambodia Landmine Museum Relief Fund (CLMMRF) in Canada to promote as well as raise funds for Aki Ra’s work.

From legal and monetary support to providing an NGO license for the museum’s relief facility that serve as a safe residence for disadvantaged children, the CLMMRF became instrumental in realizing most of his goals. He also was able to find a better venue for the museum that was officially opened on April 22, 2007.

After Angkor Wat, the Landmine Museum is the most popular attraction in Cambodia. The key highlight of the museum is its four galleries with a vast assortment of deactivated arms that not only throw light on the landmine curse in the country but also the consequences of wars.

The displays include hidden mines, mortars, booby traps, guns and other ordnances recovered from different parts of the country. A small shop and an area devoted to carrying out the works of his NGO can also be seen here. Perhaps the best aspect of this museum is that it serves as a source of income for amputees to support their families, in addition to caring for hundreds of children badly affected by poverty and mine laying.

The Landmine Museum holds the distinction of being the first of its kind in the world. It’s completely safe and abides by all protocols put forward by the Ottawa International Treaty to Ban Landmines and the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Association Authority (CMAA).

Opening Hours: 07:30 - 17:30

Location: Located within the Angkor Wat Archeological Park, the Landmine Museum is five kilometers from Banteay Srey Temple, about a 30-minute drive from Siem Reap

Remarks: A donation US$1 per person is required to enter the museum

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Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre in Siem Reap

Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre in Siem Reap

By Unknown   10:54:00 PM   No comments:

Banteay Srey Butterfly Center (BBC) is one of the most visited tourist spots in the country, with the largest butterfly exhibition in the Southeast Asia. A visit to Banteay Srey Butterfly Center is a great way to take a short break from the temple tours and spend some time in spectacular surroundings filled with rare and vivid butterflies. Situated about 25km from Siem Reap, it is a project with a difference, as the center also contributes to the welfare of the community by training local people to rear butterflies for sale locally exhibits as well as abroad.

In other words, it has been primarily developed as a poverty mitigation project, and the revenues generated by way of admission fees and butterfly farming are used to employ impoverished people in Siem Reap’s remote villages. Most significantly, the centre and its activities render a livelihood to poor families without causing any species extinction or destruction to the natural habitat. In a way, the project itself is a nature-conserving initiative that educates people on the importance of raising income through the preservation of nature.

The key highlight of Banteay Srey Butterfly Center is its large netted enclosure with a variety of free-flying butterflies – most of which are indigenous to the country. It is truly a great experience to feed butterflies here and see them fluttering from one flower to another. Another interesting attraction is the pupae stage. Some of the species featured here are Atlas Moth, Blue Glassy Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Five-Barred Sword tail, Great Mormon, Gaudy Baron, Lime Butterfly, Orange Emigrant, Peacock Pansy, Red Helen and Tailed Jay.

Visitors can also obtain valuable information on other stages of butterfly metamorphosis. If you’re lucky enough, you may sometimes catch sight of a caterpillar morphing into a chrysalis (pupa). Above all, the BBC stands out for its stunning plant and floral varieties that include, but not limited to, multi hued orchids and red ixora chinensis. So if you ever plan to take a tour to Siem Reap or Cambodia, this butterfly center is definitely an attraction not to miss out on.

The BBC is on the way to Banteay Srey Temple in Siem Reap, and is located about three kilometers from the Landmine Museum. It is open throughout the week from 09:00 to 17:00, and admission fee is $4 for adults and $2 for kids. The staff members are friendly and knowledgeable people and clearly explain the centre’s colourful exhibits as well as the background and mission of the project.

Tel: (+855) 0978 527 852

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Phnom Udong

Phnom Udong

By Unknown   10:50:00 PM   No comments:

About 40 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh along National Route 5, a mountain topped with the spires of stupas rears from the plain like a fairy tale castle. This is Phnom Oudong, at one time an ancient capital.

As the capital, it was called Oudong Meanchey; Oudong means noble or excellent, and Meanchey means victory. From 1618 until 1866 it was home to a succession of kings, deposed from the former capital of Longvek by the invading Thais. The mountain itself runs from southeast to northeast, with a low saddle in the middle. Khmers say it has the shape of a Naga the magical multi-headed serpents that guard the Buddha. Along Route 5, signs point the way to silversmithing villages, a legacy of the past when kings and nobility used to come to the Tonle Sap to bathe and the people would offer them delicate gifts fashioned from the precious metal. Turn left at the large billboard, and at the very base of the mountain is a flurry of picnic huts. On weekends, hoards of people descend on the area from Phnom Penh to eat roast chicken, fish and palm fruit in the cool of the thick forest. At the base of the mountain near the path, a memorial containing bones of some of the hundreds of bodies exhumed from a large Khmer Rouge killing field here has been built testament to the area's bloody past. Stairs to the left lead to a huge, shattered statue of Buddha, the feet almost the only part still intact. On the path up the mountain to the right, the stairs climb steeply and a large structure rises on the left. Inside, huge pillars stand underneath sky, and in between their bullet-strafed skeletons, a statue of Buddha sits, only his right arm and shoulder still intact from the ravages of aerial bombings and shelling that shook Oudong from 1970 onwards. The Khmer Rouge finished the job in 1977, setting explosives inside the temple. This is Arthross Temple (Temple of Eight Points), and legend has it that the Buddha here, facing north instead of the traditional direction of east, is a testimony to the strength and power of the ancient Cambodian kingdom.

In the 18th century, locals say, a Chinese king sent his people out across Asia to identify potential threats. When they came to Oudong, they saw the mountain shaped like a Naga, a cavern on top of the Arthross end, and observed the wealth and power of Khmer society. They went home and told their king that the Khmers were already a powerful race, and should a Naga appear through the cavern of Arthross, they would be strong enough to rule the world.

