Adventurous Tours

Countryside Adventurous Tours   The vast majorities of Cambodian people live and work in small villages in the countryside. Exploring the modern opportunities in Siem Reap and the ancient spectacles of the temples are fantastic opportunities, but to fully explore Khmer culture and the struggles that Cambodia continues to face, a trip to the countryside is essential.  Cambodia is the poorest country in Southeast Asia and Siem Reap province remains the second poorest province in the country. Countryside tour or even a day trip to a remote temple ruin can provide a glimpse of ‘real Cambodia’ - picturesque, bucolic scenery, rice paddies and water buffaloes, countryside pagodas and little villages filled with traditional stilted houses Tonle Sap Lake Adventurous tours   The 'bird sanctuary' at the Prek Toal core area of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve has been called "the single most important breeding ground in Southeast Asia for globally threatened large waterbirds." The Biosphere covers 31,282 hectares at the northwest tip of the Tonle Sap Lake and plays host to species including Greater and Lesser Adjuncts, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork, Milky Stork, Spot-billed Pelican, Grey-Headed Fish Eagle and many more species. Of the three Biosphere core areas on the Tonle Sap Lake, Prek Toal is the most accessible from Siem Reap and the most popular with birdwatchers. The best time of year for viewing is the dry season when flocks of migratory birds congregate at Prek Toal. As the dry season progresses and the water recedes, the number of birds increases but the travel to some of the more important viewing areas becomes more difficult.   Kampong Phluk is a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain of the Tonle Sap about 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them. Flooded mangrove forest surrounds the area and is home to a variety of wildlife including crab-eating macaques. During the dry season when the lake is low, the buildings in the villages seem to soar atop their 6-meter stilts exposed by the lack of water. At this time of year many of the villagers move out onto the lake and build temporary stilted houses. In the wet season when water level rises again, the villagers move back to their permanent houses on the floodplain, the stilts now hidden under the water. Kampong Phluk's economy is, as one might expect, based in fishing, primary in shrimp harvesting. Kampong Phluk sees comparatively few foreign visitors and offers a close look at the submerged forest and lakeside village life as yet unperturbed by tourism. The area can be reached by boat from the Chong Khneas or by a combination of road and boat.   Kampong Khleang is located on the northern lake-edge about 35 km east of Siem Reap town, more remote and less touristed than Kampong Phluk. Visitors to Kampong Khleang during the dry season are universally awestruck by the forest of stilted houses rising up to 10 meters in the air. In the wet season the waters rise to within one or two meters of the buildings. Like Kampong Phluk, Kampong Khleang is a permanent community within the floodplain of the Lake, with an economy based in fishing and surrounded by flooded forest. But Kampong Khleang is significantly larger with near 10 times the population of Kampong Phluk, making it the largest community on the Lake. The area can be reached by boat from the Chong Khneas docks or by a combination of road to Domdek on Route #6 and then boat to the village, the best method depending on the time of year. During the dry season, boats cannot get all of the way to the main villages. Temples Adventurous tours Kbal Spean (its name means "Bridge Head") is an Angkorian era site on the southwest slopes of the Kulen Mountain, nearly 55 km from the heart of Siem Reap town. It is commonly known as the valley of a 1000 Lingas (the symbol of the God Shiva’s supreme essence). It consists of a series of stone carvings in and around the Stung Kbal Spean river. The motifs for the stone carvings are roughly three: myriads of Lingas, depicted as neatly arranged bumps that cover the surface of a rock; Lingas-Yonis (female genitalia) designs; and various Hindu mythological motifs, including depictions of gods and animals. Visiting Kbal Spean can be included in visiting Banteay Srei and Kulen Mountain or Beng Mealea Kulen Mountain (its name means "Lychee Mountain") is around 60km north of Angkor Wat and one of the holiest places in Cambodia.  The waters of the Siem Reap river, so important for the Angkor Empire, Flowed from this mountain, and visitors can still see the fertility symbols carved into the riverbed centuries ago to ensure continued prosperity. Holy men study here and ascetic hermits live in ancient pagodas.  It was at Kulen that the Devaraja cult was born, turning the human rulers of the Khmer into gods.  Pilgrimages are still made to the mountain, And visitors can swim in the clean, cool water and examine the carvings, waves of butterflies swooping past and off into the lush jungle around. Kulen Mountain is also the sight of the Reclining Buddha monument, a massive statue carved whole out of the mountain top in the 16th Century.  During the Indochina War, bombs were dropped all around the Buddha, but none destroyed that statue.  