A tree fell down in Cambodia

A tree fell down in Cambodia
One of my areas of interest is trees growing over buildings, and halfway between Phnom Penh and Kampot, there was a tree growing inside a Khmer ruin that I was going to visit.

Following pictures from:
វត្តប្រាសាទ​ (វត្តតានី)​ Wat Prasat (Wat Tani)
http://sroulnas168.blogspot.com/2017/05/wat-prasat-wat-tani.html





More pictures at: https://web.facebook.com/491290554574899/posts/1224584694578811/?_rdc=1&_rdr

That tree has been there for decades. However, when I went on 4dec2021, I found it gone and my Khmer friend translated what locals told him: the tree fell down in a storm 10 days ago, and toppled part of the ruin as well. My worst timing ever.

The title of this post is inspired by a German saying: "Das interessiert mich so sehr, wie wenn in China ein Sack Reis (oder: in Brasilien ein Sack Kaffee) umkippt." (My translation: It bothers me as much as a sack of rice falling down in China (or: a sack of coffee falling down in Brazil). Seems to be a German saying, equivalents in English here: https://www.reddit.com/r/polandball/comments/1r50pe/in_china_a_sack_of_rice_fell_over/ How would you say in English or you mother tongue?

Update 21jan2024. In Koh Ker there is a similar situation, Prasat Bak has a tree growing over a fragment of wall that is dangerously leaning, seen in pictures as recent as 3 years ago, but when I went today it has all fallen down.

Copyright 2022 ChristianPFC

Cycling near Kanchanaburi

Cycling near Kanchanaburi

I have been to Kanchanaburi many times and still many places I haven’t seen. Problem is accessibility by public transport (see previous post). One place I want to go to is 10 km out of town, and two more along the way. Too far to walk, and if renting a car or mocy with driver, I would mostly pay him for waiting for me.

Then I haven an epiphany: rent a bicyle! I don’t know why I didn’t get that idea earlier, but probably because I have two friend who get around Bangkok and Phnom Penh by bicycle, which I consider too dangerous and there are better alternatives. But Kanchanaburi, with tree lined local roads with wide side strips is perfect for cycling.

Bicycle rental in Mae Nam road / Khwae River Road (main tourist road) for 50 THB per day (i.e. 24 h, I took the bicycle over night), 300 deposit and picture of my passport and my hotel details. The first time since 2010 that I actively take part in road traffic in Thailand. In 2010, I rode a bicycle on Phra Phradaeng (peninsula, mostly forest, no through traffic). No gears, but roads mostly flat and the one hill I got off and pushed. Basket in front useful to put my stuff in. I don’t have a license to drive a motorbike and prefer bicycle anyway.

In Kwaen Rock at Wat Khao Chong Sadet อินแขวน วัดเขาช่องเสด็จ
The road to the temple leads past fields with onions and spring onions, I can smell them when driving past. Park bicycle at Wat Khao Chong Sadet. Some people there speak English and offer me cold drinking water and show me the way (past the temple, over the field, into the forest).

View of rock (zoom) from the field behind the temple. Elevation about 100 m from temple and field.

A recent fire has cleared all vegetation. Yellow flags or arrows visible to mark the way, but now I can go any way.

Note the pre-historic palm trees (above picture) and moss.

Last part some serious climbing (but no equipment other than closed shoes and gloves needed).

And here is the rock standing on small base:
 

View from higher up:

View of Kanchanaburi town:
 

Wat Phothisat Banpotnimit วัดโพธิสัตว์บรรพตนิมิต
 

The interesting part of the temple is a giant statue of many-handed Guan Yin.

Several areas with unfinished construction.

Wat Tham Khao Pun วัดถ้ำเขาปูน
A golden chedi on top of the mountain. Reached by red painted steel stairway.

Views over Khwae Noi river, railway line, Kanchanaburi town from chedi and nearby cafes and restaurants.

A cave (entry 20 THB) with several rooms and various sculptures, the reclining Buddha the most important. Some narrow passages between rooms.

A museum witch pictures from construction of the Thailand-Burma railway line. Here the bombed, and in repaired state still in use, steel bridge and the long gone wooden bridge (that was built before the steel bridge) over the river Kwai.

Chong Kai Allied War Cemetery สุสานทหารสัมพันธมิตรช่องไก่
Drive past, but not my main area of interest.

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Bokor National Park (1)

Bokor National Park (1) Natural Attractions 

There was no entry fee to Bokor National Park. Many people ride there by mocy, but I have no driving license and it's too uncomfortable, so I rented car and driver for 55 USD for a daytrip to Bokor National Park. And one day was just enough to see everything of interest to me. In chronological order:

1. Stones at Yeay Mao Monument
2. Popokvil Waterfall
3. “100 Ricefields”
4. “500 Ricefields”
5. Nepenthes field
6. Gateway stones
7. Balanced rocks at Sampov Pram Pagoda
8. Eroded rocks at Bokor Hill Station

1. Stones at Yeay Mao Monument 

2. Popokvil Waterfall
Now just a trickle. On lower level of waterfall, an interesting rock looks like a cube from a certain angle and holes from erosion in river bed. I didn’t see an obvious way down, but on google maps there are pictures taken at the lower level and hotel manager said it’s a difficult and long way down. 

3. “100 Ricefields”
Free entry, it’s along the road.

4. “500 Ricefields”
At the entrance (10.6538, 104.0027), there is a tollbooth that was not manned for lack of tourists. It’s a dead end, about 5 km drive from junction. My driver said he hasn’t been there before because tourists he took were happy with 100 Ricefields, but I say 500 Ricefields is definitely worth a visit, even with entry, and to see 5. Nepenthes and 6. Gateway Stones you have to pay entry anyway.

5. Nepenthes field
When I planned the trip to Kampot and Bokor National Park and didn't know about Nepenthes. I saw such pictures a few times in online dating profiles, but thought it's somewhere in Africa or America. 

On the subject of insectivorous plants, there is Drosera = Sundew as well.  

6. Gateway stones 

There was a board with a story in Khmer about these stones. Coordinates 10.6844,103.9822

All stones are grey, but fresh surface and sand (picture below) formed from the stones is white.

7. Balanced rocks at Sampov Pram Pagoda
There is a story behind it and name might be different, but it was all in Khmer.

8. Eroded rocks at Bokor Hill Station
From Bokor Hill Station about 200 m NE, near the water tower.

Copyright 2021 ChristianPFC