Choose your language
Latest photos added
|
TWIP, the best way to store, search, sort and share your World Travel Photos. Create an account Already a member? Sign In Forgot: Username | Password  Latest photo album Photo album list |
Stickers
To add this button in your site, please copy the code below |
Toolbox|
Country list City list Photos List Photos Cancellation |
 |
Partners Move&Buy Vietnam Colonie de vacances Move&Buy China Move Thailand Photographie Chine Voyage, séjour World Travel Photos Album Photo Photo gallery Learn French with podcast Forum photo numérique |
|
Cedar of Lebanon By Bart, 15 August 2008 at 17:26:01 :: Lebanon Climate change could hit Lebanon's dwindling cedars. Study cedar perched high in the mountains stand for many Lebanese as symbols of their fractured land's survival. But some environmentalists worry that the trees face a new threat from global warming. "The biggest challenge now for the cedars of Lebanon is climate change," said Nizar Hani, scientific coordinator of the Barouk Cedar Nature Reserve in the Shouf mountains. Only murmuring insects and breezes rustling through cedar branches disturb the stillness of the sanctuary, about 90 minutes' drive from the frenzied bustle of Beirut. The cedar's natural range is now 1,200 to 1,800 metres above sea level, Hani said. A warmer climate would mean cedars could only prosper higher up.  Cedars once covered vast swatches of southern Turkey, Syria and Lebanon, but their timber and resin has long been in demand, as indicated by the Epic of Gilgamesh, written in the second millennium BC, and by the Biblical tale of King Solomon importing Lebanese cedar wood for his temple in Jerusalem. Valued by Phoenician shipwrights, Egyptian builders and many others, the forests shrank over the millennia. Ottoman Turks axed many of Lebanon's surviving cedars. British troops used cedar wood to build the Tripoli-Haifa railway in World War Two. Now cedars cover only 2,000 hectares in Lebanon, clinging on in just a dozen high-altitude redoubts. Almost all these are protected. The Barouk cedars are thriving and regenerate naturally. Their larger, older cousins in a walled grove near Bsherri in the north are more famous, but only a few remain. Some are thought to exceed 2,000 years old. The longevity of the cedrus libani, or cedar of Lebanon, does not make it immune from climate change, argued Rania Masri, an environmentalist at Notre Dame University near Beirut. Cedars are comfortable at a certain altitude and like moist, well-drained soil with a certain level of humidity. "These are aspects that climate change could very much impact, especially in this region," she said. "There could well be a decrease in humidity, a decrease in rainfall." Cedars form part of an environment in Lebanon subject to multiple man-made stresses not limited to climate change, she added. "I'm as worried about threats to the cedars as I am about most other environmental situations in Lebanon, but no more." A decade ago, insects were devastating cedars at Tannourin in northern Lebanon. Researchers linked the infestation of Cephalcia tannourinensis, a wood wasp, to changes in temperature and soil moisture. The outbreak was eventually controlled. Nevertheless, Nasri Kawar, a retired professor at the American University of Beirut, who played a leading role in that effort, said he did not have enough firm scientific evidence to predict how badly climate change would affect the cedars. "Global warming is not a matter of overnight, it's a matter of many years. We have not yet seen any serious deterioration in the cedars over the years, besides this insect," he said. "To me the cedars are the symbol of Lebanon. They show the country's fantastic endurance," added Kawar, 75. "I hope my grandchildren will be able to enjoy them. I think they will."  Effort to preserve the cedars of Barouk, an official nature reserve since 1996, has been led by Walid Jumblatt, a Druze politician and former militia chief whose fiefdom is the Shouf. The reserve covers 160km2, 1,5% of Lebanon's territory, and contains a quarter of its cedar forests, said Hani, the scientific coordinator. Lebanon's cedar, which adorns the national flag, grows into its distinctive wedge shape only after it has reached a height of seven or eight meters, he explained. "Then the head dies. This is a natural condition, not a disease, because the underground water reservoir can only feed the tree to that height," Hani said. "This is the difference between the cedrus libani in Lebanon and in other places." "If you plant a cedrus libani in a place with more water and more snow, you cannot see this shape, the flag shape." Barouk is a haven of biodiversity, with 524 plant species and a rich variety of birds, reptiles and mammals, said to include wild boar, wolves, red foxes, jackals and hyenas. Lebanon's