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Background: Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, whose Angkor Empire extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Subsequently, attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire ushering in a long period of decline. In 1863, the king of Cambodia placed the country under French protection; it became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia became independent within the French Union in 1949 and fully independent in 1953. After a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in April 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities and towns; at least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, enforced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, led to a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy and the final elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability. The July 2003 elections were relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed. Nation-wide local elections are scheduled for 2007 and national elections for 2008.




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By Feier
December 13th 2009
Meditation in Angkor Wat,Cambodia Asia » Cambodia » North » Angkor
I'm not a buddhist,and actually I'm not very interested in those temples neither.However,I was shocked by the majesty of the Angkor Wat. Those carving are fabulous! The monk looks friendly [View Full Entry]

Feier - feierz | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
35 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 4 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: December 13th 2009 | 8 Views | [diary=460127]

carving
The friendly monk
Angkor

By brownbomber
November 30th 2009
Cambodia - Heaven Asia » Cambodia » North » Angkor
Well having spent an eventful and unpleasant time in Vietnam I was really looking forward to a change of venue. I was still fighting a fever but it seemed to be somewhat under control after 5 days so I decided to fly to Siem Reap, the little town that services Angkor Wat. It was an afternoon flight and as flight time approached I certainly wasn't feeling any better. When we finally departed I was a human inferno and as it turned out had a temperative over 104 degrees again. I was just a little happy to land and was looking foerward [View Full Entry]

brownbomber - john faris | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1359 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 30th 2009 | 161 Views | [diary=457155]


By BeckyandBen
November 9th 2009
the journey part 2 Asia » Cambodia » North » Angkor
part 2! already i cant keep up with this holiday WOW so much to tell you guys! Well we spent 3 days at Angkor Wat. Its definitely THE place to hold an Indiana Jones party!! loads of places to explore and despite the myriads of people at some of the bigger temples some were like you were discovering them for the first time! crawling over stones and through windows to get to hidden rooms - i did loose Ben completely at one point (we were both thinking that we may never see each other again) Amazing place unfortunately for you the [View Full Entry]

BeckyandBen - Ben & Bex | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
708 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 9th 2009 | 69 Views | [diary=451916]


4:50am the alarm went off since Sak was picking us up at 5am so we could see the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Very early morning with a long day ahead of us. 1st Temple Sunrise at Angkor Wat built in 1113 and finished in 1150 with later additions. Angkor Wat is the World's Largest Religious monument. As we arrived at the temple is was still dark out and LOTS of people walking with us to enter the temple gates. Sak told us once inside to go to our left so we could see 5 of the towers, if you stand straight [View Full Entry]

ElyseandPete - Elyse and Pete | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1239 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 24 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 13th 2009 | 102 Views | [diary=452862]

Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat

We started our day at 8am again and this was going to be a long day. We decided to go to 2 of the more remote temples that were 49km=30.5 miles and 37 km=almost 23 miles from Siem Reap, where we stayed. We got to see lots of countryside and many homes/shacks along the way. I took a video of the route for about 2 minutes but it is too large to post to the blog(sorry). 1st temple Pre Rup built in 961. 2nd temple Kbal Spean built possibly in 11th-12th century this different than any other temple for he had [View Full Entry]

ElyseandPete - Elyse and Pete | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
520 Words | 3 Comment(s) | 24 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 13th 2009 | 64 Views | [diary=452857]

Pete at Pre Rup
Hiking to Kbal Spean
Kbal Spean

Sorry for the late blog but finally finishing up the Cambodian temple descriptions and pics. By the way, Prasat is Cambodian for "temple" ...go figure. Prasat Ta Som Temple is also in a fantastic ruined condition. It is still unrestored. At both the entrance and waaay at the back are those great King Jay gates with his face at the top. The one in the back, on the outside face, has a magnificent tree embracing it. Tammy is dwarfed by both the size of the gate and the tree in the pic. There wasn't so much climbing this one as navigating [View Full Entry]

Strickfaden - Strickfaden | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
430 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 15 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 1st 2009 | 75 Views | [diary=449620]

Ta Som & Ta mmy
Ta Som & Ta mmy II
Ta Som Temple

REVISED 11/1/09 TO INCLUDE PRE RUP TEMPLE AND RELABEL PHOTOS (heh, all these temples start to look the same after a while). Prasat Kraven Temple (also called the Cardamom Sanctuary) is an unusual temple for this area. It’s simple in design and it uses small red brick and sandstone which gives it a strange orangey color. It’s a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi. Srah Shrang is the Royal Bathing Pool opposite Prasat Kraven Temple. It’s a rather large (2300 x 1000 ft) bathing pool and even Rick could fit into this one with room left over. Bantea [View Full Entry]

Strickfaden - Strickfaden | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
280 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 17 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 30th 2009 | 69 Views | [diary=449488]

Prasat Kraven Temple
Prasat Kraven Temple
Srah Shrang Royal Bathing Pool

Ta Keo temple. This temple is very imposing. Massive blocks of unadorned stone. This might be one of the highest in Angkor. The steps are at about a 70 to 75 degree angle and only 4-6 inches wide. What a mother to climb but so worth it. You are about 70 feet up at the summit and can see over the Cambodian jungle. The temple was never finished and was intentionally undecorated. The climb was to prove your devotion. This was a Buddhist temple instead of the usual Hindu ones of Angkor. Ta Phrom temple. Our absolute favorite. Surreal is really [View Full Entry]

Strickfaden - Strickfaden | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
317 Words | 3 Comment(s) | 16 Photo(s) | 1 Video(s)
Published: October 29th 2009 | 57 Views | [diary=449144]

Ta Keo temple
Ta Keo 1st level
Ta Keo 2nd level

By Strickfaden
October 28th 2009
Angkor Thom 10/28/09 Asia » Cambodia » North » Angkor
Angkor Thom was a fortified capitol city at end of 12th century and is part of the Angkor Wat park. There are temples and a ruined Royal Palace inside the walls of the city. Some of the sites we visited were: Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, and Prasat Suor Prat. Most of the original structures back in the days of yore were wooden so all that is left is stone, stone and more stone (and even some of those are gone due to age and General Pol pot's Khmer Rouge army stealing buddha heads [View Full Entry]

Strickfaden - Strickfaden | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
374 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 21 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 29th 2009 | 58 Views | [diary=449045]

Bayon carvings
Bayon hallways
Bayon with buddha

By TimButDim
October 24th 2009
Ankhor Wat - 24/10/09 Asia » Cambodia » North » Angkor
Went to some of the various temples at Ankhor today including the famous Ankhor Wat. Very impressive considering that it's around 1000 years old and the site of the Wat itself (not including the other temples etc in the area) is 800x1000m and fully walled. I have hundredes of pictures, not sure if I can be bothered to sort through them for the few good ones at the minute! [View Full Entry]

TimButDim - Tim Bell | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
70 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 1 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 24th 2009 | 58 Views | [diary=447778]



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