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Showing posts from June, 2016

Pchum Ben Festival

Along with Khmer New Year in April, Phchum Ben is the most significant festival in the Cambodia which has been celebrated in every October. The festival lasts for 15 days, but only the final day is the biggest celebration and is the public holiday. Cambodians have faithfully observed the festival each year for as long as anyone can remember.  Regardless how busy they may be the Phchum Ben days, Cambodians try to go to the pagoda to dedicate food and offerings to the dead. The festival's final day is the actual Phchum Ben when people visit the pagoda to show respect for their ancestors.  Cambodian people feel sorry for and remember their relatives who have passed away. They may be their grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, daughters or sons. During Phchum Ben spirits come to receive offerings from their relatives. It is believed that some of the dead were punished for their sins and burnt in hell and tortured there. Those souls and spirits have no food to ...

Things To Do In Battambang

Battambang is an elegy to French colonialism and lies in the heart of the Northwest and till the war years was the leading rice-producing province of Cambodia. The people in the city are one of the best preserved examples of the French Colonial era, and the small-town feel you expect to happen in Cambodia as a rule. However, the true advantage is the village life that is close to the city -- be it by boat, car or motorbike. The shared consequence makes this province well worth the detour it requires to visit. Circus Show One of the good things that come from bad times was the founding of Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) in 1986 in a refugee camp on the Thai border. This volunteer team used simple sketch works to help young refugees overcome the pain of war through art and self-expression. The PPS’s children are now adults who run a home at Anh Chanh village in Battambang where more than ...

Angkor Wat Empire Rising

The adoption of Indian principles of deva-raja The ancient Khmer kings adopted a booming monarchy system of Indian civilization. Being admired as the deva-raja or god-king, the kings were able to rule over the empire with absolute power and godly kingship. This enhanced the kings to mobilize manpower to serve in its military unit to defend the state as well as to invade the neighbors. Additionally, the kings could sustain their extensive irrigation system that was the factor of its successful economy with their Khmer laborers and foreign slaves. Moreover, the kings surrounded themselves with wise men or Khmer Brahmins as their counselors. The Brahmins acquired vast knowledge which were taught only within the family. These Brahmins help made an efficient administration of the country and so resulted in stronger territory. Strategic Site The best strategic location of the Angkor by King Jayavarman II troubled the attack by...

The Falls of Angkor Empire

1. Loss of Water management Less devotion of the people to the god-king led negative impact to the empire. The Khmer people seem reluctant to work passionately for the king as a holy service as they'd previously did. The previously efficient drainage system became silted up with less water supply and the rice crops, accustomed be cultivated 2 or 3 times a year, were dramatically dropped, so weaken the productivity and the strength of the Angkor Empire. 2. The Presents of Buddhism Theravada  The Angkor Civilization was supported by the belief of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism. The monarchs being thought to be the god-king were able to inspire the dedication of their people to serve the throne as a religious ceremony. The empire's extensive irrigation system and military troops required huge laborers and workforce to maintain. The introduction of Theravada Buddhism in 13th century to the Khmers had clad to harm sublimely the basic foundation of the...

5 Best Destinations in Phnom Penh

There is so much to see and do in Phnom Penh that almost all people are surprised as they make a stop in the Phnom Penh heading to or from Siem Reap’s Angkor Wat. But people who don’t make a stop off in Phnom Penh miss out on such a lot of fascinating historical, cultural and environmental attractions on offer. It’s not all about Cambodia’s tragic past or the Khmer Rouge either. Khmer era temples, museums, shopping, and river activities are all easily accessible and tours are affordable. See our personally researched guide to the best attractions in Phnom Penh below. The Royal Palace Address: Riverside, Sisowath Quay  Opening Hours: 08:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M The Royal Palace covers an area of 174,870 sq. meters and is open to visitors, even if the king of Cambodia still lives there sometimes (if the blue royal flag is flying, the king is in residence).Different buildings have been added and renovated over time, even up until the mid-1960s, but some date bac...

Bamboo Island

Besides boasting a renowned name and beautiful white sand beaches there are many wonders of natural beauty hidden within the islands close to the coastal town of Sihanoukville. One such island is Bamboo Island (Koh Russei), where picturesque beaches and the fresh sea air soothes tourist’s souls, sends them into a state of relaxation and melts their cares away. You won't find TV or web or even roads on Bamboo Island but what you'll find is warm, blue, crystal-clear water, excellent for swimming, soft golden sandy beaches, lush natural surroundings, and plenty of peace and tranquility that you won’t encounter in several other so-called ‘relaxed’ destinations. This is serenity at its best. You’ll find footpaths throughout the island, so you'll be able to explore the jungle covered interior. There’s a volleyball net on the beach. How To Get There The one and a half hour trip to Koh Russei from Ochheuteal Beach only costs $20 per round trip for teams of...

What You Need To Know When Visiting Angkor

To visit Angkor and other Temples, you need to have an authentic admission pass also called an Angkor Pass . The admission passes are purchased at the main entrance situated on the road to Angkor Wat, and a one-day pass can be found at the another entrance gate on the road from the airport. Angkor Pass Tickets:  - 1 Day Pass = US $37  |   Valid for the day of purchase - 3 Day Pass = US $62  |   Valid for 10 days (Visit any 3 days within 10-day limit) - 7 Day Pass = US $72  |   Valid for 1 month (Visit any 7 days within 1-month limit) Ticket office hour: - 5:00 AM - 5:30 PM For 3-day and 7-day passes, you need to supply a passport-sized photo when buying the pass. For visitors who have no a photo, they will take their photo for free, but it will take a while if many visitors buy passes. If you visit Angkor for only one day, you may only be able to take cursory visits to see Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom ...

Choosing the Right Taxi Service

One has to travel around the city or outside on many occasions and sometimes over a number of times in a month. The explanations could vary and may include sudden work, a well-planned vacation or simply a good travel experience. In some cases, you may have to be compelled to pick up your friends from the airport or may have to go somewhere quickly. Individuals always prefer a one-stop solution for such desires and are increasingly turning to on-line cab services due to the convenience issue. These service providers offer intercity or intra-city cab services for affordable charges. You can depart on a long or a short trip or just use them for your day-after-day travel needs in the city. You need to be guaranteed that your commuting desires are fully fulfilled after you hire an online cab service. For starters, you must get good value for your cash. Secondly, you must be able to enjoy a problem free journey. That is why you need to worry about these pointers whi...

Angkor Wat Temple

Angkor Wat Temple is in Cambodia and also the largest religious monument in the world, with the site measuring 162.6 hectares. It was built for the Khmer Empire by King Suryavarman II as his state temple in the early 12th century in the capital of the Khmer Empire and gradually remodeling into a Buddhist temple toward the end of the twelfth century. Angkor is the only one to have stayed a religious center from its foundation. The temple is at the top of the high artistic style of Khmer architecture. The ruins of Angkor Wat are situated within the Angkor archeological Park, and the entrance to the park is found about 3km north of modern-day Siem Reap. There aren't any hotels inside the park grounds, and most visitors stay in Siem Reap which they make daily visits to the temples. When one first visits Angkor Wat, the impact is exciting, and simply seeing photos cannot compare to the reality of this majestic structure. Approaching along the causeway, at first th...