political troubles have undercut efforts to attract visitors to the reserve, despite its peaceful beauty. Numbers hit a peak of 28,000 in 2004, but dropped to 21,000 in 2005 after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Only 17,000 people came in 2006, the year of Israel's war with Hezbollah guerrillas, and 14,000 last year. "The situation in the country is still not quiet, not 100%," Hani acknowledged. "We hope the next few months will be calmer and people will come here to enjoy nature in Lebanon." bangkokpost.com 0 comment :: Add a comment Korean diversion, Suwon, South Korea By Bart, 31 July 2008 at 12:04:29 :: Korea, South Suwon, capital of Gyeonggi-do Province that shares its border with North Korea, is proving a nice escape from Seoul. Story by KARNJANA KARNJANATAWE Photos by TWIP From a young age Korean children are required to learn three things: be grateful to parents, love their country and protect nature, which they memorise by heart not in classrooms but by visiting cultural and historical places. And perhaps no where in South Korea is this trait more in evidence than in Suwon city, 35 kilometres south of Seoul. Suwon is the capital of Gyeonggi-do, a province bordering North Korea.  According to Hong Ji-Hee of the Korean-Thailand Communication Center, it is mandatory for schools to organise study trips to royal palaces, museums and cultural sites in order to engender in students a sense of affection and love for their roots and motherland. Korean history dates back more than 5,000 years, she said, but not many ancient artefacts are left today because for most of its existence the country had been at war. Take the Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon for example. Built in 1794 by King Jeongjo in the shape of a lotus bloom and declared a World Heritage site in 1997, very little of the original three-storey structure that sits in the middle of a compound 5.7km long remains standing today. It was crumbling and had to be restored brick by brick, specially the surrounding walls and guard towers. To Koreans, lotus is a symbol of gratefulness. Visitors can walk the compound or take a tram tour complete with English-speaking guides. Inside they will find Haenggung, the royal residence, where on display are royal arts, traditional costumes and court culture. For entertainment, it also has a section where you can try your hand at traditional Korean archery. At first glance the palace architecture looks similar to what you see in China and Japan, but there is one difference: the roof of a Korean palace has a shallow curve in the middle, while Chinese palaces have none and those in Japan have a deeper curve, said Bea Choong-Ho, our guide. The other major difference is that Japanese palaces are less colourful than their Korean counterparts.  "There are five colours that we reserve for painting temples and palaces: red, green, blue, yellow and light blue. Normal people can not paint their houses in these colours," he noted. Kindergarten and primary school students could be seen everywhere. "Our children learn history before they are allowed to visit amusement parks," he added. Also on display are models of King Jeongjo, his queen, courtiers and a banquet for his mother hosted to mark her 61st birthday anniversary. The room from where the king discharged his official duties is open to the public, who are kept entertained with a 30-minute martial arts performance re-enacting famous battle scenes from the past. The fortress is pride of Suwon, said, Ra Su-Heung, director of the city's culture and tourism division. Another popular spot for students is the Waujeongsa Temple in Yong-in city, east of Suwon. It was built in 1987 by a North Korean who prayed for reunification of South and North Korea. Said Choi Eun-Ha, a volunteer guide who also teaches English at a primary school, "Highlight of the temple is Buddha with a large head sitting atop a pile of rocks 80 metres high. The statue is not finished yet, not until the two Koreas unite. Then, to the head will be added the body and the complete statue will be 100 metres tall." The temple's other eminent feature is a reclining Buddha carved from juniper that, she said, is the largest of its kind in the world. Twelve metres long, wood for the statue was sourced from India. People come here to pray for reunification. The Korean Folk Village is the city's other attraction. Stepping inside, it reminded me of Ancient City in Samut Prakan. It features traditional Korean houses that trace the lifestyle and ambience dating as far back as 1345. The village opened in 1974 and exhibits around 360 different types of houses and 18,000 traditional items. "Most of the houses are originals sourced from different parts of the country and reassembled here," said James Jong, a guide there. "We want to preserve them so that succeeding generations of Koreans can come here and learn how their ancestors used to live and at the same time propagate folk wisdom." The houses, reminiscent of styles native to both North and South Korea, are not there just for show but they have occupants, and variously depict the residence of government officials and farmers. Also present are medical stores and a traditional market.  