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Jun
27
The Killing Fields
Filed Under Cambodia | 97 Comments
Welcome back!
In a country that has experienced so much sadness and so much turmoil in the last 35 years they are one of the most fascinating and interesting countries to visit and is the new hot spot destination in South East Asia. It is only in recent years that Cambodia has surfaced on the tourist radar for discerning people who are looking for something different in a travel experience. No longer is Cambodia a high risk destination but a fascinating cultural experience with a rich and turbulent history. In few other destinations is this more apparant than in The Killing Fields, also known as Choeung Ek.
The Killing Fields as they are known was the site of mass torture and executions that took tens of thousands of people away during the mad period of rule of the Khmer Rouge. During 1975 to 1979 over 200,000 people were killed by the Khmer Rouge. The targeting of citizens was indiscriminate and focused on the educated elite, those that showed any dissention towards government and in some cases people who were voluteered by people as betraying the beliefs of the Khmer Rouge. During this period Phnom Penh was virtually deserted, in a country of nearly 7 million it it estimated between 1.4 and 2.2 million died either directly or indirectly from the barbaric reign.
The Killing Fields is home to one of the major sites where the killing of innocent citizens occured. People were taken to Choeung Ek to be tortured or killed often from Toul Sleng the converted school that was the destination of imprisonment of many Cambodians in Phnom Penh. The Killing Fields is approximately 30 minutes by road from Phnom Penh and is a place that gives you the feeling of sadness. The first site you notice is the Bone Tower a multi storey building that houses the skulls of those victims found at The Killing Fields. This is a sombering site, where you see the skulls of the poor victims who who killed. The Killing Fields is not large and you can easily walk around and read all the assoicated stories provided in less than 1 hour. What is most alarming is the small pits where hundreds of people were just dumped in, no such thing as a burial more like a pit to drop people in. One site is particularly sad, the Killing Tree where children were mercilessly killed. The site of clothes appearing in the soil, some still with colour is a stark memory of the sadness that occured here and a reminder that we should never let this happen again.
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Jun
7
Angkor Wat is the highlight and most visited destination in Siem Reap and the reason Siem Reap is on the destination trail in Cambodia. Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the wonders of the world and when you see it for the first time you soon learn why this is such a hot spot for tourists.
Angkor Wat is less than 8 kilometres from Siem Reap and the destination everyone wants to see when visiting Cambodia. The grandeur of the temple is striking and it’s a destination that inspires awe and amazement from tourists. Cambodia is blessed to have such a fantastic tourist destination as it is a major drawcard and in many ways the lifeblood of the countries growing tourism industry. Entry to the Angkor temples is USD$20 for one day but this provides access to all the temples of Angkor but as they have many temples from a few kilometres from Siem Reap to a couple of hours drive you are better off buying a three day pass which provides relatively good value if your spending a few days in Siem Reap. One day is not enough to fully enjoy the Angkor temple experience.
Angkor Wat was built in the first half of the 12th century and has had considerable restorative work done, this work continues to this day with regular maintenance taking place to ensure a safe experience is enjoyed by tourists. Angkor Wat is always busy but is best viewed at several points of the day. Sunrise and Sunset at Angkor Wat is a highlight and if you are lucky enough to visit when the weather is fantastic then take the time to visit at these two times as Angkor Wat looks great at anytime but never better than at Sunrise and Sunset. The illumination of light brings the best out of the temple and will be an excellent photo on any mantlepiece.
Angkor Wat is huge and it is not until you see it that you appreciate the size of the temple. It is not surprising that this was the centrepiece of the once great Angkor empire and is a testament to the power and superiority of the architecture which would have inspired the empire and stood as a dominant sign of how successful the period was in Cambodian history. The intricate bas reliefs and buddhist statues are remarkable and the time spent to sculpt these and the labour required to build Angkor Wat is amazing. It is hard to imagine such a feat being achieved today with such success and to still stand the testament of time some 850 years after it was first built.
For this visiting anf wanting to capture the best possible photo’s I suvvest using the reflection pool which will provide excellent photos. In many pictures this looks like a large lake but it’s only small and provides a fantastic reflection of this amazing temple. A trip to Cambodia is a wonderful experience but a trip to Angkor Wat is one that will stay with you for life.
Click here to read an excellent article on the Angkor temple.
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Jun
6
Ta Prohm, the second major Angkor temple we are featuring in our Angkor temples feature is best known as the site where the Tomb Raider film with Angelina Jolie was filmed. Ta Prohm which was built in the late 12th or early in the 13th century is remarkable amount the Angkor temples. Located approximately one kilometre from Angkor Thom it has been overtaken by the jungle long ago and today can be seen with the jungle now forming part of the temple.