The Chinese king did not want this, nor did he want a war. Instead, he asked the Khmer king if he could build a temple above the cavern, with the Buddha facing towards China in order to protect his kingdom. This was named Arthaross temple (Arthaross means 18 corners) because there are 18 points, or corners, built into the structure of the temple. This temple also once stood 18 hats high a Khmer measurement the length of an arm from elbow to fingertips. One hat is about half a meter. Behind Arthross is Chker Amao stupa. Chker Amao was the dog of the head monk of Preah Sokhun Mean Bon. He was reportedly so remarkably clever that the monk could send him shopping with a list tied to his collar and the faithful dog would walk from market stall to market stall, collect the shopping, then bring it home. When he died he was reincarnated as the son of a Chinese king. The young prince began to get terrible headaches, and the court astrologer diagnosed the problem as the roots of the bamboo growing across the dog Amao's head in his Oudong grave. The king sent his people to Cambodia to cut the roots of the bamboo and build the temple that became Chkeri Amao Temple to consecrate the spot. As the ridge meanders northeast, three small viharas Vihear Preah Ko (Sacred Cow), Vihear Preah Keo (Sacred Precious Stone) and Vihear Prak Neak (The Buddha Protected by a Naga) have been restored and feature a statue of the sacred cow, glittering golden Buddhas and vibrant murals. The invading Thais took the original Preah Ko and Preah Keo when Longvek fell in 1594. These statues were said to have held golden books full of all the knowledge in the world in their bellies, and legend says that when they were lost to the Khmers marks when the Kingdom of Cambodia fell behind her neighbors. As the head of the naga comes into sight, three large stupas mark the resting place of kings. The first stupa, Chetdei Mouk Pruhm, is where the remains of King Monivong lie. He died in 1941. The middle stupa, with its four Bayon faces looking out over Kandal in all directions, is Trai Traing, built by King Norodom for his father, King Ang Duong, in 1891.The last is called Damrei Sam Poan and was built in the 17th century for King Soriyopor. At the very point of the mountain, a huge stupa is just in the final stages of construction. This is probably where the Buddha relics that were once housed in the vihara outside the train station in Phnom Penh will be placed.

Across on the smaller ridge, Ta Sann Mosque is a testament to King Ang Duong's broadminded intellectualism. Grandfather Sann was born in Champa, the former Islamic empire that once shared Indochina with the Khmers, and was an Iman at Phnom Chumreay. He and the king became firm friends during long discussions about the dharma of both religions, and the king offered him a 50 square meter area on any mountain he chose to build a mosque, which he snappily accepted. But Oudong has not always witnessed such magnanimous tolerance. The alternative stairway that tumbles down the mountainside near the stupas of past kings passes murals depicting the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge. No one here has forgotten that past, and the bullet-riddled temples are an everyday testament to what this fairytale city of the dead has suffered in the recent past.

Today, Oudong remains a sacred place where the construction of a huge stupa has recently been built to store and conserve the relic of Preah Serei Roek Theat (Ash of the Buddha).

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Bamboo Island (Koh Russei)

Bamboo Island (Koh Russei)

By Unknown   11:49:00 PM   No comments:

A few days on Bamboo Island, off Sihanoukville's coast, comes highly recommended. The boat ride takes about half an hour and once there you will find that only about 30 people live on the island. On its north-facing crescent beach Bamboo Island has three bungalow resorts, two restaurants and two bars and is very, very laid back. Unlike on the more frenetic mainland, there are no hawkers and the bungalows are right on the casuarinas-lined beach itself.

There are a few day-trippers but come nightfall the island is practically deserted. Electricity is provided by two generators for the early hours of the evening but after that it's back to the moon and the stars for light. 

You won't find TV or internet or even roads on Bamboo Island but what you will find is warm, blue, crystal-clear water, perfect for swimming, soft golden sandy beaches, lush natural surroundings, and a lot of peace and tranquility that you won’t come across in many other so-called ‘relaxed’ destinations. This is serenity at its best.

You’ll find footpaths throughout the island, so you can explore the jungle covered interior. There is a volleyball net on the beach. 

How to get there: A ferry departs from Ochheuteal Beach at 10:00 and departs from the island at 16:00 the traverse takes roughly 45 minutes.

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10 Best Attractions You Can See in Phnom Penh

10 Best Attractions You Can See in Phnom Penh

By Unknown   8:37:00 PM   No comments:

Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre

There is so much to see and do in Phnom Penh that most people are surprised as they make a stop in the Cambodian capital heading to or from Siem Reap’s Angkor Wat. But those who don’t make a stop off in Phnom Penh miss out on so many interesting historical, cultural and environmental attractions on offer.

It’s not all about the Khmer Rouge or Cambodia’s tragic past either. Islands, Khmer era temples, wildlife sanctuaries, performances and museums are all easily accessible and tours are reasonably priced. See our personally researched guide to the best attractions in Phnom Penh below.

1. The Killing Fields and S-21 Prison

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and Choeung Ek Killing Fields Memorial are the most visited tourist spots in Phnom Penh. Visits to both sites can be very emotional, but it is an essential stop while visiting Phnom Penh to understand the recent tragic Cambodian history. Given the connection between the two sites, take in both sites on the same day to fully appreciate the history. Any tuk-tuk driver in the city will be able to take you to both the museum and the memorial, or if you prefer to have a proper English-speaking guide, the PHNOM PENH'S PAST or the CHOENG EK KILLING FIELDS & TUOL SLENG MUSEUM tours are both excellent.

Tuol Sleng, also known as S-21prison, was a high school that the Khmer Rouge regime used as an interrogation and torture centre. Most rooms have been left in the state they were found in January 1979, including classrooms divided into tiny cells. The haunting identity photos of the prisoners who suffered here are exhibited throughout the museum.

Choeung Ek Memorial(best known as the Killing Fields),17km south of Phnom Penh, is one of the many killing fields or execution and burial grounds used by the Khmer Rouge throughout Cambodia. Mass graves were discovered there after the Khmer Rouge fled the city, and estimates say up to 15,000 people were executed there. The visit, with informative audio guides in many languages, is very detailed and includes testimony from both survivors and guards of the regime.

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum 

Address: Street 113, Tuol Sleng

Opening hours: 07:00 – 17:30 daily

Choeung Ek Killing Fields Memorial

Address: Sangkat Cheung Aek

Opening hours: 07:00 – 17:30 daily

2. Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

The Royal Palace covers an area of 174,870 square metres and is open to visitors, even though the king of Cambodia still lives there occasionally (if the blue royal flag is flying, the king is in residence).Different buildings have been added and restored over time, even up until the mid-1960s, but some date back to the 19th century. You can visit the Throne Hall with ceiling murals depicting the story of the Ramayana, the Moonlight Pavilion where classical Khmer dances have been performed for decades, and the Silver Pagoda, named after the five tonnes of tiles covering its floor. The Silver Pagoda also houses the famous Emerald Buddha.

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00

Address: Riverside, Sisowath Quay

3. National Museum of Cambodia

The National Museum of Cambodia has one of the largest collections of Khmer art, with more than 1,800 works on display. There are numerous sculptures, ceramics, and ethnographic objects such as theatrical costumes or marriage boxes, dating from the prehistoric to post-Angkorian periods. The building dates from the early 20th century but reflects “traditional Khmer” architecture. The garden and ponds feature statues of different types and divinities. Note that taking photos inside the museum is not allowed. This is a must-see visit while in Phnom Penh.

Address: Corner of Street 13 and Street 178

Opening hours: 08:00 – 17:00 daily

4. River Cruises

River cruises start at Sisowath Quay, Riverside, between Street 178 and Street 130. Expect to be asked many times to choose a boat and cruise company as you walk past. There are daytime and evening sunset cruises, which are the most popular. This is a great way to see the city from a different perspective and enjoy beautiful views of the Royal Palace and Riverside. The usual route goes down the Tonle Sap, onto the Mekong and up the shore of Kandal Province on the other side, to view floating fishing villages before returning, or ask for other options.

