Kh 28 - Phnom Penh International Airport

After 4 days in Siem Reap, its time to move to Bangkok. I've planned to go to Phnom Penh via bus and departed to Bangkok using flight. There's land road that connecting Siem Reap till Bangkok through Poipet but since it's much easier to book a flight using Thai Air Asia and I've heard a lot of scam at the border - I won't risk my time. If I got plenty of it, I'll try the route.

From left : the bus that I travel in the Kampuchea / Angkor Express - they provide you some refreshment; kampong scene on the way through Siem Reap - Phnom Penh expressway.

It cost me USD 8 to travel to Phnom Peng using Kampuchea / Angkor Express that departed as early as 7.30 am. You can book it from your guesthouse without any extra charges! Good service. The ride took us about 5 hours with one stop. Initially my plan to visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum in Phnom Penh; but since my flight is around 1655 and we need to check in 2 hours before the departing time of international flight - I have to cancel it .

From left : from the bus station I rode tuktuk till the international airport; road in Phnom Penh - busier than Siem Reap.

Phnom Penh International Airport is not as busy as KLIA, Suvarnabhumi or Changi. But it have all the need facilities. Do remember to keep some of your dollar (USD 25 precisely) as there are International Departure Tax charge upon you. This tax will not included in your airfare and it is said to be used for Cambodia development.

From left : Phnom Penh International Airport; the departure terminal.

The ride took me 1 hour and 10 minutes from Phnom Penh. But since it has delayed for nearly an hour, I only reached Suvarnabhumi International Airport nearly 1900! Sucks. Lucky the immigration process at the airport quite fast and I no need to wait long for my luggage.

So - Mai Pen Rai Bangkok!

From left : for Muslim - do not worry as Musolla available for us to perform our prayer in the airport - just situated near to the arrival gate; check-in counter - a bit lousy as you can't check-in earlier.

Kh 27 - Angkor's Map

Satellite view of Angkor

Just wanna include the map of Angkor. Basically if you want to travel by your own - there're several option you can choose from. Either you can rent bicycles - from USD 1 to 5 in a day (its can be provided by your hotel), tuk-tuk (much better option if you're too tired to cycle a bicycle) and taxi - way to convinient with aircond). I choose the later - not really for the aircond. It's just coz I need somebody to guide me around and some places like Mt Kulen and Beng Mealea need to use taxi to get there!

So - the option is yours. Try to negotiate along the way. Make sure you're not being scam. But trust me - Cambodian are can be trust as they will not cheat you since it will affected their future business in tourist area.

I know this map are not too clear and even in French - you can click over it to enlarge!

Bad Luck Doesn't Smell (Malang Tak Berbau)

It's happen on my way back to hotel from the silk farm. According to peoples around - the lorry driver was try to avoid a tuktuk / motorcycle in front and crashed to the drain. How unlucky!

Detour 1 : Cambodian Silk Farm

“Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know.”

- Daniel J Boorstin

Mulberry tree farm - various species from other countries including Thailand, China, Japan and Korea

Artisans d'Angkor

I admit this is my first time to see silk farm. This expensive commodity was originated from Chine where it was kept secret for centuries from the outside world on how to make it. It's been told that if there any person that smuggled the silk worm out from Chine - death penalty wait them.

So how the worm cross to the other country since it heavily protected. Some says that a princess of China brought it outside inside her hair as the hair clip thus make the secret of silk passed to the other country. Some legend even said that a Chinese monk smuggled silkworms, in a hollow stick, out of China and sold the secret to Europe.Nowadays there are 6 countries in Asia that manufactured it in a large scale - namely China, Korea, Japan, India, Thailand and Cambodia.

The farm that I went operated by Artisans Angkor - said to be NGO from France that help to give a better training for the locals to obtain skills in crafting and weaving silk. If you guys have a chance - do visit it as its free and maybe one of it kind opportunity : who knows?

This is how they kept the silk worm - the feeds them with the mulberry tree leaves up to 14 days till hey grow into cocoons.

Various stages in producing silk - it has been explained in detail by the guide but sadly I didn't took any note of that. These Cambodian women has been trained by Artisans Angkor FOC. They will later go back to their own village and start their own business.

Various product that made from the silk as shown in this Silk Museum

Our tour end here at the Artisans Angkor's shop. Don't worry as you're not forcing to buy anything if you didn't want to. Its kinda expensive souvenir they sell it here. I just bought myself couple of silk purse for my family in Malaysia - just to help the Artisan so that they can continue to give place for the local to learn skills needed. Here I'm with my tour guide that I can't remember his name. His young and very fluent in speaking English.

Kh 26 - Departing Angkor Wat

“The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing."”
- Daniel J Boorstin (1914 - 2004), an American historian,professor, attorney and writer.

In front of the Angkor obelisk that commemorate as the World Heritage Site in 1992

Hmm since the 3rd Nov till 6th November, I've been exploring Angkor with Dara. It's been a nice trip and I didn't regret to come here. It actually wasn't enough time as I didn't have a chance to go to Banteay Srei and Preah Vihear - the other 2 temples that are famous.

