cambodia

Angkor Wat: A Wonder of the World

angkor, cambodia, opinons, thoughts, photography, Travel

Have you ever dreamed of visiting a place that is both ancient and majestic, where you can marvel at the beauty and craftsmanship of a bygone civilization? If so, then you should definitely add Angkor Wat to your bucket list. Angkor Wat is the largest and most famous temple complex in Cambodia, and one of the most impressive monuments in the world. In this blog post, I will tell you why you should visit Angkor Wat, what to expect when you get there, and some tips to make your trip unforgettable.

Photo by Lukas Kloeppel on Pexels.com

Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, the supreme god of the universe. It was later converted into a Buddhist temple in the 16th century, and remains an active place of worship today. The temple covers an area of about 200 hectares, and consists of five towers arranged in a quincunx pattern, surrounded by a moat and three concentric galleries. The temple is richly decorated with carvings, sculptures, and bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Hindu mythology, history, and culture.

Photo by Julia Volk on Pexels.com

One of the most amazing features of Angkor Wat is its alignment with the sun. The temple is oriented to the west, which is unusual for Hindu temples, and has been interpreted as a symbol of death and rebirth. On certain days of the year, such as the spring and autumn equinoxes, the sun rises directly behind the central tower, creating a stunning spectacle of light and shadow. Many visitors flock to Angkor Wat early in the morning to witness this phenomenon and capture it on camera.

Another reason to visit Angkor Wat is to explore its surroundings. Angkor Wat is part of a larger complex called Angkor Archaeological Park, which covers an area of about 400 square kilometers and contains hundreds of other temples, palaces, and monuments from different periods and styles. Some of the most notable ones are Bayon, with its giant stone faces; Ta Prohm, with its trees growing over the ruins; and Banteay Srei, with its delicate carvings. You can spend days wandering around these ancient wonders and discovering their secrets.

To make your trip to Angkor Wat more enjoyable and memorable, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Plan your visit ahead. Angkor Wat is very popular among tourists, so it can get crowded and hot during peak hours. To avoid the crowds and enjoy the best views, try to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon. You can also buy your tickets online or at one of the official ticket offices to save time.

  1. Dress appropriately. Angkor Wat is a sacred site, so you should respect its rules and customs. You should wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, and avoid wearing hats or sunglasses inside the temple. You should also remove your shoes before entering any building or chamber.
  2. Hire a guide. Angkor Wat has a lot of history and symbolism that can be hard to understand without some explanation. You can hire a guide at the entrance or book one online to learn more about the temple and its stories. A guide can also help you navigate the complex and find the best spots for photos.
  3. Respect the environment. Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means it is protected by international law and regulations. You should not touch, climb, or damage any part of the temple or its artifacts. You should also not litter or feed any animals that live in the area. You should be mindful of your impact on this precious area.

Phnom Penh

cambodia, opinons, thoughts, photography, Travel

If you are looking for a vibrant and diverse destination in Southeast Asia, you should definitely consider visiting Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Phnom Penh is a city that combines ancient history, colonial charm, and modern development. Here are some of the reasons why you should add Phnom Penh to your travel bucket list.

Phnom Penh has a rich and complex history that spans centuries. The city was founded in 1372 by a woman named Lady Penh, who discovered a sacred statue of Buddha on the banks of the Mekong River. The city became the royal capital of the Khmer Empire in 1434 and remained so until 1497. During the French colonial era, Phnom Penh was known as the “Pearl of Asia” for its beautiful architecture and cultural attractions. However, the city also witnessed some of the darkest chapters of Cambodia’s history, such as the Khmer Rouge regime and the genocide that killed millions of people in the 1970s. Today, Phnom Penh is a thriving metropolis that is undergoing rapid economic and social transformation.

Phnom Penh has a lot to offer to travelers who are interested in culture, art, and religion. The city is home to some of the most impressive temples, palaces, and museums in Cambodia. You can visit the Royal Palace, which is still the residence of the king and the queen, and admire its golden roofs and ornate decorations. You can also see the Silver Pagoda, which houses a stunning collection of Buddha statues made of gold, silver, jade, and crystal. Another must-see attraction is the National Museum, which displays thousands of artifacts from the Angkorian and pre-Angkorian periods. If you want to learn more about Cambodia’s recent history, you can visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields, which are both sobering reminders of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge.

Phnom Penh is also a great place to enjoy some of the best food, shopping, and nightlife in Cambodia. The city has a diverse culinary scene that reflects its multicultural influences. You can sample some of the local specialties, such as amok (fish curry steamed in banana leaves), lok lak (stir-fried beef with lime sauce), and kuy teav (noodle soup with pork and seafood). You can also try some of the international cuisines, such as French, Chinese, Indian, Thai, and Vietnamese. For shopping, you can head to the Central Market or the Russian Market, where you can find everything from souvenirs, handicrafts, clothes, jewelry, antiques, and electronics. For nightlife, you can explore the many bars, clubs, pubs, and karaoke venues that line the streets of Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh is a city that will surprise you with its diversity, vitality, and charm. It is a city that will make you feel welcome with its friendly people and warm hospitality. It is a city that will inspire you with its resilience and optimism. It is a city that will make you fall in love with Cambodia.

