Mastodawn

Morning gold

That time biking into a warm sunrise, leaving the morning chill of the forest in Angkor Park behind.

The bike/walking tracks in Angkor Park gives a great opportunity to get to see a more undisturbed part of the cultural landscape. With fauna and flora really worth enjoying and exploring.

Biking in the morning has the added benefit of less heat and less crowds.

Seeing the great architecture, and nature, from angels not so often shared on Internet makes these rides special.

The tracks are best explored using a mountain bike, being challenging enough in curvature, elevation and structure to make it really fun with a proper bike.

There are guided trips and group biking tours offered for visitors who want to share the experience. And save some time avoiding the truly demanding tracks or dead ends.

#eastmebon #angkor #siemreap #angkortemples #angkorpark #worldculturalheritage #nature #forest #bike #sunrise 🎶🎶#bikingintheangkorwonderland 🎶🎶 #archive #visitsiemreap #cambodia #kingdomofwonder #prasat #pre #rup #prerub #srahsrang #grandcircle #visitcambodia

AskDRZ in Asia 5d ago

The triple hidden tower temple

Bat Chum is an "off the main track"-temple worth visiting.

One unique aspect of this temple is that the architect is known by name.

Bat Chum was supervised by the architect, minister and guru Kavindrarimathana to King Rajendravarman II approximately 952CE.

Another unique aspect, it was built as Mahayana Buddhist Temple when the Khmer Empire still had Hinduism as state religion.

#prasatbatchum #visitcambodia #bikingintheAngkorWonderland #visitsiemreap #AOTBT

AskDRZ in Asia Apr 9

Take a Rolls Royce to Angkor

Exploring on a bike is my primary style of visiting Angkor Archaeological Park. This beautiful Rolls Royce had brought a nice, elderly couple for their dream trip to Angkor for a long time.

I can understand that urge.

There are several companies renting out sporty and/or vintage cars for people looking for that special travel experience in Siem Reap. Or planning a very special event.

#westgate #angkor #kingdomofwonder #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #rollsroyce

Dag-Rune Z Apr 6

A day at the aqua fish farm ponds

Inland aquafarms is one of the newer entrepreneurial efforts to use the land and water resources in Cambodia. The goal is to extend access to aqua based protein and quality farmed fish.

Classic Khmer food resource
Fish and seafood are the main sources of animal protein in classic Khmer cuisine. Access to an everlasting supply of fish, crayfish and shellfish was traditionally coming from the large waterways. The Mekong river complex, the Tonlé Sap and Tonlé Sap river and the coastal regions.

Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. And among the richest and biological most diverse sources for water based protein and other food produce in the world.

A source for an empire
With regional pressure and increasingly utilisation of these resources, modern technology like aquafarming is a way of keeping the flow of traditional food and nutrients at an acceptable level.

The nutritional benefits of eating a lot of fish and crayfish/shellfish is well known for health and human development. And there should be no surprises in an empire fed by healthy food, should be able to build art and architecture for the ages. Leaving a unique world cultural heritage for us all.

In addition to rich flavours and quality of produce, there are several good healthy reasons to enjoy Cambodian food. And drinks.

#2018CE #ancient #angkor #aqua #aquafarm #architecture #art #ទន្លេសាប#biking #bluesky #buddhism #Cambodia #citylife #countryside #dinner #fish #fishing #aquafood #food #khmerfood #drinks #khmerdrinks #greentourism #healthyfood #hinduism #khmer #kingdomofwonder #ក្រុងសៀមរាប #ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រ#កម្ពុជា #lake #tonlesap #Mekongriver #Mekong #people #roadtrip #seafood #SiemReap #siemreab #siemreap #TônléSab #TonléSap #TonleSap #usaid #village #villagelife #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap

AskDRZ in Asia Apr 5

The midway surprise Prasat Rorng Ramong

This small temple is by the main road between Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.

A glimpse from 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.

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

#angkorwat #PrasatRamong #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #worldculturalheritage

Dag-Rune Z Apr 3

That soft colourful sunrise over West Baray

Baray Teuk Thla/បារាយណ៍ទឹកថ្លា is the largest manmade water reservoir in Siem Reap, made during the Angkor Khmer empire.

This baray measures 2,1 x 7,8 kilometers and are secured by 12 meter tall earthen dikes. At maximum filling it contains 53 million m³ / 53 billion liters of water.

Almost a thousand years after being built, it is still one of the largest manmade water reservoirs on earth.

This photo is taken from the site of Prasat Ak Yum, អកយំ. It is a very ancient temple in the larger Angkor Archeological area. It is situated west on the south bank of West Baray. Parts of the temple area are covered by and probably got partly destroyed by the building of the giant water reservoir in the late 1000s CE.

Ak Yum temple is considered the oldest surviving example of a temple mountain in Southeast Asia, dating back to 674 CE. There are some speculations that Ak Yum was part of the last capital city before the Khmer Empire was established, the lost city of Banteau Choeu. This city was built as part of the transition to Khmer Empire from the Chenla Kingdom originally centered around Sambo Prey Kouk near Kampong Thom today.

#westmebon #អកយំ #sunset #westbaray #barayteukthla #បារាយណ៍ទឹកថ្លា #Water #reservoir #khmer #archive #architecture #art #engineering #hydraulics #city #empire #marvels #visitcambodia
🎶🎶 #bikingintheangkorwonderland 🎶🎶

AskDRZ in Asia Mar 26

Greetings from Granny Sampov

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

Somehow she reminds me of certain family. Namely the ones who always wonders why younger family members haven’t moved back, and why they’re not married yet. With an added advice to settle down and start a proper family.

Phnom Sampov are known for its bat cave. But there is much more to see.

#battambang #batcave #PhnomSampov #granny #visitcambodia #macaque

Dag-Rune Z Mar 25

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.

#angkor #art #bengmealea #Buddhism #Cambodia #citylife #countryside #daytrip #girl #redruby #goldring #siemreap #2011ce #temple #worldheritage #ankorwat #khmergirl #nikon #greenseason #tourism #hinduism #history #khmer #child #Kulen #Mountain #KulenMountain #Lychee #LycheeMountain #Nikon #PhnomKulen #portrait #rain #shelter #jewellery #Siem #Reab #Reap #visitsiemreap #southeastasia #visitcambodia #worldculturalheritage

Dag-Rune Z Mar 23

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.

#2011CE #ancient #angkor #apsara #archive #art #buddhism #Cambodia #citylife #costume #culturalheritage #dance #demigod #Empiregod #hanuman #Hinduism #Khmer #monkey #nationalepic #nymphs #reamker #Siem #Reab #siemreap #southeast #asia #southeastasia #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #worldculturalheritage #world #intangiblecultural #heritage #royalballet #ramayana #veda

AskDRZ in Asia Mar 22

A ladybird beetle for big luck

This large ladybird beetle was a visitor next to me enjoying morning coffee. A forecast of a lucky day. Heading out to visit the Angkor Archaeological Park is always a happy experience.

TM: Biodiversity
There are 15 registered variants of Ladybug or Ladybird beetles in Cambodia. Probably there are many more.

When it comes to biodiversity, Cambodia is a well known hotspot in SEA.

#coccinellidae #goodluck #Harmonia #axyridis #visitcambodia #Ladybug #visitsiemreap