Cambodia ✦ Vietnam 2009
Cambodia ✦ Vietnam
Cambodia Siem Reap Wat Thmei Angkor Wat Angkor Thom Baphuon Phimeanakas The Terrace of the Elephants The Terrace of the Leper King
Banteay Samre Banteay Srei Kbal Spean Preah Khan Bakong Ta Prohm Lolei
5 12 20 30 44 46 48 48 55 62 70 74 80 84 92
Vietnam Hanoi Halong Bay Hue Hoi An Mekong Delta Ho Chi Minh City Cu Chi Tunnels
Tay Ninh Cao Dei Temple
98 122 134 162 180 188 194 200 200
Cambodia Siem Reap The Villa Siem Reap 12-9-2009 to 15-9-2009
4 ✦ Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Flew Vietnam Airlines to Ho Chii Minh City, then with Cambodia Angkor Air to Siem Reap arriving late evening on September 15. From the airport transferred by tuk tuk to The Villa Siem Reap for my three night stay and exploration of the Angkor region. My first day spent on the Outlying Adventure Guided Tour to Bantreay Samre, Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean and the Ruluos Group. The second day was on the Angkor Discovery Guided Tour to Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm. On my last day I went to Wat Thmei and Preah Khan by tuk tuk before leaving for the airport for my 6pm flight to Hanoi.
Siem Reap ✦ 5
6 ✦ Siem Reap
Siem Reap ✦ 7
8 ✦ Siem Reap
Siem Reap ✦ 9
10 ✦ Siem Reap
Siem Reap ✦ 11
12 ✦ Wat Thmei
Wat Thmei ✦ 13
14 ✦ Wat Thmei
Wat Thmei ✦ 15
16 ✦ Wat Thmei
Wat Thmei ✦ 17
18 ✦ Wat Thmei
Wat Thmei ✦ 19
20 ✦ Wat Thmei
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat means “City Temple” and was built for king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. The temple is the epitome of the high classical style of Khmer architecture and is also the most impressive in the character of its grand composition, being comparable to the finest of architectural achievements anywhere. Angkor Wat is the a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag. Angkor Wat lies 5.5 km north of the modern town of Siem Reap and covers an area – including its 190 metre wide moats – of nearly 200 hectares.
Angkor Wat ✦ 21
22 ✦ Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat ✦ 23
24 ✦ Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat ✦ 25
26 ✦ Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat ✦ 27
28 ✦ Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat ✦ 29
30 ✦ Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom was the last capital city of the Khmer empire. Established in the late 12th century by king Jayavarman VII. It covers an area of 9 square km, within which are located several monuments from earlier eras as well as those established by Jayavarman and his successors. At the centre of the city is the Bayon, with the other major sites clustered around the Victory Square immediately to the north. The city lies on the right bank of the Siem Reap River, a tributary of Tonle Sap. The south gate of Angkor Thom is 7 km north of Siem Reap, and 1.7 km north of the entrance to Angkor Wat. The walls are 8 m high and flanked by a moat, are each 3 km long and enclose an area of 9 square km.
Angkor Thom ✦ 31
32 ✦ Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom ✦ 33
34 ✦ Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom ✦ 35
36 Рюд Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom ✦ 37
38 ✦ Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom ✦ 39
40 ✦ Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom ✦ 41
42 ✦ Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom ✦ 43
Baphuon
44 ✦ Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom ✦ 45
Phimeanakas
46 ✦ Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom ✦ 47
The Terrace of The Elephants The Terrace of the Leper King
48 âœŚ Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom Рюд 49
50 ✦ Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom ✦ 51
52 ✦ Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom ✦ 53
54 Рюд Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom Рюд 55
56 ✦ Banteay Samre
Banteay Samre
Middle of the 12th century Brahmanic (Vishnou) This monument that takes its name from the Samre people – is found to the east of the earth embankment forming the eastern wall of the East Baray. Anastylosis has transformed Banteay Samre into one of the finest monuments of the Angkor group, and one of the most complete. Its ornamentation, exceptional in quality and very well preserved in its entirety, became thereafter presented in its unified integrity – it is a pure specimen of the classic art from the finest period where the decoration, shown to its best advantage on a clear background, is itself a function of the architecture.
Banteay Samre ✦ 57
58 ✦ Banteay Samre
Banteay Samre ✦ 59
60 ✦ Banteay Samre
Banteay Samre ✦ 61
62 ✦ Banteay Srei
Banteay Srei
Second half of the 10th century Brahmanic (Shivaïte) The miniature temple of Banteay Srei is located 20 kilometres north-east of the Bayon and situated in the middle of the forest and in a remarkable state of preservation. It has the excellence of a near perfect ornamental technique and is a “precious gem” and a “jewel of Khmer art”. Its small blocks of stone cut from a durable sandstone retain its sharp profiles with visible decoration is so well preserved.