It is now a popular place for Khmer to make picnics. Visiting Kulen Mountain can be included in visiting Banteay Srei and Beng Mealea or Kbal Spean Beng Mealea Temple (its name means "lotus pond") is nearly 80km from Siem Reap town at the foot of Kulen Mountain. It was built as Hinduist temple, but there are some carvings depicting Buddhist motifs. Its primary material is sandstone and it is largely unrestored, with trees and thick brush thriving amidst its towers and courtyards and many of its stones lying in great heaps. For years it was difficult to reach, but a road recently built to the temple complex of Koh Ker passes Beng Mealea and more visitors are coming to the site. Built in the 12th Century, many scholars believe it was the model for Angkor Wat. It is just as wonderful of a temple but it is still largely lost in the jungle. The accommodations made for tourists at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom have not been made here, and visitors enjoy a much quieter and adventurous experience. Visiting Beng Mealea can be included in visiting Roulous Group and Banteay Srei or Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean or Banteay Srei and Kulen Mountain Koh Ker Group located more than150 km northeast of Siem Reap town in the province of Preah Vihear, it was briefly the capital of the Khmer empire between 928 and 944 under king Jayavarman IV and his son Hasavaraman II. After the Khmer empire had been established in the Angkor area (Roluos), Jayavarman IV moved the capital in 928 almost 100km northeast to Koh Ker. Here a vast number of temples were built under his reign, until his successor returned to the Angkor area about twenty years later. The Koh Ker site is dominated by Prasat Thom, a 30 meter tall temple mountain raising high above the plain and the surrounding forest. Great views await the visitor at the end of an adventurous climb. Garuda, carved into the stone blocks, still guard the very top, although they are partially covered now. Across the site of Koh Ker there are many prasat or tower sanctuaries. A couple still feature an enormous linga on a yoni that provides space for several people. The outlet for the water that was sanctified by running it over the Linga can be seen in the outside wall of one of them. In other cases, three prasat stand next to each other, dedicated to Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Most of them are surrounded by libraries and enclosures, many also had moats. At that time, the roofs were still made of wood. Today, only the holes for the beams remain in the stone structures. Visiting Koh Ker Group can be included in visiting Roulous Group, Beng Mealea and Banteay Srei Peah Vihear Temple is a Khmer temple situated atop a 525-metre (1,722 ft) cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, in the Preah Vihear province of northern Cambodia and on the border of Kantharalak district (amphoe) in Sisaket province of eastern Thailand. In 1962, following a lengthy dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over ownership, a majority of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague awarded the temple to Cambodia. Affording a view for many kilometers across a plain, Prasat Preah Vihear has the most spectacular setting of all the temples built during the six-centuries-long Khmer Empire. As a key edifice of the empire's spiritual life, it was supported and modified by successive kings and so bears elements of several architectural styles. Preah Vihear is unusual among Khmer temples in being constructed along a long north-south axis, rather than having the conventional rectangular plan with orientation toward the east. The temple gives its name to Cambodia's Preah Vihear province, in which it is now located, as well as the Khao Phra Wihan National Park which borders it in Thailand's Sisaket province and through which the temple is most easily accessible. On July 7, 2008, Preah Vihear was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sambor Prei Kuk is a very old, and rarely visited, temple located a four hour drvie from Siem Reap.  The nearby Kampong Thom City is an excellent place to spend the night if you want to enjoy a leisurely trip. The drive itself is beautiful, a journey along the lush scenery of the Prey Preas River.  Villagers in this area specialize in meals that include crickets, spiders, and frogs as well as sticky rice. The Sambo Prei Kuh temples were the second capital of the Khmer Empire and were built in the 7th Century by King Isanvarman I. Visiting Sambo Prei Kuk can be included in visiting Kampong Thom City of Kampong Thom province     Preah Khan Kompong Svay or Bakan Svay Rolay, there are few historical data about Preah Khan Kompong Svay. French scholars argued it had been founded in XI century, probably by Suryavarman I. It was a royal residence during the kingdom of Suryavarman II and even Jayavarman VII lived here, before recapturing the capital city of Yasodharapura from invading Chams in 1181, and improved the complex. It's about 170km from Siem Reap city and driving is very scenic, winding through farms and poor hamlets of Khmer, many of whom have never travelled outside of their small communities or to a city. Visitors must travel from Siem Reap by Car.     Banteay ChhmarTemples is located in Banteay Meanchey Province and about 20 km east of the Thai border and was constructed during the reign of Jayavarman VII in the late 12th or early 13th century. One of the temple's shrines once held an image of Srindrakumara rajaputra (the crown prince), probably a son of Jayavarman VII. The long Old Khmer inscription found at the site (K.227), and now on display in the National Museum, Phnom Penh, relates how this prince or a king (samtac) was protected on two different occasions by four royal servants, all of whom lost their lives in his defense. The inscription lists the names of these officials and informs us that their respective images were once placed in the four corners of the shrine.