Address: Sisowath Quay, between Street 178 and Street 130

Opening hours: day and evening (sunset) cruises are available

5. Ta Prohm at Tonle Bati

You don’t have to go to Angkor Wat to see Angkor period temples. Just one hour south of Phnom Penh is the beautifully preserved laterite temple of Ta Prohm. Like the temple of the same name near Siem Reap, this temple dates back to the late 12th century. The carvings on the outside of the structure are in very good condition and bas-reliefs illustrating Hindu mythology are all around. The smaller Yey Peo temple is 200 metres to the north, and the small lake Tonle Bati is a popular picnic spot with locals. Huts and hammocks are available to rent at the lake.

Address: On National Route 2, about 30 kilometres South of Phnom Penh

6. Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre

Families and animal lovers will enjoy the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, a sanctuary for rescued animals. Established in 1995, it is the largest zoo in Cambodia. They also run breeding programs for threatened species, and animals are released back into the wild whenever possible. For a really unique experience, the pricier Wildlife Tour lets you spend the day with the animals: learn how to care for elephants, tigers, gibbons and other endangered species, as well as the rescued baby animals in the nursery. Another option is Bear Keeper for a Day, with a behind-the-scenes experience looking after rescued endangered bears and working with their keepers for the day.

Address: 40 kilometres south of Phnom Penh

T: 095 970175

7. Cambodian Living Arts – Apsara and traditional Khmer dance

Apsara dance performances should not be missed. Traditional Khmer dance dates back to the 18th century, but was almost lost under the Khmer Rouge regime. Cambodian Living Arts revived the art by gathering surviving master artists to train and pass on their knowledge to younger generations. They also organise tours to watch classes and ask questions to both students and master artists for a more in-depth experience. The Cambodian Living Arts Plae Pakaa performances take place outdoor every day in the National Museum gardens from October through to March. A beautiful and unique experience. Book your tickets on their website to be sure of a spot.

Location: National Museum, corner of Street 178 and Street 13

Hours: Monday – Saturday at 19:00, October – March

8. Silk Island Bike tour

 Just a short boat ride up the Mekong from Phnom Penh, is Mekong or Silk Island. So named for the numerous silk producers on the island, this gives a fascinating look into an ancient local industry. Cycle around the island to see people weaving silk in their home-based businesses, and have the option to buy silk garments or material direct. End the tour with a leisurely boat ride down the famous Mekong River back to Phnom Penh in time for lunch. Bring some sun block and your camera!

Grasshopper Adventures

T: +855 12 462 165

9. Phnom Penh Local Markets

If there’s one thing Phnom Penh has plenty of, it is markets (phsars in Khmer). Large, small and everything in-between, you’ll find clusters of stalls in main streets and sides around the city, selling lots of everything. If you’re pressed for time, you can get the full experience at the must-see Central Market and the slightly further-afield Russian Market. Both will excite all your senses, but have different atmospheres and are known for their own specialties and bargains are assured. Take the full day PHNOM PENH DISCOVERY TOUR and see both in one day.

10. Khmer Cooking Classes

You may have heard that Cambodian food is like Thai food, but not as spicy. While there are similarities with many of the other regional cuisines, Khmer cooking has a style and flavour of its own that’s best discovered by getting hands-on in the kitchen. There are several really good cooking classes that will take you shopping through the local market to buy the fresh ingredients, and then back to the professional kitchens to prepare freshly cooked Khmer dishes like fish amok, pomelo and shrimp salad, beef lok lak, and super-sweet desserts. Some of the best on offer are from La Table Khmere in BKK1, Feel Good Café in Street 136 near Riverside, or Cambodia Cooking Class in Street 240 behind the Royal Palace.

Feel Good Café, Street 136, T: 017 497 538

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Top 10 Things to Visit When You Are In Cambodia

Top 10 Things to Visit When You Are In Cambodia

By Unknown   1:15:00 AM   No comments:

Angkor Wat Temple

Cambodia is certainly not lacking in charm and allure. From the stupendous achievement of Angkor Wat and its well-known offshoots to the natural splendour of Tonle Sap Lake, one of the world's largest freshwater lakes, this part of the country is a fascinating and rewarding place to visit. We can all learn lessons from Cambodia's bitter past and nowhere more so than at the Tuol Sleng Museum.

From war to peace - perfect peace - at tranquil and secluded Bamboo Island, while another relatively peaceful spot is Battambang in the country's 'rice bowl'. Try your luck at the casinos in Sihanouksville and finally sample the culture through the performing arts in Phnom Penh's Chatomuk Theatre.

1. Angkor Wat Complex

Angkor Wat is the most famous ancient temple site in Cambodia, and visiting the ancient Angkorian temples is the reason most visitors come to Cambodia, and to Siem Reap. With its five lotus-like towers rising 65 meters into the sky, it is truly a monumental, and awe inspiring sight. This UNESCO World Heritage site was at one time the largest pre-industrial city in the world, and is considered one of the ancient wonders of the world. Angkor Wat is the crown jewel of any visit to the temples of Angkor.The ruins of Angkor Wat are located in the Angkor Archaeological Park, and the entrance to the park is located about 3km north of modern-day Siem Reap. There are no hotels within the park grounds, and most visitors to the ancient temples stay in Siem Reap, using it as a base from which to make daily visits to the temples. The most significant temple ruins are found 6 to 25km north of town, with the closest major temple being Angkor Wat. The Roluos Group of temples are 13km east of Siem Reap.It is best to arrange your tour of the Angkor Archaeological Park with a reputable tour agency and a knowledgeable tour guide. They can assist with purchasing the admission pass, and arrange the transportation you will need. There are also guidebooks available, which will help in understanding the history of the temples.

2. Phnom Penh Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

The Khmer-style Throne Hall was built in 1866, to serve as the residence of the King of Cambodia, his family and foreign dignitaries, as a venue for the performance of court ceremonies and rituals and as a symbol of the Kingdom. South of the Throne Hall are the Royal Treasury and the Villa of Napoleon III, built in Egypt in 1866, for the opening of the Suez Canal, and was later presented to the Cambodian king as a gift.The famous Silver Pagoda, originally constructed of wood in 1866, was expanded in 1962 by King Sihanouk who had the floor inlaid with 5,329 solid silver tiles, hence its name. Inside the Palace grounds, traffic noise is thankfully blocked off by the high walls and the various Royal buildings sit in tranquility amidst the manicured tropical gardens.

