This temple is located slightly east of the midsection of Dangrek mountain range. It is also perged on the edge of giant cliff, 625 meters above sea level, in northern part of Preah Vihear province, Kingdom of Cambodia. Lying out on an area of 800-meter north-south axis, Preah Vihear complex has a single imposing approach, leading up through a serie of five Gopuras (towered entrance pavillion), connected by causeway and 120-meter steps. Stunningly sitting on the top of Preah Vihear temple, the main sanctuary is surrounded by libraries and other structures.
Its history is mentioned as follows.
In 9th century, Khmer King Yaso Varaman I (889-900) began work on the construction of a small sanctuary, then named Sekharesvara (Lord of Summit) and dedicated to god Siva.
Spiritual development, increased political power and economic growth were factors that inspired the Khmer Kings to architechural imagination. It took more than 300 years to construct the whole temple during the reigns of subsequent kings – Suryavaraman I (1002-1050), Jayavaraman VI (1180-1107) and Suryavaraman II (1113-1150) in various structures that merged into a homogeneous Hindu universe called a magical home of Gods.
As a result of its fine carvings in situ found there, Preah Vihear temple was officially declared a world heritage site on July 7th 2008 by UNESCO in Quebec City, Canada. The site of Preah Vihear temple has become a new cultural, tourist destination in Cambodia.
Banteay Prei Nokor is commonly called "Historical site of Luong Preah Sdech Korn", located in north of Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham province, just 4km away from the town center. It is a former capital of pre-Angkor period, during the reign of Luong Preah sdech Korn (also known as Preah Srei Chetha) in early 16th century.
Mekong is one of the world major rivers. It is the 12th longest river in the world and 7th longest in Asia.
The Mekong River is famous for the Mekong giant carp which is among biggest species of carp in the world. It is also one of the biggest freshwater fish in the world, has beautiful scales that change colours depending on the lighting.
The Mekong River crosses Cambodia from north to south about 600km and has its source in Tibet, China. It is a lifeline for Cambodia due to movement of freshwater fish to Tonle Sap Lake.
In Phnom Penh, it bursts into 4 branches:
- The Upper Mekong River or Tonle Thom (big river).
- The Lower Mekong River or Tonlo Toch (Small River).
- The Tonle Bassac River.
- The Tonle Sap
The four-way division is called Chatomuk that means the Four-face River. In wet season, water flows from Mekong River to Tonle Sap Lake. In dry season, water flows from back from Tonle Sap Lake to Mekong River and then down into the sea. At that time, Cambodian people celebrate their Water Festival, have boat race in Phnom. Nowadays international interests in river trips appear to be growing.
Nowadays there are over 100 Mekong dolphins live largely in Kratie province, 315km north-east of Phnom Penh, and Stung Treng province, 40km further. Both provinces can be accessed by car through National roads number 7 and 13.
Dolphin is the name of a group of animals closely related to whales and porpoises. Dolphins are mammals, so they feed babies with milk, have lungs and are warm-blooded. They are among the most intelligent animals, along with chimpanzees and dogs.
A dolphin is normally 2 to 2.8m in length and 180kg in weight can live from 20 to 40 years, always eat small fish, snails and shellfish. They can swimm up to 42km an hour ans hold breath from 5 to 10mn, stay still in depth of 35m but can deeply plung into water of 300m deep. They like to swimm in a school of 6 to 10 and communicate one another via sound wave.
Most dolphins mate in summer. The males are called bulls and the females are called cows. The courtship behavor may involve head-bumping. Pregnacy for dolphins lasts from 10 to 12 months. The females almost always give birth to one baby, called a calf, two years once, between Junes to August. When a calf is born, it immediately swims to the surface for its first breath of air. A newborn dolphin is 1m in length and one fifth of a normal dolphin in weight.
Dolphins have similar characteristics to humans, always smile pleasantly at guests. Tourists can see river dolphins that have charateristics distinc from sea dolphins.
It is a group of 140 brick temples, one of the civilized Khmer historical sites, located 25km north-eastern of Kampong Thom provincial town. The site was once a Khmer capital, named Isanapura, established by the king Isanvaraman I in 7th century.
Boko Hill is strategically located 42km from Kampot town center. It was erected by French colonists in 1922 during the reign of the King Sisovath. It was a leisure place for the French colonist to exchange atmosphere from the plain to the mountenous area at seaside.
Boko hill is 1,075meters high with good weather and magnificent views. Big trees casting shadow over water and rocks shape up as animals figures particular interest for tourists. The hill overlooks Kampot town, Keb beach, Preah Sihanouk province and bleu sea water.