From left : Banteay Srei - a beautiful rose-pink temple decorated with marvelous Khmer architecture; Preah Vihear - temple under dispute between the Cambodian and Thai government despite this site was granted to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice

Angkor not just the temple that I have seen. A lot was still need to be rediscovered. Cambodian government and its people with the help from the foreign government have maintained this lovely place; not just to generate money but as a living testimony on how people of the past lives.

Angkor Wat - with moat surrounds it. Infront is 5 towers gopura that act as gate for the King, priest and their transport which were elephants to enter the religious site.

I do hope that our government take the similar step if not better than them to help and preserving our history too. Recognition by the UNESCO for both Malacca and Georgetown as Heritage cities of the Straits of Malacca should make us work hard to protect our history. It shouldn't be politicize - be it from BN or PR sides. Learn from the Cambodian that they had to do it in hard way after suffering from the civil war.

From left : Georgetown, Penang and Malacca city - recognized as World Heritage Site since 2008 by UNESCO

Guess it took us time to learn from the history even though the history actually repeat itself act as a reminder for us. Chum riep leah (good bye) Siem Reap!

Kh 25 - Twin Temples

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind.”

- James Truslow Adams (1878 - 1949), America writer and a historian.

The Chau Say Tevoda temple

The last 2 temples situated just 500m from the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom. Thomannon and Chau Say Tevoda, both built by King Suryavarman II in early 12th century. Both temples are the most restored temple in the Angkor - might be due to its size. The Chinese government pour in a lot a money in the restoration project of these temples.

From left : the stone bridge to the entrance of Chau Say Tevoda temple - half of it restored; the board described the restoration project was done with the cooperation from both Cambodian and Chinese government.

Both temples situated opposite each other with one on each side of the road. Here visitors can see how's the restoration done that have bring the temple back to their original state.

From left : carving of Vishnu with 4 arms riding on Garuda; one of the Apsara dancers holding a tulip plant - never seen in any other carving in the Angkorian temples.

Pictures of Thomannon - this temple was built exactly the same design as the Chau Say Tevoda temple.

The Thomannon temple

Kh 24 - Temple That Has Been Struck

“Angkor is not orchestral; it is monumental. It is an epic poem which makes its effect, like the Odyssey and like Paradise Lost, by the grandeur of its structure as well as by the beauty of the details. An epic in rectangular forms imposed upon the Cambodian jungle.”
- Arnold J Toynbee (1889 - 1975), a British historian

Ta Keo

Situated at the western end of the East Barray - is the Ta Keo. I'm not sure what's the meaning of this name. Some scholars even stated that this temple was planned to be called - the Crystal Palace but because of certain event the construction of this temple stopped and it abandoned.

From left : the art works still preserved even it's abandoned - the motif of flowers crafted onto the wall of Ta Keo; clear sky helps a lot in exploring the Angkorian temple.

Legend say that King Jayavarman V planned to built this temple dedicated to Hindu god, Shiva. However while the works progress - suddenly the temple was strucked by lightning thus the temple was left due to bad omen believed from that event.

From left : inner wall that surround the central santuary; every temple have their unique architecture - this is the temple's library

Still this temple in Khleang style - looks marvelous with old Khmer decoration. The temple is oriented toward the east. Enclosed by two walls, it is built in a zigurrat style. Its top level is reached by steps from the four cardinal directions. At that level, five towers are arranged with one at each of four corners and one at the center.

From left : ruins of Ta Keo - awaiting funds to rebuild back this temple; central tower.


Ta Keo Ruins

Kh 23 - Royal Temple for the Ancestor Brahma

"One of the most imposing [temples] and the one which had best merged with the jungle, but not yet to the point of becoming a part of it"
- Maurice Glaize, an Angkor scholar.

Gigantic Kapok grew from little space between the gopura - as time passed this tree emerged from a little seed to one of the largest tree in a race to conquer the sun ray!

Be prepared to be amazed with this one of the kind temple! Enormous kapok tree and others that grew from the terrace and wall of Ta Prohm makes you feel that you're so small and wonder how's the Creator of this world made it! One of the must-see temple in Angkor site - one of the most photogenic temple, thus make this place full of visitor.

From left : the temple's hallway - showed the typical Khmer architecture; rest for a while with one of the lady patrol officer.

This temple was first named as Rajavihara means the Royal temple built by King Jayavarman VII around 1186 AD to honour his family. It represents Prajnaparamita, personification of wisdom - modeled after King's mother. Nowadays this temple simply known as Ta Prohm means 'ancestor Brahma'.

Several pictures that showed trees that have 'eaten' Ta Prohm! I try to take the best picture but a lot of people there make this so difficult. Everybody tries their best to take nice picture. Welcome to the age of Digital Camera and Video.

This temple was built as flat temple with marvelous Khmer architecture differ from others that follow pyramid model. Since the fall of Khmer empire in 15th century, this temple was abandoned, till early 20th century found by the French explorer. The temple was kept in its original state thus become a living time machine that showed us on how the forest took care of the temple in hundred years.

From left : libraries inside Ta Prohm - even lot of visitor can be seen in this picture! I have to wait 30-45 mins just to take turn to take this picture!

A trivia about this temple - it used in the Lara Croft : Tomb Rider as one of the scene in the film!

Hidden Apsara dancer - smile, awaiting for young explorer to discover it.