The Ponhea Yat stupa at Wat Phnom

Ponhea Yat was the last ruler of the Khmer empire and the first king ruling the kingdom of Kampuchea/Cambodia from Phnom Penh.

The old Khmer capital in Angkor Thom was abanded in 1431 CE. The smaller kingdom needed an easier defendable city, closer to trade routes and waterways. This new Cambodian Kingdom was a Buddhist kingdom and the Hindu god king status disappeared with the Empire.

City of many names
After Ponhea Yat had completed the new royal palace, he gave the new capital the short name Krong Chaktomuk Serei Mongkol, ‘City of the Brahma’s Faces’. It refers to the four rivers that meets and flows in the capital area.

The full name of the kings capital was “Krong Chaktomuk Mongkol Sakal Kampuchea Thipadei Serei Theakreak Bavar Intabat Borei Roat Reach Seima Moha Nokor”. That is translated loosely to “The place of four rivers that gives the happiness and success of Khmer Kingdom, the highest leader as well as impregnable city of the God Indra of the great kingdom”

Several stupas
The main large and lesser smaller stupas contains the remains of the king and members of his royal family. His remains are kept prominently in this stupa behind the main pagoda in Wat Phnom. This is the central, artificial sacred hill on the southwest riverside of Tonlé Sap being the namesake and origin of the capital city.

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A bad frog day: Trade my pet for your camera, sir?

This young gentleman follow me around while I was visiting Preah Ko in Roluos the first time. After figuring out I was friendly, and being fascinated by my camera, he was offering a trade.

I had much more need of my camera than a highly annoyed frog, so I declined. He wasn’t that pleased, but his mom come over, preventing a possible meltdown.

Sometimes the care and maintenance crew from the Apsara authority bring their kids to work at the Angkor sites. Earlier it was common to use this as an opportunity to learn some English for the children, but instances of begging and worse has reduced this kind of contact in several of the sites.

Maintenance of the first temple
Preah Ko was the first Royal temple in the first larger Angkor capital Hariharalaya, appx 20 kilometre south-east of the more famous Angkor Thom city and Angkor Wat temple. The “bull temple” was honouring the Hindu deity Shiva, and was consecrated in 879 CE.

Three kneeling bull statues are in front of the main five buildings, and Ko/Go is a Khmer word for bull. Funny enough, “Ko” is the Danish word for cow, in Norwegian the word is “ku”. Making it easy for northerners to remember the name of this six tower temple.

For anyone interesting in parallel historic timelines, 878 CE was the year of the first unification of the kingdom of Norway under one king. This was the first kingdom in what would become the three kingdoms of Scandinavia today. Denmark got unified in 935, and Sweden a couple hundred years later.


#hariharalaya #roluosgroup #temple #Roluos #Group #Roluos #រលួស #2011CE #879CE #angkor #angkorpark #angkorwat #annoyedanimals #architecture #Cambodia #oldcapitalcity #Empire #entrepreneurship #frog #hariharalaya #hinduism #Kampuchea #khmer #khmerboy #lolei #portrait #roadtrip #rolousgroup #SiemReap #Province #trade #visitsiemreap #visitcambodia #cameratrade #Nikon #NikonD300 #Nikkor #Nikkor24mm #worldculturalheritage #cultural #heritage

When your home is a temple

Some of the temples you see in Cambodia are marvels of intrinsic details, but sometimes the cohabitants are, too. Like this one at Phnom Sampov/Phnom Sampeau near Battambang.

The monkeys at most of these temple sites around Asia are peaceful, knowing they are safe and have access to food and water. But they are also nosy and cheeky, and any seasoned traveller know to keep their belongings, food and water well contained or hidden around these rascals.

No feeding or fighting
Even if they are small, they are strong and have sharp teeth. So there is no use try picking a fight.

And never, ever feed the monkeys. It reduces their ability to hunt and gather their own food, leading to malnutrition and they become more aggressive in close contact with humans.

Small gene pools
Another challenge for these monkeys are the limited numbers of members in each family group in each temple. That is causing some problems with inbreeding due to small gene pools.

We are talking severe Habsburger jaw and bulbous lips, to use a European reference to tragedy and disaster when science is absent. I have observed this inbreeding problem to become lesser over the last few years in Cambodia, as the caretaking of these cultural heritage sites improves. Including for the animals.

But the monkeys also ad personality and scale to these photos. So I would miss having them around, if they where to disappear.


#battambang #batcave #PhnomSampeou #watsampeou #stupas #temple #gold #bluesky #roadtrip #countryside #2019CE #Angkor #architecture #art #Battambang #bluesky #Buddhism #Cambodia #gallery #gold #Hinduism #Kampuchea #khmer #Nikkor #Nikon #Phnom #Sampeou #siemreap #sightseeing #southeast #asia #southeastasia #stupas #KR #deathcaves #tragedy #temple #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #watsampeou #PhnomSampov #ឡូរីជើងភ្នំបាណន់ #green #guardian #hill #macaque #macaquemonkey #nature #Pagoda #PhnomSampeau #PhnomSompov #visitbattambang

The midway surprise Prasat Rorng Ramong

An early morning at Prasat Rorng Ramong. This small temple remain alone off the main road between Angkor Wat and the south moat of Angkor Thom. Enclosed by a narrow road and mostly hidden by trees. It may look insignificant and small, but it is larger than the entry track suggest. And well worth a closer look.

