Mastodawn

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.

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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 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

AskDRZ in Asia Mar 24

Late sunset dinner and snacks

Phnom Krom is one of three main hills framing the core parts of the Angkor former imperial capital.

Along the dwindling road leading up to the hill top, these small motorbike sales shops are abundant, selling food, drinks, snacks, picnic mats.

The customers are local khmer and visitors who enjoy dinner or snacks while watching the sunset over Tonle Sap lake.

And socialising, of course.

#phnomkrom #visitsiemreap #cambodia #sunset #tonlesap

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

Dag-Rune Z Mar 20

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.

#battambang #batcave #PhnomSampeou #oldlady #khmermother #granny #temple #bluesky #roadtrip #countryside #2019CE #architecture #art #Buddhism #Cambodia #Hinduism #khmer #Nikkor #Nikon #southeast #asia #southeastasia #stupas #KR #deathcaves #tragedy #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #watsampeou #PhnomSampov #macaque #macaquemonkey #Pagoda #PhnomSampeau #visitbattambang

AskDRZ in Asia Mar 19

Colourful food in the making

Along the small inlets and between the rice fields along Siem Reap river down to Phnom Krom and the Tonle Sap lake, some local restaurateurs build these small huts on stilts in the background.

A family or travel party can order food and drinks, and relax in the shadow of the hut with a view to this tranquil landscape.

And the food and drinks are locally sourced and of high quality. With choices.

#Cambodia #Khmer #food #delicious #offthebeatentrack #visitsiemreap

Dag-Rune Z Mar 17

Colourful food in colourful fields

Looking for bright colours is easy in a tropical area. But finding exciting colour contrasts are the real fun.

Along the small inlets and in between the rice fields along Siem Reap river down to Phnom Krom and the Tonle Sap lake, some local restaurateurs build these small huts on stilts in the background. A family or travel party can order food and drinks, and relax in the shadows with a view to this tranquil landscape.

It really is a soothing experience with the hammocks provided.

Or maybe guests can have a small walk pre or post lunch, just to look for colours, shapes, flowers or plants, and birds or other animals.

Alive or not.

#Cambodia #Khmer #food #simply #delicious #2019CE #Ba #beautiful #birdwatching #bluesky #buddhism #countryside #fishing #kingdomofwonder #landscapephotography #lunch #lunchtime #offthebeatentrack #sundrying #dryingfood #fish #snakes #roadtrip #village #wetlands #Tonlesap #visitsiemreap #blue #sky #lunch # #lake #woodenhut #hutsonstilts #birds #fishing #green #deepblue #blue #sky #Cambodia #Khmer #food #simply #delicious #phnomkrom #phnomkraom #58mm #colourful #D800 #f1_4 #lakeside #Niftyfiftyeight #Nikkor #Nikon #restaurant #siemreap #villagelife