 

"Koh Pich Koh Kmorch Koh Teuk Pnaek Khmer" a Poem in Khmer by Heng Thal Savuth

Cambodian Tragedy in Comparative Term

The Strongman shedding crocodile tears? (Photo: AP)

For the very first time that the entire world and the Cambodian public at large got to witness a Cambodian Prime Minister cried – something they’re rarely used to seeing on screen, given his past combative speeches and authoritarian style. I’ve got to give it to the man. He gave one of the finest theatrical shows I have ever seen - weeping and looking sad as best as he can be. But, NOT when he evicted Khmers from their lands; put Khmer farmers in jail; ordered his men to launch a couple grenades against political opposition march, lining up people to shoot as a result of his 1997 coup d’état. He was not crying when he sent capable men on K5 plan to be killed or limped. NO

Unfortunately when we are talking about our Cambodia, this is not the first tragedy or policy failure and it won’t be the last, either, that we are going to see from this government, going forward. There have been too many policy failures in the past and present leading up to the future. Time will tell if the true believers of the Hun’s regime, and possibly dynasty, will learn something meaningful at the end; for a nation built on shaky foundations where the culture of impunity, corruption and feudalistic behaviour are accepted as the norms at the expenses of the mass - the poor and the very least educated farmers. More land evictions are on the horizon, watch my word, people.

It is truly refreshing, yet not surprising to see Cambodian come out in large numbers to offer money and condolences to the victims and surviving families. In comparative analysis, it makes you wondered, what about other tragedies? Take land eviction as a prime example where entire villages are affected or the beating, killing of democratic activists, union leader, singers etc..? The story of Mr. Soung Sophorn is relatively fresh. Isn’t it a tragedy as well?. He was beaten up pretty badly and unprovoked at best – something could have been easily avoided. The Cambodian polices were better trained to hurt Khmers, protect Youn’s encroached farmer’s lands than to save real Cambodian lives. How sad!

My 2-cent engineering perspective on the Pich Bridge tragedy

Koh Pich suspension bridge (Photo; AFP/Xinhua)

In view of the recent tragedy on Koh Pich Bridge where several hundreds of our compatriots died and were seriously injured, I would like to provide below, my personal perspective as a Civil engineer in this regards. While my specialty is not in Structural engineering, but rather in Geotechnical engineering, i.e. a specialty related to foundation engineering etc, I will strive to explain as best as I can, in laymen terms, the various aspects of bridge construction, and in particular the suspension bridge type that is used for Pich Bridge linking mainland to Koh Pich Island, and I will also provide my 2-cent input on the various aspects any investigation should consider.

