Wat Ounolom Pagoda as seen beside the main road.A beautiful Buddhist architecture.
The Cambodian–Vietnamese War, also known as the Third Indochina War, began on December 25, 1978 when Vietnam invaded Democratic Kampuchea (Cambodia) and this temple was again partially destroyed.
On January 7, 1979,Phnom Penh falls in the hand of the Vietnamese.
In 1997, most of the remaining Khmer Rouge fighters accepted a government amnesty and laid down their arms, putting an end to nearly 3 decades of war.
The Veal Preah Man park before Silver Pagoda.
A Royal Ploughing Ceremony ground.
The free ceremony, which always takes place in May (the month of the Khmer calendar that marks the start of the rainy season), dates back to the Sukhothai period.
The temple's official name is Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot but is commonly referred to as Wat Preah Keo in Khmer.
Also known as Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
A family park called Mok Vaeng just opposite the Silver Pagoda with Preah Sisowath Boulevard near the river front.
The evening breeze here was wonderful possibly wind from the Gulf of Thailand and the whole area was filled with family groups having an outing.
It was a very hot day,imagine the sun leaving behind a hot trail in the evening skies.
In 1997, most of the remaining Khmer Rouge fighters accepted a government amnesty and laid down their arms, putting an end to nearly 3 decades of war.
The Veal Preah Man park before Silver Pagoda.
A Royal Ploughing Ceremony ground.
The free ceremony, which always takes place in May (the month of the Khmer calendar that marks the start of the rainy season), dates back to the Sukhothai period.
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is where rituals were used to predict future outcomes.
Farmers wait every year for the predictions at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony (which they observe with strong belief).
Farmers wait every year for the predictions at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony (which they observe with strong belief).
Royal oxen adorned in beautiful, colored silks are led to ceremonial grounds while a master of ceremonies (King Meakh) performs the ceremony by circling around a field three times while being followed by a woman (Queen Me Hour) who plants seeds.
The oxen are then released from their harnesses and led to seven golden trays each containing different items (usually rice, sesame seeds, grass, water, wine, corn, and beans).
The amount of trays the oxen eat from, and which ones they eat from determine the predictions (ex: if the oxen sniffed the tray of water and turned away from the tray of wine the prediction would be that farmers would not suffer any serious floods).
The amount of trays the oxen eat from, and which ones they eat from determine the predictions (ex: if the oxen sniffed the tray of water and turned away from the tray of wine the prediction would be that farmers would not suffer any serious floods).
UNESCO headquarters Phnom Penh at Samdech Sothearos Blvd .
Cambodia joined UNESCO on 3 July 1951 but due to political problem in 1975,it was closed down.
The year 1989 was an important year for UNESCO in Cambodia.
His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk Varman, King of Cambodia (then His Royal Highness Prince Norodom Sihanouk) requested the Organisation to co-ordinate all international assistance for Angkor.
In May 1989, UNESCO was able to complete an initial assessment of the safeguarding needs of Angkor.
The year 1989 was an important year for UNESCO in Cambodia.
His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk Varman, King of Cambodia (then His Royal Highness Prince Norodom Sihanouk) requested the Organisation to co-ordinate all international assistance for Angkor.
In May 1989, UNESCO was able to complete an initial assessment of the safeguarding needs of Angkor.
The Silver Pagoda.
The pagoda is floored with over 5329 silver tiles each weighing 1 kilo. It is famous for its 90 kg solid gold Buddha made in 1907 and an emerald Buddha said to be made of baccarant crystal.
Sharing the pagoda are many other interesting artifacts and jewels and was one of the few temples to remain intact during the Khmer Rouge regime.
Sharing the pagoda are many other interesting artifacts and jewels and was one of the few temples to remain intact during the Khmer Rouge regime.
Open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance fee US$ 3 per person. Camera fee US$2. Video fee US$ 5. Photography is allowed in the outside exhibition areas only.
Please remember that exposed knees and shoulders are considered disrespectful.
The Silver Pagoda was constructed in 1892 by King Norodom to house the ashes of the royal family.
Please remember that exposed knees and shoulders are considered disrespectful.
The Silver Pagoda was constructed in 1892 by King Norodom to house the ashes of the royal family.
The pagoda was looted during the Khmer Rouge years, but the Cambodian government has made an effort to restore the pagoda to its original splendor.
The temple's official name is Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot but is commonly referred to as Wat Preah Keo in Khmer.
Also known as Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
A family park called Mok Vaeng just opposite the Silver Pagoda with Preah Sisowath Boulevard near the river front.
The evening breeze here was wonderful possibly wind from the Gulf of Thailand and the whole area was filled with family groups having an outing.