3. Bayon Temples

Aside from Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Bayon may be the best known and most photographed of the “other” temples. Ta Prohm is popular because of its lost temple in the jungle atmosphere, overgrown with trees and vines, and Bayon is famous for its huge enigmatic, carved stone faces.The Bayon Temple is the dominant feature inside the walled city of Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm is not far outside the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom. Both are Buddhist temples, and were constructed by King Jayavarman VII; Bayon in the late 12th century, and Ta Prohm from the mid 12th century to the early 13th century. These two magnificent examples of Angkor temple architecture should not be missed. See below for details of these two ancient structures. The Bayon Temple is at the centre of the great walled city of Angkor Thom, which is at the heart of the Angkor Archeological Park.Bayon has some 50 towers, with four huge carved faces on most of them. Each of the four faces are four metres high and oriented toward the four points of the compass. The faces all have the same strange smile and closed eyes, creating a mysterious and serene countenance, representing an all-knowing state of inner peace, and perhaps a state of Nirvana.

4. Ta Prohm Temple

The temples of Angkor Wat and the walled city of Angkor Thom are perhaps the most famous and best known of all the ancient temple sites. To the east of Angkor Thom is the third most important, and one of the most photographed of all the ancient temples due to its dramatic scenery.Ta Prohm is a quiet, and sprawling monastery, and unlike most other sites, it has only been partially cleared of overgrowth, and has been intentionally left more or less the way it was originally found. Some walls and doorways of the ancient structure were left overgrown and gripped by huge trees and other foliage. Flocks of parrots in the trees add to the atmosphere, and give the visitor the feeling of discovering a temple lost in the jungle. With this image in mind, it is not hard to imagine what the French naturalist Henri Mouhot must have felt when he ‘discovered’ the temple in 1860.

5. Tonle Sap Lake

The Tonlé Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. During the dry season the lake drains into the Tonle Sap River which flows into the Mekong River. But in the rainy season (June to October), the huge amount of water in the Mekong causes the Tonlé Sap River to reverse its flow.The combination of water flowing into the lake, and the backup of the Tonle Sap River swells the lake to 5-times its size in the dry season. This increase in size floods the surrounding floodplain and forests, creating an incredibly diverse and rich eco-system. 

6. Tuol Sleng Museum and Choeung Ek Killing Fields

Cambodia's tragic past can be seen less painfully through the perspactive of time and its war museum, if not the most cheerful place in the world, can be extremely instructive in terms of coming to grips with what actually happened during those terrible years. No less instructive is the burial and execution grounds at Choeng Ek where thousands of exhumed skulls are on display.

7. Bamboo Island

A few days on Bamboo Island, off Sihanoukville's coast, comes highly recommended. The boat ride takes about half an hour and once there you will find that only about 30 people live on the island. On its north-facing crescent beach Bamboo Island has three bungalow resorts, two restaurants and two bars and is very, very laid back. Unlike on the more frenetic mainland, there are no hawkers and the bungalows are right on the casuarinas-lined beach itself.There are a few day-trippers but come nightfall the island is practically deserted. Electricity is provided by two generators for the early hours of the evening but after that it's back to the moon and the stars for light. 

8. Battambang and Surroundings

Battambang is somewhat of an ode to French colonialism. The city lies in the heart of the Northwest and until the war years it was the leading rice-producing province of the country. The 100,000-person town offers not only one of the best preserved examples of the French Colonial era, but also the small-town feel you expect to encounter in Cambodia as a rule. The true bonus however is the village life that is a mere stone’s throw away, be it by motorcycle, jeep or boat. The combined effect makes Battambang well worth the detour it requires to visit. For centuries, Battambang was part of Siam and was used as its eastern commercial hub. The French have left a strong mark on the town's architecture, resulting in a pleasing colonial effect. The town is the gateway between Thailand and Phnom Penh but still retains a sleepy atmosphere not conducive to people looking for nightlife and fine dining. Rather, people use the town as a base for visiting the nearby temples of Phnom Banon and Wat Ek Phnom. Some 293 kilometers from Phnom Penh, Battambang is in the heart of Cambodia's 'rice bowl' and even though it is Cambodia's second-largest city it has a marked rural feel to it.

9. Kep Beach

Southern Cambodia has access to the Gulf of Thailand and offers ideal opportunities to finish a tour in the Kingdom. Kampot is a pleasant town 5-km inland on the banks of the river Tuk Chhou. A nice place to enjoy a boat trip on the river. Kampot is also base for excursions to the Bokor National Park in the Elephant Mountains. The nearby seaside resort of Kep (Kep-sur-Mer) is located 25 km from Kampot. This beautiful coastal area was once the favorite holiday spot for Cambodias French-influenced elite during the turn of the 19th century. From Kep fishing boats can take you to one of the island scattered in the bay.

10. Apsaras Dance and Dinner Shows

Apsara Dance draws its inspiration from the mythological court of the gods and from its celestial dancers, the Apsaras. The dance took on its own unique form adding movements and meaning, during the reigns of Jayavarman II and Jayavarman VII as well as in the Angkor era.By the 13th century, the dance was assuming a Khmer identity rather than Indian – the source of its roots. It combined gentle movements with loud, traditional Khmer music during its performance. In that era, Apsara dance was performed solely for the benefit of the upper class, and particularly for the king.Apsara dancers’ fingers are extraordinarily elastic; so much so that they can bend their fingers backwards almost to the wrist and training starts when they are so young that their bones are still supple.

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Busra Waterfall

Busra Waterfall

By Unknown   11:34:00 PM   No comments:

Busra Waterfall

Busra waterfall is located in Pich Chenda district about 43 kilometers northeast of Mondulkiri provincial town, Sen Monorom. Busra is considered by many to be the most beautiful waterfall in Mondulkiri. The waterfall is divided into three stages:

• First Stage: The waterfall fall is 8 to 12 meters high and 15 meters wide in rainy season and 10 to 15 meters wide in dry season.
• Second Stage: The waterfall fall is 15 to 20 meters high and 20 meters wide in rainy season and 18 to 25 meters high and 13 meters wide in dry season. The second stage is 150 meters from the first stage.
• Third Stage: The speed of waterfall is faster than the second stage. This stage cannot be reached because it is in the thick forest. There are no marked paths and dangerous wildlife inhabits the area.

The double-drop waterfall is very popular with the locals who use it as a bathing and picnic spot. Its top level is around 10m in height, and the lower level drops down 25m to the gorge. It is in a scenic and pristine setting and offers great photo ops. Nearby is the ethnic Phnong village called Pichinda which has a small guesthouse. Some snacks are available at the falls, but bring food if you would like something more substantial. Then we head northeast to Bou Sra. We never rode north on this road before and I am surprised that right behind the first hill it is getting rougher than most we have seen yesterday. We cross a small river on an improvised bridge and are charged 500 Riel each by a bunch of kids.

