Cycling around Siem Reap Nov2023

Cycling around Siem Reap Nov2023
Two days of cycling around Siem Reap in chronological order. Names as in google maps or coordinates: Airplane House, Wat Chedei Temple, Wat Krabi Riel Pagoda, Chork Pagoda, ArtBox, The Western Siem Reap Bus station, (no English name) វត្តខ្នាតរង្សី Buddhistischer Tempel, Spean Memay (Ancient Bridge), Prasat Ak Yum, Old Siem Reap Airport, abandoned hotel.

Airplane House
From social media I learnt about a building in shape of an airplane and managed to find exact location 13.35468, 103.80961.

I didn't come all the way to look at the airplane from outside the fence. The fence and gate work well to keep elephants, rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses off the premises; I didn't see a single elephant, rhinoceros or hippopotamus inside. But inefficient for humans.

It's complete and might have been in operation, no idea why it's abandoned now. See here as well: https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2022/04/aircraft-as-decoration-in-cambodia.html

Wat Chedei Temple
Leaving from airplane house, I spot an inviting temple gate. That was not my original plan, but can't resist to check on google maps where it leads, interesting, go there.

Beside an operating contemporary Wat, there is an abandoned structure and old chedi (but not Khmer empire old).

Should I go up or should I not go up this ladder? I shun no effort or danger to entertain my readers, in this case I asked a local first if it's safe, no objections. View from roof:

Wat Krabi Riel Pagoda
Muddy, potholed road see previous post. The interesting part is the Buddhist Hell mural:

 
Chork Pagoda
On the way back another temple. I just can't pass a temple!

Art Box
Looks closed, only now checking on google maps do I see it's still operating.

The Western Siem Reap Bus Station
By chance come across abandoned The Western Siem Reap Bus Station. I didn't know they have such a big bus station! Many times bigger than the operational one east of town.

(no English name) វត្តខ្នាតរង្សី Buddhistischer Tempel
Unusual concrete moldings (looks like stone carvings) and grey color. Entrance gate in style of Tonle Om Gate (Southern Gate) of Bayon. 

Spean Memay (Ancient Bridge)
An Angkor-era laterite corbelled arch bridge. More on that subject here: https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2023/01/angkorean-bridges.html Now standing dry in the countryside, apart from a puddle of water during rainy season.

Wat Tol Khpuos no pictures

Prasat Ak Yum

Wat Svay Romeat Pagoda no pictures

Old Siem Reap Airport
New Siem Reap Airport opened on 16nov2023. https://www.siemreap.net/guides/travel/siem-reap-angkor-international-airport/
Old airport no more air traffic but still some activity on ground.

Abandoned Hotel
Just like temples, I can't pass abandoned places. This former hotel ("REAC" at reception, there might be letters missing; big name plate on front wall blocked by vegetation) at 13.38115, 103.82855 everything wide open, just walk in and enjoy.
 

Copyright 2023 ChristianPFC

Suoi Tien theme park in Saigon

Suoi Tien theme park in Saigon

I have little interest in theme parks in Europe or Thailand. The usual stuff (roller coaster, water park, zoo) is of no interest to me. But this one in Saigon is Buddhism themed and has various huge statues of religious and mythological creatures and interesting buildings. Some of them are religious buildings.

On the north-eastern outskirts of Saigon, easily accessible by various bus routes and soon by metro. There are bilingual maps posted in the park and at entrance I got a bilingual paper map. The map is distorted, to squeeze the park which is roughly 250 m wide and 1 km deep, into a square format. During my stay (weekday morning to afternoon about 5 hours), there were only dozens of other visitors and hundreds of staff. Several parts (Ferris wheel, water park) closed for maintenance.

Entry is 150k VND. That gives access to most of the park, but some individual attractions cost extra. There are combo tickets that include various individual attractions, but I didn't know what would be of interest to me, so I paid for entry to the park 150k VND and individual attractions separately. 1 EUR = 25k VND.

There is free WiFi in the park, but you would have to register with phone number and receive a code by SMS. Whereas at the Mini Mart outside free WiFi without registration, and a point to get some food and drink before or after. There are plenty of restaurants inside the park, where I had a look, it was for self-cooking as a family activity.

View of main entrance from road:



The water park is the most popular part, currently (11/09/2023-20/10/2023) closed, picture from google maps:


 
Selected attractions with name and number from map.
Statue of Avalokiteshvara (10):



Central office and information center (52):



Upper floor gives a view of Snow Castle (51):



Entry to Snow Castle 60k VND. Inside -5 to -15 C. The attendants must have one of the weirdest jobs in Saigon. Winter clothes and rubber boots are provided. Two slopes where you can ride down on a rubber tube.



The Boddhisattva Square (54):



Magical Castle of golden Phoenix and Dragon (49). A remotely Harry-Potter-themed haunted house that you walk through. Entry 50k VND.







The Tree of Wishes (60):



Golden Pagoda (46):





Nine Golden Unicorns Square (42):




Ornamental gates to the above (42 and 46):

Buddhist Hell Garden in Unicorn Palace (40). Neither the name nor the exterior architecture give a hint what's inside. Entry 40k VND.



Hung King's Temple (5):








Wax Museum (21), entry about 40k VND, of little interest as there are mostly Vietnamese celebrities; Albert Einstein and Donald Trump the only foreigners.

Crocodiles Kingdom (22), entry 30k VND, mildly entertaining.

Journey to the Center of the World (38), entry 50k VND, outside elephant themed, inside an ancient-Egypt-themed ghost train.

Many more, total 62 points on their map. After 5 hours I felt well entertained for my money (150k VND entry and 250k VND on various individual attractions) and skipped some.