Banteay Srei ✦ 63
64 ✦ Banteay Srei
Banteay Srei ✦ 65
66 Рюд Banteay Srei
Banteay Srei Рюд 67
68 Рюд Banteay Srei
Banteay Srei Рюд 69
70 ✦ Kbal Spean
Kbal Spean
Commonly known as the valley of a 1000 Lingas, Kbal Spean is an Angkorian era site on the southwest slopes of the Kulen Hills in Cambodia, 25 km from the main Angkor group. It consists of a series of stone carvings in and around the Stung Kbal Spean river. The motifs for the stone carvings are roughly three: • myriads of lingams, depicted as neatly arranged bumps that cover the surface of a rock; • lingam – yoni designs; • various Hindu mythological motifs, including depictions of gods and animals.
Kbal Spean ✦ 71
72 ✦ Kbal Spean
Kbal Spean ✦ 73
74 ✦ Preah Khan
Preah Khan
Second half of 12th century Buddhist The large ensemble of Prah Khan, forming a rectangle of 700 metres by 800 surrounded by moats, covers an area of 56 hectares. The temple is flat in design, with a basic plan of successive rectangular galleries around a Buddhist sanctuary complicated by Hindu satellite temples and numerous later additions. The outer wall of Preah Khan is of laterite, and bears 72 garudas holding nagas, at 50 metre intervals.
Preah Khan ✦ 75
76 ✦ Preah Khan
Preah Khan ✦ 77
78 ✦ Preah Khan
Preah Khan ✦ 79
80 ✦ Bakong
Bakong
Late 9th century Brahmanic (Shivaïte) Bakong is the first temple mountain of sandstone constructed by rulers of the Khmer empire at Angkor. In the final decades of the 9th century A.D, it served as the official state temple of King Indravarman I in the ancient city of Hariharalaya, located in an area that today is called Roluos. Of all the temples on stepped terraces of the Angkor region, Bakong is perhaps the one which most closely responds to the idea of the Mount Meru on 5 levels, corresponding, from bottom to top respectively, to the world of the Nagas, the Garudas, the Rakshasas, the Yakshas, and then to the Maharajas of the four cardinal points with their court.
Bakong ✦ 81
82 ✦ Bakong
Bakong ✦ 83
84 ✦ Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm
Middle of 12th to early 13th century Buddhist The Khmer temple Ta Prohm is a Buddhist monastery laid out on a single plane, no longer followed the principle of multiple levels, but where the notion of elevation was rather expressed by the rising of the towers and predominant central sanctuary from within an arrangement of concentric galleries. Here these number three, and the principal east-west axis, formed by a succession of towers and passages, gives a sort of ‘sacred vista’ straight to the heart of the monument.
Ta Prohm ✦ 85
86 ✦ Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm ✦ 87
88 ✦ Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm ✦ 89
90 ✦ Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm ✦ 91
92 ✦ Lolei
Lolei
Late 9th century Brahmanic (Shivaïte) The temple of Lolei is the northernmost temple of the Ruluos group and is situated north of Bakong. Once an island temple formed an island in the middle of the Indratataka – a large reservoir of 3,800 metres eastwest by 800 north-south whose excavation started to provide the capital city (Hariharalaya) with water and to irrigate the surrounding plains. The appearance of the monument is marred by the unfortunate presence of various pagoda buildings.
Lolei ✦ 93
94 ✦ Lolei
Lolei ✦ 95
Vietnam 16-9-2009 to 27-9-2009
Hanoi
✦
Golden Sun 1 Hotel and Victory Hotel
Halong Bay
✦
Bien Ngoc 12 Junk
Hue
✦
Thanh Noi Hotel
Hoi An
✦
Cua Dai Hotel
Ho Chi Minh City
✦
Hong Vy Hotel
98 ✦ Hanoi
Hanoi
Flew to Hanoi September 15 staying at the Golden Sun 1 Hotel for the first two nights. Spent a day touring with Phong, a student of hanoikidsclub.org. On September 17 met up with the Intrepid group and stayed at the Victory Hotel. Hanoi is the capital and second largest city of Vietnam and is located on the right bank of the Red River. Hanoi is considered to be the cultural centre of Vietnam with many interesting historic monuments for visitors and residents alike. The Old Quarter near Hoan Kiem Lake has the original street layout and architecture of old Hanoi – each street had merchants that specialised in a particular trade.
Hanoi ✦ 99
100 ✦ Hanoi
Hanoi ✦ 101
102 ✦ Hanoi
Hanoi ✦ 103
104 ✦ Hanoi
Hanoi ✦ 105
106 ✦ Hanoi
Hanoi ✦ 107
108 ✦ Hanoi
Hanoi ✦ 109
110 Рюд Hanoi
Hanoi Рюд 111
112 ✦ Hanoi
Hanoi ✦ 113
114 ✦ Hanoi
Hanoi ✦ 115
116 ✦ Hanoi
Hanoi ✦ 117
118 ✦ Hanoi
Hanoi ✦ 119
120 ✦ Hanoi
Hanoi ✦ 121
122 ✦ Halong Bay
Halong Bay
On September 18 we travelled by bus for four hours to Ha Long Bay. Glorious weather and calm seas we boarded the Bien Ngoc 12 Junk for our overnight stay. Cruised through the very scenic bay and stopped to visit Hung Sun Sot. Kayaked for three hours into the evening then a swim in the very warm water. Seafood for dinner and very tired layed on a deck lounge on the top deck almost falling asleep then to the air conditioned cabin for a great night’s sleep.