After that the road is getting somewhat smoother but still requires a lot of attention. There are deep grooves in the road, most likely left behind my heavy cars. Once you get into one of those it leaves you with only very few options other than just following it hoping not to get stuck. Yet the ground is solid and provides good grip for the tires. We keep going and after some time we do not see settlements anymore. The forest is relatively dense and in some places impenetrable. Both of us have to restart the bike a number of times and while we proceed with moderate speed it remains a challenge in many places to maneuver those relatively heavy bikes.

The way I start this bike many times is I put it on the stand, climb on the moto and start it from this relatively comfortable position, before I flap the stand and go. However, I realize that the stand is about to break off and can hardly support the bike anymore. The road is getting tougher; there are many rocks and countless obstacles, sometimes forcing us to ride next to the road. And hills are pretty steep in some instances. Overall we move quite slowly. After about 40 minutes we have a break. I try to figure how Pongro is riding down those hills and ask him. I learn that he controls the speed entirely with the clutch.

I am about to suggest using a lower gear. To demonstrate how he does it he takes the clutch clever and holds it tight. Oddly, at precisely this moment the clutch cable breaks. I does not take us long to realize that it is impossible to ride this bike without clutch. Ironically, today is the first day we go without the heavy set of tools and spare parts we usually carry and which includes a clutch cable. Pongro is still confident that we can manage to fix the bike here. Once in while people pass on small, old Honda's, sometimes badly overloaded but always very skillfully finding the way between all those rocks.

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Yeak Laom Lake

Yeak Laom Lake

By Unknown   11:22:00 PM   No comments:

Beung Yeak Laom is located in Yeak Loam commune, Ban Loung district, about 5 kilometers south of Ban Loung provincial town. A lake in the middle of a mountain, it was formed many centuries ago from a volcano. The lake is about 800 meters in diameter and 48 meters deep during the dry season. The water is clear and suitable for swimming.

Yeak Laom Lake

There are two places along the bank where visitors can relax and enjoy a panoramic view of the lake and the flora and fauna. A tourist information center is on the west bank, and handicrafts made by hill tribes living nearby are available for sale.

Beung Yeak Laom is a place of worship for the hill tribes. They believe there is a powerful spirit who owns the surrounding land and forest. Beung Yeak Laom is popular with tourists who like to swim or hike in the forest surrounding the lake. Because there are no vendors, visitors should

bring along their own food and beverages.

Is the natural lake, which locates at the middle of mountain in Yeak Loam Commune, Ban Lung district from the Ban Lung town. The lake has square shape, approximate 800m diameter and 48m depth during the dry season, and occurs by volcano for centuries. The lake has clear water as the sea suitable for swimming, and there are tow harbors protruded to the above of the water for tourists to view the scenary and birds that are swimming along the stretch of the forest surrounding the lake. information to tourists, and also for displaying souvenirs and handicrafts made by ethnic minorities.

At the western bank of the lake, there is a tourist information center where for guiding and giving information center where for guiding and giving information to tourists, and also for displaying souvenirs and handicrafts made by ethnic minorities.

Beung Yeak Laom is located in Yeak Laom commune, Ban Loung district, about 5 kilometers south of Ban Loung provincial town. A lake in the middle of a mountain, it was formed many centuries ago from volcano. The lake is about 800 meters in diameter and 48 meters deep during about dry season. The water is clear and suitable for swimming.

Boeung Yak Loam is a natural, almost square-shaped lake situated in the middle of a mountain in Ban Lung District, 5km from Rattanakiri provincial town. The lake is approximately 800m in diameter with a depth of 48m during the dry season, and was created by volcanic movements centuries ago. Boeung Yak Loam has picturesque mountainous scenery, a charming bird sanctuary and provides the visitor with an opportunity to experience the daily life of local hill-tribe people.

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Banteay Srei Temple

Banteay Srei Temple

By Unknown   11:19:00 PM   No comments:

Considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art, Banteay Srei is cut from stone of a pinkish hue and includes some of the finest stone carving anywhere on earth. Begun in AD 967, it is one of the smallest sites at Angkor, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in stature.The art gallery of Angkor, Banteay Srei, a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, is wonderfully well preserved and many of its carvings are three-dimensional.

Banteay Srei means ‘Citadel of the Women’ and it is said that it must have been built by a woman, as the elaborate carvings are supposedly too fine for the hand of a man.

Banteay Srei is one of the few temples around Angkor to be commissioned not by a king but by a brahman, who may have been a tutor to Jayavarman V. The temple is square and has entrances at the east and west, with the east approached by a causeway. Of interest are the lavishly decorated libraries and the three central towers, which are decorated with male and female divinities and beautiful filigree relief work.

Classic carvings at Banteay Srei include delicate women with lotus flowers in hand and traditional skirts clearly visible, as well as breathtaking re-creations of scenes from the epic Ramayana adorning the library pediments (carved inlays above a lintel). However, the sum of the parts is no greater than the whole – almost every inch of these interior buildings is covered in decoration. Standing watch over such perfect creations are the mythical guardians, all of which are copies of originals stored in the National Museum.

Banteay Srei was the first major temple restoration undertaken by the EFEO in 1930 using the anastylosis method. The project, as evidenced today, was a major success and soon led to other larger projects such as the restoration of Bayon. Banteay Srei is also the first to have been given a full makeover in terms of facilities, with a large car park, a designated dining and shopping area, clear visitor information and a state-of-the-art exhibition on the history of the temple and its restoration. There is also a small baray (reservoir) behind the temple where local boat trips (US$7 per boat) are possible through the lotus pond.

When Banteay Srei was first rediscovered, it was assumed to be from the 13th or 14th centuries, as it was thought that the refined carving must have come at the end of the Angkor period. It was later dated to AD 967, from inscriptions found at the site.

In 1923 Frenchman André Malraux was arrested in Phnom Penh for attempting to steal several of Banteay Srei’s major statues and pieces of sculpture. Ironically, Malraux was later appointed Minister of Culture under Charles de Gaulle.

Banteay Srei is about 32km northeast of Siem Reap and 21km northeast of Bayon. Banteay Srei is well signposted and the road is surfaced all the way, so a trip from Siem Reap should take about 45 minutes by car or one hour by remork-moto . Moto and remork-moto drivers will want a bit of extra cash to come out here, so agree on a sum first.

There's plenty to do in Banteay Srei district as well as several home stays should you wish to stay and explore the area. It is possible to combine a visit to Banteay Srei as part of a long day trip to the River of a Thousand Lingas at Kbal Spean and Beng Mealea. A half-day itinerary might include Banteay Srei, the Cambodia Landmine Museum and Banteay Samre. It takes 45 minutes to explore Banteay Srei temple, but allow 90 minutes to visit the information center and explore the area.

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10 Thing You Can Do in Sihanouk Ville

10 Thing You Can Do in Sihanouk Ville

By Unknown   10:39:00 PM   No comments:

Koh Rong

1. Scuba Diving

The Sihanouk Ville port area is the main hub for all the dive centers from the the southwestern Cambodia. There are four PADI dive centers which offer diving services, and one can expect to see a lot of fish and beautiful coral. Some of the dive centers to choose from include scuba nation PADI 5 star instructor development center and Eco Sea Dive.