It was a very hot day,imagine the sun leaving behind a hot trail in the evening skies.
They called it Hun Sen Park off Boulevard Samdech Sothearos.
Come evening you'll see the locals crowding around the fountain area which is nearly the size of two badminton courts watching the syncronised dancing of the water jets performing various patterns.
In the middle of Hun Sen Park is the Cambodian-Vietnam Friendship Monument ,near the corner of Sihanouk Boulevard.
Built in 1970,this memorial statue features heroic (Anh Hung) Vietnamese and Cambodian soldiers.
This is a very good coordination of "I help you,you help me".
Come evening you'll see the locals crowding around the fountain area which is nearly the size of two badminton courts watching the syncronised dancing of the water jets performing various patterns.
In the middle of Hun Sen Park is the Cambodian-Vietnam Friendship Monument ,near the corner of Sihanouk Boulevard.
Built in 1970,this memorial statue features heroic (Anh Hung) Vietnamese and Cambodian soldiers.
This is a very good coordination of "I help you,you help me".
Nowadays this area has been termed a "Democracy Square" due to various local demonstrations held here.
There were some police personnels guarding the monument and it will be out of bound after 7:00pm.
A few years back there were some untoward incidence so now they were more cautious.
There's a women with a baby statue standing beside the joint socialist soldiers.
She represents the common civilian people welcoming the communist regime that took power after the Cambodian-Vietnamese War, which overthrew the Khmer Rouge regime.
A motorcycle carriage owned by King Hostel.
Quite spacious and can fit in possibly 6 people of European size.
This can't be called a tuk-tuk which normally are three wheelers.
A few years back there were some untoward incidence so now they were more cautious.
There's a women with a baby statue standing beside the joint socialist soldiers.
She represents the common civilian people welcoming the communist regime that took power after the Cambodian-Vietnamese War, which overthrew the Khmer Rouge regime.
A motorcycle carriage owned by King Hostel.
Quite spacious and can fit in possibly 6 people of European size.
This can't be called a tuk-tuk which normally are three wheelers.
The many headed serpent, carved in stone at the side road bridge divider.
Naga ('snake') A semi-divine being and a serpent-god of the waters who lives in the underworld beneath the earth or in the water.
It is easily identified by its scaly body and multiple heads spread in the shape of a fan.
In Khmer art, the naga always has an uneven number of heads, usually seven or nine.
The nagas are ruled by Vasuki and are the enemy of the garuda.
The naga controls the rains and the prosperity of the region where they reside.
Nagas often marry humans in mythology and the Khmers claim their descent from the union of a foreigner and the daughter of the naga king.
The Khmer's obsession with the naga is reflected in its omnipresence at the temples of Angkor.
A typical rendering of this mythical being is a balustrade formed by the body of the serpent that flanks the long causeways leading to the monuments and can be seen at Preah Khan, Bakong, Angkor Wat, and in front of the gates at Angkor Thorn.
One Hindu epics says that Nandi is a white bull and the vehicle of Shiva while Rahu is a demon who rides through the sky in a silver chariot .
According to legend, Rahu causes eclipses by seizing and swallowing the sun and the moon. The sun and moon eventually reappear from inside Rahu's throat, thus ending the eclipse, but he then resumes the task. Li Rahu has no body, just a head, arms and hands.
Even today, the Cambodians make tremendous noise before an eclipse to keep Rahu from consuming the moon.
Naga ('snake') A semi-divine being and a serpent-god of the waters who lives in the underworld beneath the earth or in the water.
It is easily identified by its scaly body and multiple heads spread in the shape of a fan.
In Khmer art, the naga always has an uneven number of heads, usually seven or nine.
The nagas are ruled by Vasuki and are the enemy of the garuda.
The naga controls the rains and the prosperity of the region where they reside.
Nagas often marry humans in mythology and the Khmers claim their descent from the union of a foreigner and the daughter of the naga king.
The Khmer's obsession with the naga is reflected in its omnipresence at the temples of Angkor.
A typical rendering of this mythical being is a balustrade formed by the body of the serpent that flanks the long causeways leading to the monuments and can be seen at Preah Khan, Bakong, Angkor Wat, and in front of the gates at Angkor Thorn.
One Hindu epics says that Nandi is a white bull and the vehicle of Shiva while Rahu is a demon who rides through the sky in a silver chariot .
According to legend, Rahu causes eclipses by seizing and swallowing the sun and the moon. The sun and moon eventually reappear from inside Rahu's throat, thus ending the eclipse, but he then resumes the task. Li Rahu has no body, just a head, arms and hands.
Even today, the Cambodians make tremendous noise before an eclipse to keep Rahu from consuming the moon.
