When your home is a temple

Some of the temples and pagodas in Cambodia are marvels of intrinsic details. Sometimes the cohabitants are, too. Like this one at Wat Sampov at Phnom Sampov/Phnom Sampeau near Battambang.

The monkeys at most of these temple sites are peaceful. They are adjusted to be relatively safe and have access to food and water. But they are also nosy and cheeky, and any seasoned traveller know to keep their belongings, food and water well contained or hidden around these rascals. They will try to steal anything they fancy from the humans.

And never, ever feed the monkeys. It reduces their ability to hunt and gather their own food, leads to malnutrition, and they become more aggressive and can be dangerous towards humans.

Challenging small gene pools
Another challenge for these monkeys is the small number of members in some of the temple groups. That is causing some problems with inbreeding due to limited gene pools.

We are talking severe Habsburgian jaw and bulbous lips, to use a European reference to tragedy and disaster when science is absent. I have personally observed this inbreeding problem to have become lesser over the last few years. Hopefully it means the caretaking of these cultural heritage sites improves. Including for the animals.

The monkeys also ad personality to the visits to the temple, and scale to photos taken there. I would miss having them around, if they were to disappear from the temple grounds.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2021/05/04/when-your-home-iff-a-temple-some-of-the/

#2016CE #Angkor #architecture #art #batcave #Battambang #bluesky #Buddhism #Cambodia #countryside #gallery #gold #Hinduism #Kampuchea #khmer #Nikkor #Nikon #PhnomSampeou #roadtrip #Siem #Reap #siemreap #sightseeing #asia #southeastasia #templevisit #Cambodia #visitsiemreap #watsampeou #guardianhill #landscape #macaquemonkey #Mountains #nature #Pagoda #Phnom #Sampeau #PhnomSompov #teeth #temple #visitcambodia

Old, steep steps at Preah Vihear

After the long stone layered access road from the mountain temple gate in the north, there is a steep step to enter the first temple building/Gopura.

As interesting as the building itself, is the construction and the decoration on the stairs.

The main steps are large and old stone fitted together like they were during building a thousand years ago. For every 3rd step, there is a sidestep suitable for a person or some decorative item.

This steep entrance step is only for the first temple building. After that, the rest of the 6 main buildings and support libraries are spread out on a relatively level ground. Stretching south to the steep cliff, were you find a fantastic view to the north of Cambodia.

Cambodian World Cultural Heritage
The name "Preah Vihear" comes from the Khmer words "Preah" (sacred) and "Vihear" (abode or shrine). The temple is also sometimes referred to as "Phnom Preah Vihear" (mountain of Preah Vihear).

The large temple complex was built during 250 years, starting over one thousand years ago. Several god kings of the Khmer Empire added to the buildings and site details.
It has been a Cambodian World Cultural Heritage site for nearly twenty years.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2021/04/20/a-drop-of-colour-and-a-drop-of-water-a-good/

#ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #Preah #Vihear #Temple #preahvihear #Cambodia #Kampuchea #templevisit #buddhism #hinduism #angkor #art #architecture #bluesky #isaan #sisaket #water #well #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019CE #colorful #colourful #culturalheritage #cambodia #ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #PreahVihearTemple

An intricate entrance gate at Preah Vihear

In the north of Cambodia, on the mountain range bordering the Kingdom in the north, lays the levelled temple complex of Preah Vihear.

The details in the ornamentation on this temple is stunning. This gate to one of the four gopuras at this temple is an example.

The temple of Preah Vihear is dedicated to the god Shiva. The top lintel is often dedicated to showing symbols and rites connected to Shiva, but in almost equal amount to Vishnu.
It tells about the details in the religious practice over the 250 years the Angkor Empire built this temple complex.

The doors “enfilade”/side areas are rich with scenes from Khmer, Veda and Hindu mythology – like churning of the sea of milk, Khrishna Govardhan.

There are several compositions that is repeating in different variations at Preah Vihear. One example is built around a central motif, almost always a head of kala or lion, which develops into a symmetrical decoration.

Cambodian World Cultural Heritage
The name "Preah Vihear" comes from the Khmer words "Preah" (sacred) and "Vihear" (abode or shrine). The temple is also sometimes referred to as "Phnom Preah Vihear" (mountain of Preah Vihear).

The large temple complex was built over a period of 250 year, starting over one thousand years ago. Several god kings of the Khmer Empire added to the buildings and site details.

Preah Vihear has been a Cambodian World Cultural Heritage site for nearly twenty years.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1224/

#ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #Preah #Vihear #Temple #preahvihear #Cambodia #Kampuchea #templevisit #buddhism #hinduism #angkor #art #architecture #bluesky #isaan #sisaket #water #well #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019CE #colorful #colourful #culturalheritage #cambodia #ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #PreahVihearTemple

A drop of colour and a drop of water

Dimensions, on a Khmer-girl scale.