2. Snorkeling

Snorkeling is probable in most part of Sihanouk Ville, and with so many restaurants around offering the service. The prices are very competitive. It will generally cost $15.00, and includes breakfast, visiting at least 2 snorkeling spots as well as lunch. Remember, the best places for snorkeling is available at the more distant. There is more visibility, more fish and corals.

3. Rent a motorcycle or bicycle

Motors and bicycles are ubiquitous in Sihanouk Ville,  and are very cheap. A bicycle rented for a day will cost you around $2.00, and it is a great way to explore the public beaches, downtown, as well as bar hopping in the city center. In additions, there are bicycle tours available where you can get to see the most beautiful parts of the area such as stray dog adventure dirt bike tour. It has a lot of fun, easy and exciting, and a great way to travel between in best beaches in Sihanouk Ville, especially because of them are quit far apart.

4. Beach Hopping

With over 23 beaches to explore on Sihanouk Ville, some of them at the coast and others on the nearby island. The best way to see all of them is by beach hopping. Tours to islands such as Koh Rong, Koh Rongsonlem, and Bamboo island will typically cost $30 from the travel agencies, either in serendipity or downtown. It is a lot of fun and very affordable. 

5. Fireworks Display at Serendipity Beach

Every night, at Serendipity Beach, there is a superb fireworks display that attracts busload of tourists. With fireworks being sold cheaply at the beach. They are constant supply and very so often. There will be a mini fireworks display that look absolutely beautiful in the night and black water of the sea. It is a free event which there are a lot of people around having a grand time and with a cold drink in hand. It is a moment to savor.

6. The Booze Cruise

This is a very popular event for young backpackers in Sihanouk Ville. For only $25, a few days during the week you can enjoy a booze cruise and party on a large sized boat as you explore some of the islands in Cambodia. It is a great fun party, and the drink flow in plenty. Definitely a must do for younger backpackers who loves having a great time. 

7. Visiting Sihanouk Ville's Central Market

At the market, you can buy variety of goods such as seafood, some mightily cheap trinkets and souvenirs, juice and fruit, as well as some of sarges and local clothing. It is a great place to buy a few gifts for some of the people back home, and an opportunity to observe the local culture of the place and enjoy some delicious prawns.

8. Rent a Kayak in Sihanouk Ville

At many of the sailing clubs and resorts in the town, you can rent a kayak and try your hands at kayaking to exercise same of the rarely used muscles of yours. It is a lot of fun, and not so expensive. One of the places to do this is at the Otres nautical sailing club. For only $3, you can enjoy experience of an exhilarating adventure and have a laugh about it. Definitely something to try if you are getting bored of sunbathing and are in search of something exciting.

9. Go to Visit Cambodian Pagoda

Although Sihanouk Ville's pagodas are not the oldest or indeed the most majestic in Cambodia, there are still enough set in beautiful location that you can savor. Some of these include Wat Krom, Wat Ler, Wat Ream, and Wat Samathi. The photo ops of Wat Samathi is incredible. and one can enjoy a spot of meditation at these places, and get to know different people than they would normally see at the beaches and markets of Sihanouk Ville.

10. Cambodian's Children Painting Project

On serendipity beach road, you will find the Cambodian Children's Painting Project (CCPP). This is a NGO that helps poor Cambodian children, by selling the arts they created and using the funds to support the children's families. They also get some basic education, sport, medical helps, and painting materials. If you are interested, you can visit a place, become a volunteer, donate some money, or bu a painting. It is all for a good cause, and it is a great fun messing around little kids.

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Phnom Penh National Museum

Phnom Penh National Museum

By Unknown   8:22:00 PM   No comments:

Located just north of the Royal Palace, the National Museum of Cambodia is housed in a graceful terracotta structure of traditional design (built from 1917 to 1920), with an inviting courtyard garden. The museum is home to the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture – a millennium’s worth and more of masterful Khmer design. The museum comprises four pavilions, facing a pretty garden. Most visitors start left and continue in a clockwise, chronological direction.

The first significant sculpture to greet visitors is a large fragment – including the relatively intact head, shoulders and two arms – of an immense bronze reclining Vishnu statue, which was recovered from the Western Mebon temple near Angkor Wat in 1936. Continue into the left pavilion, where the pre-Angkorian collection begins, illustrating the journey from the human form of Indian sculpture to the more divine form of Khmer sculpture from the 5th to 8th centuries. Highlights include an imposing, eight-armed Vishnu statue from the 6th century found at Phnom Da, and a staring Harihara, combining the attributes of Shiva and Vishnu, from Prasat Andet in Kompong Thom province. The Angkor collection includes several striking statues of Shiva from the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries; a giant pair of wrestling monkeys (Ko Ker, 10th century); a beautiful 12th-century stele (stone) from Oddar Meanchey Province inscribed with scenes from the life of Shiva; and the sublime statue of a seated Jayavarman VII (r 1181–1219), his head bowed slightly in a meditative pose (Angkor Thom, late 12th century).

The museum also contains displays of pottery and bronzes dating from the pre-Angkorian periods of Funan and Chenla (4th to 9th centuries), the Indravarman period (9th and 10th centuries) and the classical Angkorian period (10th to 14th centuries), as well as more recent works, such as a beautiful wooden royal barge.

Note that visitors are not allowed to photograph the collection, only the central courtyard. English-, French- and Japanese-speaking guides are available for tours (US$6). A comprehensive booklet, The New Guide to the National Museum (US$10), is available at the front desk, while the smaller Khmer Art in Stone (US$2) covers some of the signature pieces.

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Ta Prohm Temple

Ta Prohm Temple

By Unknown   2:17:00 AM   No comments:

Ta Prohm's state of ruin is a state of beauty, which is investigated with delight and left with regret. Ta Prohm is locating southwest of the East Mebon and east of Angkor Thom. Its outer enclosure is near the corner of Banteay Kdei. It can be accessed by enter the monument from the west and leave from the east entrance.

Tip: Ta Prohm is especially serene and beautiful in the early morning. A torch and a compass are useful for visiting this temple at all times. It was built about mid-12th century to early 13th century (1186) by the King Jayavarman VII, dedicated to the mother of the king (Buddhist) replica to Bayon style of art.

BACKGROUND

Ta Prohm is the undisputed capital of the kingdom of the Trees'. It has been left untouched by archaeologists except for the clearing of a path for visitors and structural strengthening to stave of further deterioration. Because of its natural state, it is possible to experience at this temple the wonder of the early explorers when they came upon these monuments in the middle of the nineteenth century.