Giant trees and their root systems are growing in and around the existing temples forming an amazing array of images and iconic photos for visiting tourists. The fact it is still able to be enjoyed in much the same way as it was re-discovered is remarkable and will be one of the highlights of any visit to Cambodia.
Ta Prohm is one of the most visited temples in Angkor, the constant stream of tourists who link the temple with Tomb Raider and Angelina Jolie ensures you rarely get a photo without others appearing. I would recommend visitng Ta Prohm early in the morning, if you have two days in Siem Reap dedicated to the temples then aim to visit early in the morning as light is just rising. Ta Prohm is even more remarkable in the murky early morning light just as sun rises and you will have the best chance to capture those amazing pictures of Ta Prohm.
Ta Prohm is in a much greater state of ruin than many of the other temples, but this is what makes it remarkable. Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and others have had and continue to have ongoing repair and maintenance work done. Ta Prohm stands out as a temple in decay with rocks and walls leaning on angles, walls partially crumbled and some walls proped up for the safety of tourists. But this is what makes Ta Prohm a must see when visiting the Angkor temples.
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Jun
1
Angkor Thom
Filed Under Cambodia | 2 Comments
In the first of a three articles we feature Angkor Thom one of the best known temples from the Angkor dynasty of Cambodia.
Angkor Thom was built under the reign of King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. The best known temple of Angkor Thom is Bayon. For those visiting the Angkor temples including Angkor Wat this is generally the first temple people encounter. The entrance is stunning as you enter through two rows of statues that strike you as not just intimidating as it would have been in the period but also awe inspiring. These are still impressive some 8 centuries after they were built and prepares you for the Angkor temples inside.
The Bayon temple which is the highlight of Angkor Thom is immediately impressive and amazing that it has stood the test of time despite the volatile recent history of Cambodia. Bayon’s most impressive feature is the multitude of towers with massive stone faces that bear a state of enlightenment. All the faces display a serene look as if they had reached a higher state of being, it has been said these may have been created in the likeness of the King.
The Bayon temple has not been without alternation. During the centuries the religion of Cambodia had changed from buddhism to hinduism and these periods resulted in alterations to the Bayon temple. If it was not for the Angkor temples being abandoned perhaps today we would not be blessed with such a remarkable preserved series of temples in Angkor, especially the marvellous Bayon and Angkor Wat temples.
Bayon is also blessed with having some of the most intricate and impressive bas reliefs documenting the history of the Khmer empire. These bas reliefs document not just historical events but also everyday life for the Angkor people and provide some amazing insight into the life of the great khmer empire of the period.
The Bayon temple and Angkor Thom will take several hours to investigate, you could spend much longer but if your trying to take in the major Angkor temples in one day then you need to keep investigating, next destination Ta Prohm.
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May
26
Cambodia
Filed Under Cambodia | 6 Comments
Cambodia has only appeared on the tourist trail in recent years and is a country going places. The best known destinations are Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The capital Phnom Penh which became a ghost town in 1975 after the invasion of the Khmer Rouge is the most populated city and offers a unique insight into the horrors and atrocities of the Khmer Rouge period where tragedy struck Cambodia. Siem Reap perhaps best known as the town destination point for visiting the amazing temples of Angkor Wat, Thom and the site of filming of the first Tomb Raider film Ta Prohm. Both provide a unique insight into the life and history of this amazing country.
Phnom Penh has a few major tourist sites which are a must see, the Killing Fields (Choeung-Ek) and Toul Sleng, the Genocide Museum. Both destinations take you back some thirty years and alert you to the massacre of innocent people here. It is estimated as many as 2 million people died or were killed both directly or indirectly in Cambodia out of a population of 7 million during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. A stint in Phnom Penh would not be complete without a visit to the Royal Palace.
Siem Reap is a small town but is the gateway to the Angkor temples. The Angkor Wat is regarded as one of the seven modern wonders of the world and you can see how amazing the Angkor empire was from the 8th to 13th century. Siem Reap is not just the destination of Angkor Wat but numerous temples that were built during the reign of the empire. Plus don’t forget the opportunity to shop in the Old or Central markets which offer bargains that you could only dream about.
Cambodia also offers some amazing beachside destinations, in Sihanoukville the sand is as white as can be and it perhaps the next boom seaside destination in Asia. Cambodia offers the yesteryear charm that Thailand offered some 30 years ago. I would recommend a trip to Cambodia sooner rather than later as the people are wonderful and friendly and their hospitality is second to none.
I would recommend at least 10 days in Cambodia to take in the destination, three in Phnom Penh, three or more Siem Reap and a few days relaxing in Sihanoukville. Also worth considering in a trip to Kep or Kampot on a day trip from Phnom Penh.
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