Halong Bay ✦ 123
124 ✦ Halong Bay
Halong Bay ✦ 125
126 ✦ Halong Bay
Halong Bay ✦ 127
128 ✦ Halong Bay
Halong Bay ✦ 129
130 ✦ Halong Bay
Halong Bay ✦ 131
132
â?– Halong Bay
Halong Bay ✦ 133
134 ✦ Hue
Hue
Spent September 19 on the overnight train from Hanoi, then the next two nights in Hue. Blue skies and very hot we visited the Citadel on the first day followed by a swim in the hotel pool then a group dinner in town. Our second day in Hue the group toured by bike, travelling single file through the countryside stopping at a market and watched incense being made. Had lunch at a nunnery then went on a boat down the Perfume River. We had a banquet dinner with all of the group dressed in period costume with musicians and singers. Finished the evening at the DMZ pub.
Hue ✦ 135
136 ✦ Hue
Hue ✦ 137
138 ✦ Hue
Hue ✦ 139
140 ✦ Hue
Hue ✦ 141
142 ✦ Hue
Hue ✦ 143
144 Рюд Hue
Hue ✦ 145
146 ✦ Hue
Hue ✦ 147
148 ✦ Hue
Hue ✦ 149
150 ✦ Hue
Hue ✦ 151
152 ✦ Hue
Hue ✦ 153
154 ✦ Hue
Hue ✦ 155
156 ✦ Hue
Hue ✦ 157
158 ✦ Hue
Hue ✦ 159
160 ✦ Hue
Hue ✦ 161
162 ✦ Hoi An
Hoi An
September 21 we travelled by bus passing through the Hai Van Pass and past Marble Mountain. On arriving, Tho took us on an orientation tour, then had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the river. Toured the countryside by bicycle women created for us was better. Most of the group went with Tho to Bale Well, basic looking restaurant in a back alley, metal top tables and all you can eat for $4. The ancient town of Hoi An is 30 km south of Danang and lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Occupied by early western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century.
Hoi An ✦ 163
164 ✦ Hoi An
Hoi An ✦ 165
166 ✦ Hoi An
Hoi An ✦ 167
168 ✦ Hoi An
Hoi An ✦ 169
170 ✦ Hoi An
Hoi An ✦ 171
172 ✦ Hoi An
Hoi An ✦ 173
174 ✦ Hoi An
Hoi An ✦ 175
176 ✦ Hoi An
Hoi An ✦ 177
178 ✦ Hoi An
Hoi An ✦ 179
180 ✦ Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
September 23 – After a long delay we flew to Ho Chi Minh City having to do our cyclo tour into the evening. Had dinner at one of the outside restaurants next to the market. The following day we travelled by bus to the Mekong Delta. We toured on boats along the river system, walked through the fields and also on motorised carts. The Mekong splits in Cambodia into two main rivers, the Bassac and the First river, then in Vietnam into a more complex system, creating a maze of small canals, rivers and arroyos interspersed with villages and floating markets. Life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and all the villages are often accessible by river rather than by road.
Mekong Delta ✦ 181
182 ✦ Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta ✦ 183
184 ✦ Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta ✦ 185
186 ✦ Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta ✦ 187
188 ✦ Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
September 25 – the group travelled to the Cu Chi tunnels, then on to the Cao Dai temple. Went to Pho 2000 for dinner and walked the streets around the market area. Spent my last day touring on my own visiting the parks, the Reunification Palace, City Hall, City Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and along the Saigon River. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the largest city in Vietnam and the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam. The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, with the metropolitan area populated by more than 9 million people. The city is adorned with wide elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings.
Ho Chi Minh City ✦ 189
190 âœŚ Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City âœŚ 191
192 ✦ Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City ✦ 193
194 âœŚ Cu Chi Tunnels
Cu Chi Tunnels âœŚ 195
196 âœŚ Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City âœŚ 197
198 ✦ Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City ✦ 199
200 ✦ Tay Ninh (Cao Dei Temple)
Tay Ninh (Cao Dei Temple) ✦ 201
202 ✦ Tay Ninh (Cao Dei Temple)
Tay Ninh (Cao Dei Temple) ✦ 203
204 ✦ Tay Ninh (Cao Dei Temple)
Tay Ninh (Cao Dei Temple) ✦ 205
206 ✦ Tay Ninh (Cao Dei Temple)
Tay Ninh (Cao Dei Temple) âœŚ 207
208 ✦ Tay Ninh (Cao Dei Temple)
Tay Ninh (Cao Dei Temple) âœŚ 209
Priti Veja, Neil Lucas, Verena Bartl, Maria Nespeca, Beverly Jones, Alexandra Winter, Diane Rollin, Frank Gatt, Nerio Nespeca, Tho Nguyen, Dave Jarvie, Nicola Sergiou,
Cambodia ✦ Vietnam 2009
Cambodia ✦ Vietnam