Volunteers – Khmer Sight Foundation.

cambodia, opinons, thoughts, photography, voluntary

What a challenging but excellent week helping the volunteers with Khmer Sight Foundation complete 116 surgeries over 4 days. Hard work and very busy but still managed to make a few pictures for the team.

The first day was pretty hectic, with new people getting to know each other, learning where everything was and who was doing what. Dr Gupta, the team leader with the help of the permanent staff at the clinic got things running like a well-oiled machine, the staff helping each other and getting do something in the most efficient way possible to enable as many patients to be seen.

The patience and gratitude shown by the Cambodian people waiting to be seen was heartwarming and enabled the doctors to see and treat many more people.

People working together to help others who cannot help themselves are always great to witness, and the potential change in the lives of those treated cannot be measured in money. Imagine being almost blind and then, because of the hard work of KSF, being able to see again, like a miracle.

Overcoming fear and apprehension, the staff showed understanding and kindness. People fear the unknown and things they don’t understand and need support throughout the process and the Khmer volunteers achieved this admirable. Seeing the happiness and relief on people’s faces when this ordeal was done made all the hard work worthwhile.

Personally, I did very little in comparison to the work the team achieved, I helped where I could and just hope that my pictures will add something to the team’s trip. Memories are made in pictures.

A celebratory dinner, after a long day, when people could let their hair down a little, and many friends made.

What to know more about KSF

http://khmersight.com/

Khmer Sight Foundation. Assessment trip to Kampot Area 2023

cambodia, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, voluntary

What a busy two days spent working hard, by the team, to identify the people with the greatest need for further treament. The team assessed over 350 people over the 2 days with over 100 people needing further treatment.

The team was supported by the local administration which provided support staff from various clinics in the area.

10,000 Cambodians suffer avoidable blindness each year. 90% of blindness is avoidable with the right care and skilled doctors to provide it. Sadly Cambodia has one of the lowest numbers of eye specialist doctors per capita in the world. Many people living in rural areas have no access to eye care, meaning their Cataracts, uncorrected vision, glaucoma, corneal scarring and pterygium go untreated.

All the people from KSF are volunteers and provide their skills and expertise without charge. They work hard and long in difficult conditions without complaint to try and provide this much-needed service to the Cambodian people.

Want to know more : http://khmersight.com/

Want to know more : http://khmersight.com/ Want to help or donate to save somebodies sight.

On the Riverside in Phnom Penh, Cambodia 04/03/23

cambodia, cameras, Fujichrome, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, street

Fujifilm XT2 + XF 16 – 80 f4

Khmer Sight Foundation

cambodia, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, voluntary

I am spending some time volunteering with the Khmer Sight Foundation which helps people with vision problems. It is a free service funded by donations and costs the patient nothing.

Initially the people are very wary and scared as they don’t really understand what is going to happen to them, many probably have been treated badly in the past and are reluctant to take advantage of the service. This seems to change quite quicly once they realise that they will be treated with kindness and understanding, but getting them to that point I understand can be quite a challenge.

http://khmersight.com/

to donate or find out more

Fujifilm X100 Original

cambodia, cameras, Fujichrome, fujifilm, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, street, Travel

A great little old camera, 12 years old to be exact. I have not used it for a while as the old batteries had died and finding new ones here in Phnom Penh proved difficult, but not impossible as I eventually found 2 but in two different shops. Glad I did as I had almost forgotten how good the JPEG images from this camera can be. The images seen here were taken yesterday on a short walk (10 km) around the city. The camera is so lite that this is easy to do, easy on the back but not on the feet.

Nikon D3s DSLR

cambodia, cameras, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures

A few months ago, on a whim, I picked up a well-used but still perfectly functioning Nikon D3s. This was a camera I had always desired but could never afford (at over $5000 when new). It’s a heavy old beast with a FF sensor of only 12MP. My current Fuji cameras have twice that, but does it matter to me.

Why would I choose to go backward I am sure a few people would ask. I had a few Nikkor lenses that I used with my Nikon D2HS and wanted to try these out just for fun. After getting the camera set up to use in the way I like I was really impressed with the results. Yes a little more care had to be taken with composition and framing due to the size of the sensor, but the results impressed me.

My first experiments with the old Nikkors that I had impressed me so much I started looking around at other lenses. I ended up buying, very reasonably from Japan, a Nikon 85mm f1.8D and locally a 50mm f1.8G both of which give satisfying results and great bokeh.

The thing I did notice was the AF ability which certainly was really fast and accurate, in some instances faster that my new fujis. The added weight I did not find to be a problem in shooting just in carrying it around for long periods. The weight seemed to stabilise it with in built stabilisation.

The lenses I picked up could only be described as Nikkor and were contrasty and sharp even wide open which was no less than I would have expected.

This is a 12-year-old camera and in some ways, its functions are definitely lagging behind the new breed of mirrorless as would be expected, but it is still more than capable of taking superb quality images. Do I regret purchasing it, as my son says NO WAY !!!!