The most basic method of constructing a bridge can be seen in the illustration above. First several piers are constructed as support for the bridge, next a bridge deck is placed in between two piers to provide a platform on which traffic can move over the bridge. In general, guard rails will be constructed next to prevent vehicles and foot passengers from falling off the bridge. While in concept, this construction method appears quite simple, the reality is not so. For one thing, if the spacing between two consecutive piers is very wide, then the bridge deck need to be designed thicker or more rigid so that when traffic moves over the bridge, there would be not too much vertical deflection (see black arrow in the illustration above).

Opinion on the Koh Pich Tragedy by Anonymous

Spean Khmoch - Bridge of Death: Poem in Khmer by Srey Sra'em

Click to Read More...

Who’s responsible for the Koh Pich accident?

Who's responsible: Maybe you are looking at him right now? (Photo: AP)

28 Nov. 2010
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Government officials indicated on 27 Nov that, up to now, the tally of the number of dead and injured people inside the hospitals shows that there are 347 deceased and 395 injured. This number is lower than a previous tally which put the total number of dead and injured to almost 1,000.

While the mourning is taking place, the public, both from inside Cambodia and from overseas, demand that an investigation be conducted to find the reasons and those responsible for this accident that caused so many deaths.

Long Beach mourns Cambodians lost in holiday stampede

11-27-10 - Savy Pan of Long Beach says a prayer during a prayer an candle light ceremony for the victims of the tragedy at the Water Festival in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Stephen Carr / Press-Telegram)

11-27-10 - Melissa Suos, 9, and her sister Melinda,4, make a donation for the victims in this week's tragedy at the Water Festival in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Members of the Cambodian American Business Association and other civic organizations held a fundraiser and memorial Saturday at MacArthur Park, 1321 E. Anaheim St. (Stephen Carr / Press-Telegram)

Vigil kicks off fund-raising drive for survivors families of lost.

11/27/2010
By Kristopher Hanson, Staff writer
Long Beach Press Telegram

LONG BEACH — Dozens of mourners gathered here Saturday to remember and raise funds for nearly 800 people killed or injured Nov. 22 in a panic-induced stampede during a national holiday in Cambodia.

The memorial and candlelight vigil drew people from across the Southern California to the heart of Cambodia's largest expatriate community, centered on East Anaheim Street in Central Long Beach.

The vigil, organized by the Cambodian American Business Association and other civic groups, launched a fund-raising drive to assist the injured and help the families of those killed.

Relief organizations say at least 395 were hurt and 347 killed.

Seven members of same family jump into river to escape bridge stampede

A 19-year-old ‘hero’ helps to save six other members of his family as they jump from the crush on the diamond bridge into the river below. Malin Dim coordinates his cousins escape from the stampede.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 27/11/2010.

Demotix

A 19-year-old ‘hero’ helps to save six other members of his family as they jump from the crush on the diamond bridge into the river below.

Malin Dim and six cousins set off on the 30 km, dusty and rutted road from their village – Pokrusey Kandal- in the Khsach Kandal district, Kandal Province of Cambodia to travel to Phnom Penh to celebrate the last 2 days of the water festival there.

On Monday evening the cousins, four boys and three girls namely: Malin Dim, 19, Nita Chhan 15, Chanta Sieng 16, Sihorn Heng 17, Namehhiv Yong 14, Hourlong Seng 16, and the youngest Sokhorn Houy who is just 13-years-old, held each others shoulders, with the youngest first they formed a line and pressed onto the crowded metal bridge linking the island to Phnom Penh. [The sequence of portrait images on the slideshow is in the same order as the above name call.]

“For the first few metres we were ok,” says Sihorn and then: “groups meet in the middle of the bridge and make a stampede. I was very afraid then.”

Witness account of the Koh Pich tragedy

Description - Khmer Inn Angkor

We are a small family run hostel offering large , airy, comfortable rooms with hot showers,cold shower , fan or air-con, cable TV, mini-refrigerators and in room Wi-Fi access. budget -travelers . Adventure .Explore and Long stay Discount .Mail to us .

Our simple café offers daily breakfast, lunch or dinner. We also have a good selection of books available in the book exchange.