Reports by others can be found here: https://www.thetravelninjas.com/suoi-tien-vietnam-amusement-park/ and https://www.timetravelturtle.com/suoi-tien-theme-park-saigon/ for more pictures, background information, and a different viewpoint from mine.

There are more theme parks of interest to me (architecture, statues) in Vietnam, from South to North:
KITTYD & MINNIED Amusement Park in My Tho,
Dam Sen Cultural Park in Saigon,
Suoi Tien in Saigon (this post),
Buu Long Tourist Area,
Dai Nam Amusement Park north of Saigon (currently not accessible by public transport, bus 61-6 doesn't run any more),
Black Virgin Mountain in Tay Ninh,
VinWonders in Nha Trang,
VinWonders in Hoi An,
Asia Park - Sun World Da Nang Wonders in Danang,
Ba Na Hills Danang,
Thuy Tien lake Abandoned Water Park in Hue
https://www.timetravelturtle.com/abandoned-water-park-hue-vietnam/
Bảo Sơn Paradise Theme Park in Hanoi.

Copyright 2023 ChristianPFC except water park picture

Moulmein attractions

Moulmein attractions

Places I have visited during my 25-26dec2017 stay in 
Moulmein = Mawlamyine = Mawlamyaing, 
in chronological order:
Nowrlaboo Taung Pagoda 
Zin Kyaik Waterfall
Unnamed elephant rock shrine
Unnamed Hindu shrine
Kyaik Kabaraye Pagoda 
Unnamed brick chedi ruin
Win Sein reclining Buddha in Mudon
Kyauk Ta Lone Pagoda Taung
Thanlwin Bridge
 
This is just a selection of what Moulmein and environs has to offer. Having rented a car with driver, I skipped walking around town, because I can do that on a repeat visit on my own.

(1 THB = 42 MMK, 1 EUR = 1600 MMK, 1 USD = 1350 MMK)
Night train from Yangon to Moulmein, upper class 5500 MMK, schedule 20:00 - 6:00, real 19:58 - 6:15. My driver is already waiting. Originally I thought 75 kMMK is a bit expensive for one day, but in hindsight it seems a fair price including petrol and a total of over 14 hours (pick up 6:15, bye 20:30).

Nowrlaboo Taung Pagoda
16°38'30.5"N 97°30'10.2"E = 16.641817, 97.502838 
Park car at base camp on main road. From there 6.6 km up the mountain by shuttle service (3 kMMK for front seat, cheaper on the back, 8:21-45). 

Not just one, but two overhanging rocks, covered in gold, with a pagoda on top! 

 

View west (Gulf of Martaban):

We got there early with only few visitors, but on our way down three full trucks passed on their way up:

Zin Kyaik Waterfall
16°41'23.6"N 97°26'03.4"E = 16.689877, 97.434268
Only a dribble of water in dry season:

There is a roofed stairway to the upper levels, with some stones painted as crocodile or fish:

Aerial picture by a Farang friend's drone in Aug 2017:

Unnamed elephant rock shrine
16°39'12.6"N 97°26'45.6"E = 16.653506, 97.446005
Accidental find, a cluster of rocks that have been made into two elephants, stop on return trip to take picture:

Unnamed Hindu shrine
16°35'40.2"N 97°28'15.8"E = 16.594498, 97.471056
Accidental find, stop on return trip to take picture and record location:

Kyaik Kabaraye Pagoda
16°35'28.8"N 97°28'51.0"E = 16.591324, 97.480827 
Another accidental find driving past by car, stopping on return.
A Bodhigaya replica and a garden full of pagodas and statues, can be seen from the railway that passes.

Unnamed brick chedi ruin
16°32'10.9"N 97°35'45.1"E = 16.536371, 97.595872
Pointed out by my driver, and I love ruins, stop for picture.

Win Sein reclining Buddha in Mudon 
16°19'24.1"N 97°43'27.9"E = 16.323348, 97.724415
At the time of construction (start 2010, now structure complete but interior not) it was the longest reclining Buddha in the world, at 180 m length. 

But since then matters have become more difficult: in Thailand there is one to be 209 m long once construction is finished http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2016/07/wat-pa-sawang-bun-in-saraburi-province.html and the Chinese carved one out of rock that is 416 m long (but the structure is not man-made, and only parts are carved) http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/travel/2015-04/01/content_19964742_3.htm. 

So at time of posting this is the longest structurally complete, man made reclining Buddha in the world.

Across, in anti-parallel orientation, facing the complete Buddha, a construction site for another:
 

Interior is incomplete. Various mural drawings and statues, i.a. depictions of Buddhist Hell.

Mausoleum with the body of the founding monk:

Entrance gate from main road. There is misinformation  on the internet, the statue is not visible from afar, you have to get on the premises and close to see it.

Kyauk Ta Lone Pagoda Taung  
16°19'03.1"N 97°42'19.4"E = 16.317519, 97.705379
Accidental find on the way to Win Sein reclining Buddha in Mudon. Mountain with various chedis on top. Entrance to stairs:

From there it's 411 steps to junction, and total 491 to left (southern) top (woman not allowed to climb up):

or 522 steps in total to right (north) top (note the gray stone and very sharp edges in second picture):

And there is a cave that passes under the mountain:

Sunset prevented further sightseeing. Following morning walk to 

Thanlwin Bridge
which has two lanes for cars and pedestrians and one for railway. Some day I want to walk across the bridge!

  
The island next to the bridge Shampoo Island has several pagodas and there is a boat service, but will have to wait for another trip.

Aerial picture by a friend's drone Aug 2017:

Some great attractions, and I have packed as much as possible in my short stay. I will be back to explore the town!

Copyright 2018 ChristianPFC