Shrouded in dense jungle the temple of Ta Prohm is ethereal in aspect and conjures up a romantic aura. Fig, banyan and kapok trees spread their gigantic roots over stones, probing walls and terraces apart, as their branches and leaves intertwine to form a roof over the structures. Trunks of trees twist amongst stone pillars. The strange, haunted charm of the place entwines itself about you as you go, as inescapably as the roots have wound themselves about the walls and towers', wrote a visitor 40 years ago.

A Sanskrit inscription on stone, still in place, give details of the temple. Ta Prohm 3,140 villages. It took 79,365 people to maintain the temple including 18 great priests, 2,740 officials, 2,202 assistants and 615 dancers. Among the property belonging to the temple was a set of golden dishes weighing more than 500 kilograms, 35 diamonds, 40,620 pearls, 4,540 precious stones, 876 veils from China, 512 silk beds and 523 parasols. Even considering that these numbers were probably exaggerated to glorify the king, Ta Prohm must have been an important and impressive monument.

LAYOUT

Ta Prohm is among the largest of the monuments in the Angkor complex, the in scrimption gives an idea of the size of the temple. The complex included 260 statues of gods, 39 towers with pinnacles and 566 groups of residences. Ta Prohm comprises a series of long low buildings standing on one level, which are enclosed by rectangular laterite wall (600 by 1,000 meters, 1,959 by 3,281 feet). Only traces of the wall are still visible. The center of the monument is reached by a series of towers connected with passages. This arrangement forms a ' sort of sacred way into the heart of the monument’; three-square galleries enclose the area.

Tip: Some areas of the temple are impassable and others are accessible only by narrow dark passages. It is recommended to follow the plan with a route and landmarks indicted or to stay with a guide to avoid getting lost.

The boundaries of the exterior wall are recognizable on the west by a stone entry tower in the shape of a cross, with an upper portion in the form of four faces, one looking towards each of the cardinal points (not shown on the plan). The approach to the west entrance of the temple is a path through the forest. After about 350 meters (1,148 feet) there is a stone terrace in the shape of a cross. Remains of lions, serpent balustrades and mythical creatures lie scattered in the area. Walk across the terrace to the vestibule of the enclosing wall. The view from this point is spectacular.

Every here around you, you see nature n this dual role of destroyer and consoler; strangling on the one hand, and healing on the other; no sooner splitting the carved stones asunder than she dresses their wounds with cool, velvety mosses, and binds them with her most delicate tendrils; a conflict of moods so contradictory and feminine as to prove once more if proof were needed how well " Dame "Nature merits her feminine title.

The next causeway with serpent balustrades on each side leads to an entry tower in the first enclosure around the temple. Inside, on the right, niches along the inner wall contain images of the Buddha.

Return to the center of the vestibule, turn right and walk through the courtyard to the annex building at the right. Continue walking straight through the series of rooms and passages to a tower. The relief on the horizontal beam is a fine representation of a scene from 'The Great Departure ' when the future. Buddha decides to leave his father's palace to live the life of a monk, the gods hold the hoofs of his horse so those sleeping in the palace are not awakened. Return to the courtyard and pass through an opening as opening in the wall of the second enclosure (at the south end).

The roots of a tree grip the double row of pillars in this gallery. Walk to the center of the complex, turn right and enter the entry tower of the third enclosing gallery. The inner walls are decorated with friezes of pendants, scrolls and figures in niches. Turn right again and walk into the central courtyard of the temple.

CENTRAL SANCTUARY

Follow the plan and walk through the Central Sanctuary, recognizable by its undecorated interior. The stone has hammered, presumably to apply a coating probably of paint or gilt. Evenly spaced ' holes in the wall from floor to ceiling suggest a covering of wood, stucco or metal.

Walk across the central courtyard towards the left (northeast) and through the door of a gallery that is framed by the roots of a tree. Turn left and walk through a dark passageway and a courtyard. Enter the aisle with pillars, turn right, walk straight between twin towers and to the right into a very narrow passage which houses the inscription of the temple. Return by the same passage, turn right and continue straight, passing through a vestibule. The false doors on the north and south sides of the large rectangular enclosure with high walls are finely decorated. There are four small courts with galleries and pillars (12). Ritual dances may have been performed in this area.

Walk across the courtyard and into the entry tower of the enclosing wall, at the east entrance. It is in the shape of a cross with pillars on the interior, four wings and two passages on the side. The walls of these passages are decorated with relief. To the left there is a hall with pillars placed close together. They probably provided the base for a structure built of wood. Beyond are small rectangular cells, which surround the exterior of Ta Prohm.

One leaves Ta Prohm by a path (400 meters, 1,32 feet long) leading to the exterior enclosure where section of the wall are visible.

So the temple is held in a stranglehold of trees. Stone and wood clasp each other in grim hostility; yet all is silent and still, without any visible movement to indicate their struggle as if they were wrestlers suddenly petrified, struck motionless in the middle of a fight, the rounds in this battle were not measured by minutes, but by centuries.

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The Silver Pagoda

The Silver Pagoda

By Unknown   8:26:00 PM   No comments:

In front of the Silver Pagoda

The 'Silver Pagoda' sits next to the Royal Palace, separated by a walled walkway, but within the same larger walled compound. The Silver Pagoda's proper name is Wat Preah Keo Morokat, which means 'The Temple of the Emerald Buddha,' but has received the common moniker 'Silver Pagoda' after the solid silver floor tiles that adorn the temple building. The pagoda compound as a whole contains several structures and gardens, the primary building being the temple Wat Preah Keo Morokat and other structures including a library, various stupas, shrines, monuments, minor buildings and the galleries of the Reamker.

Wat Preah Keo Morokat is unique in several ways. It is the pagoda where the King meets with monks to listen to their sermons and where some Royal ceremonies are performed. It houses a collection of priceless Buddhist and historical objects including the 'Emerald Buddha.' And, unlike most pagodas, no monks live at the pagoda. The temple building, library and Reamker galleries were first constructed between 1892 and 1902 under King Norodom. The equestrian statue of King Norodom was set in place in 1892. Other structures such as the stupas of King Ang Doung Stupa King Norodom (1908), the Kantha Bopha memorial sanctuary (1960) and others were added later. The temple received major reconstruction in 1962 and further renovations 1985-1987, particularly to the Reamker fresco murals. Many of the temple treasures were looted during by the Khmer Rouge 1975-1979, but fortunately the Khmer Rouge chose to keep much of the collection intact for propaganda purposes.