The temple has many names. Prasat Rorng Ramong, Rong Lmong, ប្រាសាទរោងរមុង and Rung Lmong. It is a Hindu temple not far from the entrance to the hill temple Phnom Bakheng.

It is built in the same style as Phnom Bakheng temple, with one tower foundation and walls in good condition, remains of a second tower but no traces of what was probably a third tower.

A small laterite causeway leads eastwards from the main remains. There are reported traces of a small moat around the temple, but it is dried out and most traces of it has disappeared.

A glimpse of the early, old capital
Rorng Ramong was built during the reign of Yasovarman I, the great king that moved the Khmer imperial capital from Hariharalaya. The god king/emperor founded the Yaśodharapura capital city near today’s Nokor Thom/Angkor Thom. This third Khmer imperial capital was centred on Bakheng Hill, in the early 900s CE.

This temple is significant because it gives a good idea of how these early temples was planned and build into the city structure.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2025/05/15/the-midway-surprise-prasat-rorng-ramong/

#ancientangkor #angkorwat #architecture #archive #art #Asia #ប្រាសាទ#រោងរមុង #biking #bikingintheangkorwonderland #bluesky #buddhism #Cambodia #khmercapitalcity #citylife #countryside #daytrip #Empire #greentourism #hinduism #history #imperial #Kampuchea #khmer #khmerempire #life #Pagoda #PrasatRamong #Prasat #RongLmong #PrasatRorng #Siem #Reab #SiemReap #site #siemreap #southeastasia #temple #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #worldculturalheritage

Smoking good Khmer BBQ street food

When you want to buy street food in Asia, you will not lack choices.

Like chicken, quail, sausage, pork, pineapple from this happy chef.

Trick is to follow a local chef and her fav street food joint. Or – the joint with the longest queue.

And your nose, of course.

You can feed yourself well and have left overs for lunch the next day for 5 USD. Or take away for when to visit Khmer friends for drinks and talks, a meal for a large group or family is around 10 USD.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2021/04/28/smoking-good-street-food-when-you-want-to-buy/


#2018CE #ancient #Angkor #angkorfood #chive #art #BBQ #Buddhism #Cambodia #life #countryside #day #trip #eating #Empire #foodie #greentourism #history #imperial #Kampuchea #Khmer #ladyfingers #squid #shrimps #crayfish #shellfish #localfood #Nikkor #Nikon #Pagoda #prawn #seafood #SiemReab #siemreap #southeastasia #stuengthmeyvillage #SvayDangkum #Commune #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #worldculturalheritage #food #foodie

An evening with comfort Khmer seafood BBQ

Who says things need to be complicated when produce has high quality?

Tiger shrimps, squids and veggies on the BBQ, freshly steamed local rice and one of M’me Khmer chefs own, home made dipping sauces.

And a beer.

That is great eating and comfort food and drinks. A great Saturday in Siem Reap, Cambodia.


For seafood lovers
Cambodia is a great country for seafood lovers. Or, I think the technical term is aquatic based protein.

In a typical, classical Khmer diet around 60 percent of the protein are shellfish and crayfish from river, lake or sea. All important part of Cambodias geography. Ad some fresh vegetables, and home made dipping sauces mixing salt, sweet, spicy, and umami flavours.

And flavourful steamed Khmer rice.

The Forbes Magazine recently advised people loving good food and unique experiences to travel to Cambodia. For the special cuisine with great flavours and no long queues.


https://www.forbes.com/sites/vickysmith/2026/01/16/visit-this-underrated-country-for-great-southeast-asian-food-without-the-crowds/


#2018CE #ancient #Angkor #angkorfood #chive #art #BBQ #Buddhism #Cambodia #life #countryside #day #trip #eating #Empire #foodie #greentourism #history #imperial #Kampuchea #Khmer #ladyfingers #squid #shrimps #crayfish #shellfish #localfood #Nikkor #Nikon #Pagoda #prawn #seafood #SiemReab #siemreap #southeastasia #stuengthmeyvillage #SvayDangkum #Commune #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #worldculturalheritage #food #foodie

The white Phnom Bros pagoda

Between Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom in central Cambodia there is an interesting twin pagoda complex. It is very discreetly placed on the north side of the shortcut road between National Road 6 and National Road 7.

These two sites is situated peacefully on top of a lower hill and a taller hill with a view to rice paddocks and forest.

They are called Phnom Bros and Phnom Srey, or Men Hill and Women Hill.