A good thing with an assistant is to have someone to show the relative size of things.
Like my friend here, showing the size of one of the water basins before entering the first of the main temple constructions of Preah Vihear.
This fantastic mountain top temple complex is just another important part of Khmer cultural heritage to the world, forever for Cambodia to care and protect. It was added to the World Cultural Heritage list in 2008.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1224/

#preahvihear #water #well #Cambodia #seventemples #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019CE #khmergirl #colorful #culturalheritageday #preahviheartemple #photoassistant #localgirl #khmer #Kampuchea #templevisit #buddhism #art #architecture #bluesky #isaan #sisaket #water #ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #Preah #Vihear #Temple

The sunset warmly lit temple by the icy blue pond

In the north of Cambodia, on the border mountain range to the large northeast Isaan-region of Thailand, lays the levelled temple complex of Preah Vihear.

The name "Preah Vihear" comes from the Khmer words "Preah" (sacred) and "Vihear" (abode or shrine). The temple is also sometimes referred to as "Phnom Preah Vihear" (mountain of Preah Vihear).

The large temple complex was built during a century one thousand years ago. Several god kings of the Khmer Empire added to the buildings and site details. It has been a Cambodian World Cultural Heritage site for nearly twenty years.

As a tourist attraction, the temple is a popular target for travellers with all the usual and some unique reasons. The location of the site, and the outlook of the surrounding area and landscape are truly special. The combination of several Angkor art and architectural styles into one complex is very interesting. It is localised on the top of a mountain range, with a view to both the core Cambodian lands to the south and the extended former Khmer empire now belonging to Thailand in the north.

It is a mountain temple, and the access is easy enough after you have paid someone with 4x4 to drive you up. Not wheelchair accessible, but seniors and other who are able to walk normally can visit easily.

#ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #Preah #Vihear #Temple #preahvihear #Cambodia #Kampuchea #templevisit #buddhism #hinduism #angkor #art #architecture #bluesky #isaan #sisaket #water #well #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019CE #colorful #colourful #culturalheritage #cambodia #ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #PreahVihearTemple

A drop of colour and a drop of water

A good thing with an assistant is to have someone to show the scale of things.

Like my friend here, showing the size of one of the water basins before entering the first of the temple buildings of Preah Vihear.

This fantastic mountain top temple complex is just another important part of khmer heritage to the world, forever for Cambodia to care for and protect.
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1224/

#preahvihear #water #well #Cambodia #seventemples #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019 #khmergirl #colorful #culturalheritageday #preahviheartemple #photoassistant #localgirl #khmer #Kampuchea #templevisit #buddhism #art #architecture #bluesky #isaan #sisaket #2019ce #ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #Preah #Vihear #Temple

The sunset warm temple by the icy blue pond

This temple complex in the north of Cambodia, on the border mountain range to the large northeast Isaan-region of Thailand, lays the levelled temple complex of Preah Vihear.

The name "Preah Vihear" comes from the Khmer words "Preah" (sacred) and "Vihear" (abode or shrine). The temple is also sometimes referred to as "Phnom Preah Vihear" (mountain of Preah Vihear).

The large temple complex was built during a century one thousand years ago. It has been a Cambodian World Cultural Heritage site for nearly twenty years.

As a tourist attraction, the temple is a popular travelling target with all the usual and some unique reasons. The location and the view and outlook of the surrounding areas are special. The combination of several Angkor art and architectural styles into one complex is very interesting.

It is a mountain temple, but the access is easy going after you have paid someone with 4x4 to drive you up. Not wheel chair accessible, but seniors and other who are able to walk can visit easily.

#ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #Preah #Vihear #Temple #preahvihear #Cambodia #Kampuchea #templevisit #buddhism #hinduism #angkor #art #architecture #bluesky #isaan #sisaket #2019ce #water #well #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019 #colorful #colourful #culturalheritage #cambodia

Getting b-roll from the locals

Having a talented, young photography assistant is always great!

Giving my backup mobile camera, or often my own backup camera to the ever brilliantly talented and creative ms N* is a way of getting new perspectives when travelling. She is the daughter of one of my longest known Khmer friends.

Being lighter and smaller than me, and a rather fearless climber, she is able to get to places and see motives I often miss. And being intuitively good at taking photos, the resulting shots are over average great.

The Preah Vihear Temple complex is one of Cambodia most precious global cultural heritage sites, and getting around all of it takes time and several visits. Having some assistance from locals is a key to get the most out of a visit here.

And you may even have a look at Sisaket Province in Thailand. From a safe and secured distance, of course.

Preah Vihear is a daytrip by car out of Siem Reap or Kampong Thom. Combined with a visit to Anlong Ven from Siem Reap, or Sambor Preah Kouk from Kampong Thom is a full day of marvels and sights in the Kingdom of Wonder.

#preahviheartemple #preahvihear #photoassistant #localgirl #locallady #khmer #khmerlady #Cambodia #Kampuchea #templevisit #buddhism #angkor #art #architecture #bluesky #isaan #sisaket #2019ce #water #well #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019 #colorful #colourful #culturalheritageday #ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #cambodia #Preah #Vihear #Temple