The Silver Pagoda Buildings

1. Wat Preah Keo Morokat Wat Preah Keo Morokat is also known as the ‘Silver Pagoda’ the ‘Temple of the Emerald Buddha.’ It is known as the 'Silver Pagoda' for the 5329 silver tiles that cover the floor. Each tile was handcrafted and weighs 1.125kg. The vihear serves less as a functioning temple than a repository for cultural and religious treasures, containing over 1650 precious objects. The primary Buddha, sitting on a gilded dais above all others in the temple, is the Emerald Buddha, reported by different sources to be made of emerald or baccarat crystal. In front of the Emerald Buddha stands Buddha Maitreya (Buddha of the Future,) a 90 kg golden standing Buddha encrusted with 2086 diamonds including a 25 caret diamond in the crown and a 20 caret diamond embedded in the chest. Other objects include a Buddha relic from Sri Lanka in a small gold and silver stupa, a collection of gifts from Queen Kossomak Nearyrith, and contributions and gifts from other nobles and Royals. 

2. Ramayana Frescoes The interior of the pagoda compound walls is covered with murals depicting stories from the Reamker, i.e. the Khmer version of the classic Indian epic, the Ramayana. Some sections of the murals are deteriorated and weather damaged. The murals were painted in 1903-1904 by a team of students working under the direction of artist Vichitre Chea and architect Oknha Tep Nimit Thneak. In the 30s the galleries served as ad hoc classrooms for Buddhist monks.

3. Dhammasala An open hall used for Buddhist monks to recite texts and also as a royal reception area. (In photo, Dhammasala is behind the Kantha Bopha Memorial.)













4. Keong Preah Bath Shrine containing Buddha footprints. Fortune tellers.

5. Library Small library next to the main vihear that houses sacred Buddhist texts (Buddha's Tripitaka, i.e. "Three Baskets") and also contains an image of a sacred bull named Nandin, and several Buddha statues. The Nandin statue is metal (primarily silver) and is said to be of ancient origin. The statue was found in Kandal province in 1983. Fortune tellers work inside the shrine. If you can find somebody to translate for you, you can have your future told for a small contribution.

6. Phnom Mondop Phnom Mondop is a small artificial hill symbolizing Mount Kailassa, topped by a shrine containing a large Buddha footprint. The shrine is adorned with 108 Buddha images symbolizing the 108 past lives of Buddha. Fortune tellers work inside the shrine. If you can find somebody to translate for you, you can have your future told for a small contribution.

7. Statue of HM King Norodom Equestrian statue of the King Norodom (1834-1904). Completed by French artist Eude in 1875 in Paris and placed on the pagoda grounds in 1892. The canopy was added by King Sihanouk in 1953 to honor King Norodom in light of Cambodia's new independence. The stupa north of the statue contains the ashes of King Norodom.

8. Stupa of HM King Ang Doung Stupa containing the ashes of the King Ang Doung (1845-1860), founder of the current dynasty and the great-great-great grandfather to King Sihamoni. Constructed in 1908.

9. Stupa of HM King Norodom Stupa containing the ashes of the King Norodom (1834-1904). Constructed in 1908..

10. Stupa of HM King Suramarit and HM Queen Kossomak Stupa of the father and mother of former King Sihanouk (r: 1955-1960), grandfather and grandmother to King Sihamoni.

11. Stupa of Princess Kantha Bopha The memorial sanctuary of the beloved daughter of the former King Sihanouk. Princess Kantha Bopha passed in 1952 at the age of four, succumbing to leukemia. The stupa was built in 1960.

12. Model of Angkor Wat Temple

13. Belfry The bell is used to signal the opening and closing of the temple and for ceremonies.









 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Royal Palace Bulidings

Royal Palace Bulidings

By Unknown   6:57:00 PM   No comments:

1. Throne Hall: The Throne Hall, the Preah Timeang Tevea Vinicchay, is the primary audience hall of the King, used for coronations and diplomatic and other official meetings. This Throne Hall is the second to be built on this site. The first was constructed of wood in 1869-1870 under King Norodom. That Throne Hall was demolished in 1915. The present building was constructed in 1917 and inaugurated by King Sisowath in 1919. The building is 30x60 meters and topped by a 59-meter spire. As with all buildings and structure at the Palace, the Throne Hall faces east and is best photographed in the morning. When visiting note the thrones (Reach Balaing in front and Preah Tineang Bossobok higher at the back) and the beautiful ceiling frescoes of the Reamker.

2. Chanchhaya Pavilion: The current Pavilion is the second incarnation of the Chanchhaya Pavilion, this one constructed in 1913-14 under King Sisowath to replace the earlier wooden pavilion built under King Norodom. The current pavilion is of the same design as the earlier version. The Chanchhaya Pavilion, also known as the 'Moonlight Pavilion', dominates the facade of the Palace on Sothearos Blvd. The Pavilion serves as a venue for the Royal Dancers, as a tribune for the King to address the crowds and as a place to hold state and Royal banquets. Most recently, the Pavilion was used for a banquet and a tribune for the new King at the 2004 coronation of King Norodom Sihamoni.

3. Hor Samran Phirun: "The pavilion where one sleeps peacefully." Royal rest house and waiting area where the King waits to mount an elephant for Royal processions. Also built to house musical instruments and procession implements. Constructed in 1917. Currently housing a display of gifts from foreign heads of state.

4. Hor Samrith Phimean Also know as the ‘Bronze Palace.’ Repository for the Royal regalia and attributes. Constructed in 1917. Currently housing a display of royal regalia and costumes on the ground floor.

5. Napoleon III Pavilion At first glance the Napoleon III Pavilion seems almost out-of-place, sitting like a European-style dollhouse among the imposing and distinctly Khmer-style buildings that surround it. The Pavilion was in fact the first permanent structure on the site of the Royal Palace. It was originally built for Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon III, in 1869 for use in the inauguration of the Suez Canal. It is constructed entirely of iron. In 1876 Emperor Napoleon III made a gift of the building to King Norodom of Cambodia. By fortunate happenstance, the royal emblem "N" em blazed on the doors and other parts of the building to honor the name of 'Napoleon' did not need to be altered when the pavilion was transferred to King Norodom. The Pavilion was refurbished in 1991 with financial assistance from the French government. The Pavilion now serves as a small museum housing Royal memorabilia and a photographic exhibition. Best photographed in the morning. (Damnak Chan pictured in the background.)

6. Phochani Pavilion An open hall originally constructed as a classical dance theater. The Pavilion is currently used for Royal receptions and meetings. Built in 1912.

7. Damnak Chan: The Damnak Chan currently houses the administrative offices of the Royal Palace. Original constructed in 1953 for the High Council of the Throne, this building has served several purposes over the years including acting as the Ministry of Culture in the 80s and housing the Supreme National Council of Cambodia from 1991-93. Damnak Chan displays a somewhat uncomfortable mix of Khmer and Western architectural styles, the mix being particularly apparent in this building - sporting a distinctly Khmer-style roof and a Western style in the main body of the building. Closed to the public.

8. Khemarin Palace The Royal residence. Closed to the public.

 

9. Villa Kantha Bopha Western-style villa named after King Sihanouk's late daughter Princess Kantha Bopha, built in 1956 as guest house for foreign guests. Closed to the public.

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