The Men Hill is the lowest hill, and have the largest pagoda, a large protector statue and a monastery. It is easy available by car, too.

One kilometre to the north is a taller hill, the women hill with a smaller pagoda and some shrines.

The story related to these sites explains why the woman and her family are the one who finally decides on a proposal in Khmer culture.

Reasons for visit

The Phnom Bros is interesting not only for the temple buildings and monastery. It also includes a bunch of monkeys, cheeky, naughty and hungry macaques, and there are some cat families charming the visitors.

You will find some small stalls selling street food, and drinks. And there are some monks. Sometime the youngest of them would like to practice their English on visitors.

After been introduced to the origin story of the two temples, you may want to visit the Phnom Srey.


#2019CE #architecture #art #Asia #blue #bluesy #buddhism #Cambodia #Cat #catlover #Cats #citylife #countryside #culture #ilovecats #Kambodsja #Cambodia #kampongcham #kampongthom #Kampuchea #khmer #khmerwomen #market #men #monkey #Pagoda #Phnom #Bros #roadtrip #visitsiemreap #temple #white #visitcambodia #tradition #culture #engagement #wedding #stupa #naga #lion

Girls’ night out

The Royal Square in Phnom Penh, between the Royal Palace and the riverside where the rivers Tonle Sap and Mekong meet, are among the nicest public areas in the Cambodian Capital.

The area is ordinarily bustling with people, both locals and tourists from early morning. In the late afternoon/early evening families arrive for picnic, and later in the evening young people join for meals, drinks and friendly activities.

Late arrivals
Many of them arrives after the ordinary shops and daytime cafes are closed.

Like this group of Khmer ladies in their late teens having a late evening picnic at a nearly empty square.

When you have one of those soft, velvet dark blue nights it becomes a nice ending of a day visiting the capital city.

Top travel goal for 2026
Both in 2025 and for the upcoming 2026 Phnom Penh has been recommended as one of the ten hottest cities to visit in Asia.
Latest this recommendation comes from BBC in London.
The recommendations comes from Phnom Penhs combination of history, culture and architecture from the ‘Pearl of Asia’ period. And the modern vibrant metropolitan capital city of a nation in rapid economic and cultural development.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20251209-the-20-best-places-to-travel-in-2026

#nightphotoshoot #phnompenh #Cambodia #Kampuchea #khmerwomen #royalpalacepark #girlsnightout #dinner #picnic #SamdachSothearosBlvd #RoyalPalace #Royal #Palace #Square #Phnom #Penh #capital #2019CE #architecture #art #ទន្លេសាប #bluesky #Buddhism #capital #capitalcity #central #temple #citylife #DaunPenh #daytrip #history #imperial #Kampuchea #khmer #khmergirl #King #Ponhea #YatKrong #Chaktomok #Mongkol #Mekongriver #Mekong #river #system #mighty #rivers #moderncapital #nightphotoshoot #pearl #of #Asia #people #roadtrip #park #site #stately #building #statetemple #supreme #court #Tônlé #Sab #temple #tonlé #sap #TonléSapriver #tonlesap #transport

Liquid gold poured by a warm sunset

People loving scenic sunsets will enjoy every evening in Siem Reap, Cambodia, too. And they will have a new spot every afternoon. These spots are both inside and outside Angkor Arhcaeological Park. And when taking in the sunset experience, you can eat well and enjoy refreshments from stalls nearby.

This shot was taken near the West Baray, បារាយណ៍ខាងលិច, the gigantic manmade water reservoir from the middle of the Khmer Angkor imperial era. Nearly 900 years after its completion it still plays a vital role in water and flood management for the Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap city and the surrounding farmland.

The West Baray are used by locals and visitors alike, for leisure, bathing, boating, fishing and visit to the West Mebon temple on the artificial island in the Baray.

Built for the ages
Measuring appx 7.8 times 2.1-kilometre, West Baray is not a dugout. It is built with human made earthen dikes, with a height of 11,9 meters. The maximum capacity is 53 million m³ water. These 53 billion litres equal 14 billion gallons of water in medieval measurements.

It was finished appx 1066 CE, the same year England was conquered by the Norse rulers of Normandy.

West Baray is 12 kilometres from Central Siem Reap, mostly on flat, well-maintained roads. Easy to get to by tuktuk or car, or a nice, brisk bike ride morning or afternoon.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2024/09/01/golden-sunset-near-west-mebon/

#Angkor #ancient #art #architecture #sculpture #archive #worldculturalheritage #hinduism #khmer #empire #buddhism #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #greentourism #biking #sunset #sunsettrip #sunsetexperience #Cambodia #Kampuchea #southeastasia #westmebon #sunrise #westbaray #sightseeing #Water #reservoir #khmer #archive #architecture #siemreap #hydraulics #city #empire #visitcambodia #takeonlyphotos #leaveonlyfootprints 🎶🎶 #bikingintheangkorwonderland 🎶🎶