Fallen Arches

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

Detail in Wall

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

Ongoing Repairs

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

Face Up to It

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

It is a sad reality. Scenes like this are proof that looting robs future generations the pleasure of enjoying this culture.

As China Daily reports:

Tomb raiders are decimating Cambodia's archaeological sites, looting ancient and remote cemeteries to sell antiques to tourists, an independent watchdog warned on Friday as it prepared a campaign to educate potential buyers.

A Window to a Window

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

More Temple Scenes

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

Do You Know This?

Our month's trial of posting just pictures hit a barrier - with a temporary glitch in uploading images. All is fixed now; so let he postings continue.

We would welcome any suggestions as to the name of this structure.


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

Air Way to Heaven

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

The Cambodian balloon trip was tethered for a single verticle climb and decent. Its sole purpose was give tourists a view marvellous over Angkor Wat.

The ascent itself isn't perhaps as exciting as if the yellow balloon was untethered, but within a few seconds the wonders of the Angkor Wat temple is revealed with its five towers.

And as an added treat, there is are also great views of the countryside that surrounds the monuments.


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

Palace Compound

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

I've been combing through our notes, trying to remember what this building is called. We passed through it on the way to the Terrace of the Elephants.

If memory server me right, this is Phimeanakas, a part of Angkor Thom which was build about 1200 by Jayavarman VII. The building itself, of which only a ruins remain, was a Hindu temple in the Khleang style. It is on the compound of the ancient Royal Palace. (We would welcome any correspondence to help clarify the matter).

Another Serving of Sweet Cucumber

Good news from Guy d2. He has just written us to say the Sweet Cucumber blog archives are back online, with a stunning selection of the best posts and photos.

So if you missed seeing them the first time around, or want to re-read them for nostalgia's sake, then help yourself to a portion of Sweet Cucumber.

Link

Terrace Views

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

Here are a few more shots from the Terrace of the Elephants.


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

We scampered about at the top of the terrace wall.


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

And here is what the view might have been like for Angkor king Jayavarman VII. (Just insert the victorious returning army here to complete the picture).

Terrace of the Leper King

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

Leper King Terrace can be found at the northwest corner of the Royal Square of Angkor Thom. It was built in the Bayon style under Jayavarman VII. Its modern name is believed to be derived from a 15th century sculpture at the site.

Elephant Wall

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

The Terrace of the Elephants at Angkor Thom is part of the walled city's 100m long boundary. A parade of elephants carved in stone mark an outer edge to this ruined temple complex.


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

It is said that the terrace was used by Angkor's king Jayavarman VII as a platform from which to view his victorious returning army. It was attached to the palace of Phimeanakas, of which only a few ruins remain.


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

The terrace is named for the carvings of elephants on its eastern face.

Bride and Groom

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

Also while waiting to enter climb to the top of Bayon's towers, were were witness to this bridal party posing for shots for the album.

It reminded tan and trev of similar scenes we see acted out in Melbourne, where the steps of state parliament are regularly used as a backdrop for wedding pictures.


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

News Round-up

• . International nonprofit organization, Room to Read, says it reached a major milestone this week when opening its 2,000th bilingual library on Friday, September 2. This was done at Samdech Euv High School in the village of Thnal in northwestern Cambodia.

• A love triangle reported at iol at iol ended in tragedy as Cambodian police were hunting for a mother accused of murdering her one-month-old baby girl by hurling her down an abandoned well because she had been in love with two men when the child was conceived and did not know which was the father.

• In a lighter report from iol, a month-old calf is a bovine bedfellow for a Cambodian boy on the advice of fortune-tellers who insistent the animal should be allowed to stay because it is is a reincarnation of the boy's best friend.

• If planning a trip to to the northeastern Thai province of Buri Ram bordering Cambodia, then consider the suggestions of Yvonne Bohwongprasert who explains where examples of Khmer art and influence are best located.

• In the aftermath of a defamation case involving the Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, The Cambodia Daily's publisher Bernard Krisher says he is puzzled why local journalist Kay Kimsong was alone fined $7,500 -- whereas two Americans (who no longer work for the daily), and the paper itself, seemed to have escaped similar treatment.
  

• A treaty approved this week is being hailed as helping government efforts to stamp out excessive forms of child labor in Sihanoukville, Kampot and Kompong Cham provinces.

Read This Face

Okay, so tan and trev has been falling a behind a little on the postings. Other projects for fun and at work have have been keeping us distracted.

But we are back now to resume "regular" services.

Although this month we thought we might try something a little different. We are making an effort to boost the number of pictures on show here. (Previous months have been a tad text heavy).

Our first post for the month show our guide at Bayon trying to explain and demonstrate the different faces. Explained that the faces shown at each direction - North, East, West, South - conveyed a expressed a different emotion or ideal, he then tried to illustrate each direction.

I was laughing so hard that by the time he was at face four, the camera was shaking to much to produce a usable picture. So here are only three of the four faces.


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005


Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

News Round-up

• A Cambodian court in Koh Kong province has sentenced notorious tiger hunter Yor Ngun, 57, to 7 years in prison for repeat offenses, reports the People's Daily Online.

• ABC Radio Australia today reports a warning fromUnited Nation's special envoy Miloon Kothari who fears Cambodia may face large-scale legal wrangles if nothing is done to halt massive land grabs in which thousands of families are being evicted to make way for government officials, business people and the military.

• As previously covered here, the U.S. has been reluctant to provide direct funding for the proposed Khmer Rouge trial without first gaining a number of conditions. But in recent developments, the U.S. has now created a $2 million endowment to assist a Cambodian group in researching crimes. This seems to allow it to indirecly support the trial, without needing to contradict its earlier stipulations.

• China has given six navy patrol boats to Cambodia to help combat drug and human trafficking, piracy, transnational crime and smuggling.