KR leaders evacuated out of … their cells to safer ground

Phnom Penh evacuation in April 1975

Writing to express and tell the world

Opinion by Phiny Ung

It’s an honour for me that KI Media has reposted my favourite writing to express the love and loyalty towards my mother land SROK KHMER under the title ”Samnawk Meada or Mother’s lament” . Not just with my piece of writing, but with most sensitive articles in relation to human rights abuses, I’ve learnt so much from the bloggers’ comments on both, positive and negatives responses. I read all comments with great interest, equally on the positives and negatives, by trying to understand individual expression on personal interest and reflection, the objective or subjective inputs to the issues are being debated. And I do believe many readers of this blog would do the same as me. As the blog has served the Khmer community all over the world, every piece of contribution has become an instrumental for self expression and reflection.

Hanoi forces Khmer Krom Huynh Ba’s family to speak Viet in jail

On 19 March 2010, Mr. Huynh Ba was sentenced to 2-year in jail although he already spent one year behind bar prior to the sentencing. His crime: Demanding Hanoi to return back his ancestral land he owned.

PM Hun Sen denies Thai report on offering military training

Xinhua

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen denied Wednesday that his country had offered any military training to Thai civilians.

Delivering a speech to graduate students in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen made a public denial and instead he assured that Cambodia has obligation "to fight against terrorism" and Cambodia has no interest in interfering into the "internal affairs of Thailand".

Angkor wat khmer temple in Cambodia

 

Among the Khmer Ghosts

The city used to be referred to as “the Pearl of Asia” in times gone by, and it has a long history as bloody as it is rich in heritage. When I visited in 2008, I recall noticing the broken spirit of the people, the many amputees, poor children and cramped housing as well as the distinctive stench of a major city that lacks infrastructure. Before you even hear the stories,
see the pictures or visit the scenes of the most atrocious human behaviour, you can sense that there is something troubling the inhabitants of Phnom Penh. It was when I took a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng

Angkor Wat and the Khmer Dancers

Apsara Dancer, Angkor Wat

After a quick shower at the hotel, we decided to check out the market down the street. Across the dusty dirt road and down about a block, we found the open air market. Dozens of merchant stalls sat under a large tent. The whole market was no bigger than a small city block. Fish mongers displayed their products in piles (not as if they had to, the smell was advertisement enough). We walked under the tent and into the maze of stalls. Many of the merchants rested in hammocks. One young merchant fell asleep on a glass cabinet full of watches. A woman sat at a cloth stand and rocked an infant in a hammock. Women sold miniature figures of the Bayon heads, wood carvings of the Angkor sites, paintings of Angkor Wat, charcoal rubbings of the bas reliefs. An elderly book

History of Cambodia

The Khmer or Angkor Civilization came into existence during the period from 802  to 1431 A.D. and stretched as far as the modern Thailand-Burma Border in the West and Wat Phou of Laos in the North during its peak.

Its emergence lies in the fact that the ancient Khmer rulers adopted a right political doctrine of its time, which enforce the unity among people. Moreover, they had developed an intelligent irrigation system to control the water of the great Mekong River for agricultures, which enhanced its prosperity.  The Khmer Civilization had long been perished over 5 centuries ago, but it left outstanding monuments such as the great Khmer temples of Angkor Wat and Bayon and numerous unique sculptures like Apsara.

Angkor Wat (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

Giant Bayon faces dwarf a monk and a foreign tourist (Photo by Ko Ko Aung)

Mixed among the spread of paddy fields and plants Angkorian era temples and monuments - signs of architecture, arts, cultures, religions and civilization as well as inter state relationship of the bygone past - are ones of Cambodia's most visited tourist spots.

Influenced by various cultures and religions such as Indian, Khmer, Hindu and Buddhism these temple complexes were built roughly between 9th and 13th century AD. Most structures are in the state of ruins and under some kinds of restoration; and are one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

Temples and wats of Angkorian architecture are also found in southern Laos, eastern and nort-eastern Thailand, and as far as Kanchanaburi in western Thailand.