Girl with the red ruby ring

Beng Mealea is one of the temples that take some time to visit. It is an hours drive outside Siem Reap city on the way to Kulen Mountain.

The Lotus Pond Temple, Prasat Beng Mealea, was build around the same time as Angkor Wat, but nearly seventy kilometres away. It is near the sacred Kulen Mountain. It is a large temple, and the last few years it has been heavily renovated. The accessibility both to the temple itself and inside it has been upgraded as well.

Refreshing green season
We where a group of visitors seeking shelter for a sudden downpour. Visiting Cambodia in green season means some short downpours morning or afternoon. And this was morning mid-September.

A small bridge-like shelter over a small river leading into a small lake was suddenly filled up. By visitors in different levels of soaked. And their guides. And some locals from the stalls selling food and drinks nearby.

We were all under visual scrutiny by this local girl.

Whether it was the general appearance of slightly soaked foreigners, or the typical curiosity Khmer children often have, is a mystery. But she did a perfect pose for a portrait.

Potential World Heritage
The Lotus Pond Temple was added to the list of tentative World Heritage Sites in 2020.

To visit Beng Mealea you need a separate ticket if you do not have the Angkor main pass. A daytrip here will often include a visit to Phnom Kulen, the river, waterfall and the Reclining Buddha, and highly recommended the beautiful temple Banteay Srei.

And meeting some nice locals.


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Not to be judged by appearance

Khmer Classical Dance is intriguing and fascinating. From encountering it first time 15 years ago it really triggered my interest for the rich variety and historical longevity of the Khmer. Over 2000 year of cultural history, that is.

UNESCO added Khmer Classical Dance to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 2003, and reaffirmed the listing in 2008.

Informally the dance style is referred to as Apsara Dance. It is named after the female nymphs playing an absolute central role in the stories told in the dance. Apsara dance refers both to a specific dance piece performed by the Royal Ballet of Cambodia. But any dance developed and inspired by the dancing style including the costumes are referred to as Apsara dance.

The curious, clumsy monkey god
Hanuman is a monkey deity, or demigod, with roots in early Veda culture. His importance grow in the first millennia CE, and he is a central protecting spirit in Khmer history and culture from the Angkor era. Hanumans disfigured face is due to an accident as a young, curious child. He tried to eat the sun.

The symbolism of not judging anyone by their appearance, but by their actions, is not to be missed.

Reamker is the Cambodian national epic poem, based on the older classic Ramayana from Hinduism and Veda writings. But Reamker is adapted to Khmer cultural history and to Buddhism.

The story of Hanuman and the relations to the Apsara nymphs plays a much larger role in Reamker than in Ramayana. The Apsara structure and gracefulness needs a rougher contrast, Hanuman is perfect.


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Greetings from Granny Sampov

Somehow this elderly lady reminds me of some certain members of my family. Namely the ones who always wonders why younger family members haven’t called lately, and why they’re not married yet. With an added advice to settle down and start a proper family.

Met this not easily impressed lady macaque in the temple complex on top of Phnom Sampov, outside Battambang.

More than bat caves
These hills are well known for its bat cave and sunset departure of hundred of thousands of bats for the night hunt. But there is much more to the “ship mountain” Phnom Sampeau/Sampov than bats. There are several sites in the hills worth a visit.

Two larger monasteries with pagodas and stupas, monkeys and large caves are worth visiting both for cave fans and people of all parts of Cambodian history. The caves on this and the other small mountain hills in this cluster carry with it stories of tradition, happiness and deep tragedy.

It is worth spending some time walking these hills. For the well fit, there is an opportunity to trek the stairs and tracks up the hill. The fast alternative is to pay a driver to take you up to the sites by car.

Phnom Sampov is north-west of Battambang city in the west of Cambodia. It takes about 30-40 minutes by car to get there from the city.

Do not feed the monkeys
The monkeys are a part of the pagoda experience. These longtail Macaques are normally very friendly because they expect to get, or steal, food or items for play from the visitors.

Please, do not feed the monkeys. It reduces their ability to hunt and gather their own food. It may lead to malnutrition.

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Now, that is a ladybird beetle with an attitude

This large ladybird beetle was a visitor on the plant next to me enjoying morning coffee in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

I consider such visits as a forecast of a lucky day. Well, I was in Siem Reap, heading out to visit the Angkor Archaeological Park. That is always a happy experience.

Lucky biodiversity
There are 15 registered variants of Ladybug or Ladybird beetles in Cambodia. Probably there are many more. Neighbouring Viet Nam has 220 variations of Ladybugs registered so far. And the nature, flora and fauna of those two countries are equally rich and exciting.

When it comes to biodiversity, Cambodia is a well known hotspot in Southeast Asia. And there are still discoveries to be made.

Like in most of the world, these Ladybugs are considered to be a sign of good luck here too.

Natural pest control
Unless of course you are one of the insects lady bugs like to feed upon, as they are natural pest control animals. Aphids, scales, mealy bugs, white flies, mites and thrips which often is a threat to flora and micro fauna can be effectively controlled and kept at an acceptable level when lady bugs are taking action.

They are an amazingly effective natural way of handling and reducing the threats from pests.

The family Coccinellidae is a large family of lady beetles. Globally there are 6 000 variants divided into 360 under groups.

And this one was on the larger side.


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