Walking the village I came across a house where in evidence was the ingenuity of Korean farmers to help them survive the harsh winter. Its thatched roof with eight layers of straw padding plus cardboard doors and windows offered insulation from cold outside, while for warmth heat from kitchen fire was channelled via pipes that ran under its raised floor. Koreans call this home-perfected way of heating ondol. The village is a popular location for film shoots, including the period TV drama Daejanggeum (The Irresistible Woman). It also hosts traditional dances and wedding rites. On a field trip, it's only after they have studied and learned about their traditions, roots and heritage are Korean children allowed into amusement parks, and the biggest of them is Everland, a water park also located in Yong-in. For the kindergartners, it is time for fun. At Everland they particularly enjoy an activity called Splash in which staff impersonating cartoon characters zap them with water guns, drawing cheers and screams from the kids. Tourists and primary grade students, however, prefer the recently opened wooden roller-coaster and its 77-degree drop. The entire ride lasts just three minutes but it seems like a lifetime, and it is non-stop fun. "I screamed and screamed," said Rossaporn, a visitor from Thailand. "It's the most fun I have had at an amusement park." There is another park, Tiger World, that attracts loads of primary school students. It is located in Pocheon city. Among its various attractions is a ski dome fed by snow all year round where you can go skiing or skate-boarding. Visitors from Thailand might find it a bit cold because temperature inside the dome is maintained at a constant minus two degrees Celsius. Kang-Sik Kim, manager of Gyeonggi-do Tourist Association, summed up the charm of the province saying, "It is a vacation destination for all Koreans, especially for residents of Seoul, for it offers an interesting perspective on our history, culture, food and entertainment." 0 comment :: Add a comment And the new winner is... By Bart, 26 July 2008 at 01:36:42 :: General Zoltan, from Budapest, Hungary, wins an Apple iPod touch!  He is our second winner on TWIP! Stay tuned, as a new contest will come soon! And keep on submitting your photos and visiting the world thru photos, on TWIP! 0 comment :: Add a comment The TWIP team takes Holidays By Bart, 12 July 2008 at 14:39:34 :: General The TWIP team takes 1 month of holidays and gives you "rendez-vous" in 30 days for the next post. In the meantime, don't hesitate to browse the website and enjoy viewing more and more beautiful photos of the world, and submit your own photos. Also don't forget the contest. One week to go before the final draw. We will mention the winner's name in this blog next week. We don't leave you alone: find below a sample of beautiful photos recently added on TWIP. Thank you for your continual support. See you soon! The TWIP team    0 comment :: Add a comment Yellow fever By Bart, 05 July 2008 at 12:13:06 :: Travel advices Yellow fever (also called yellow jack, black vomit or sometimes American Plague) is a contagious disease. The disease is caused by the yellow fever virus from the bite of mosquitos. It is an important cause of hemorrhagic illness in many African and South American countries despite existence of an effective vaccine. The yellow refers to the jaundice symptoms that affect some patients.  The typical case is characterized by sudden onset, fever, chills, headache, generalized muscle pain, prostration, nausea and vomiting. Common hemorrhagic symptoms include nasal bleeding, hematemesis (coffee-ground or black vomit) and melena (black stool). Jaundice is moderate early in the course of the disease and is intensified later. There is no specific treatment for Yellow fever but an effective vaccine. Vaccination is the important measure for prevention of Yellow fever. A single dose of vaccine provides protection for 10 years. It is highly recommended for travelers to high-risk areas to be vaccinated at least 10 days before entering to any infected area. Here below is a list of countries at risk with Yellow fever. LIST OF COUNTRIES DECLARED YELLOW FEVER INFECTED AREAS 1. Angola: Republic of Angola 2. Benin: Republic of Benin 3. Bolivia: Republic of Bolivia 4. Brazil: Federative Republic of Brazil 5. Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso 6. Burundi: Republic of Burundi 7. Cameroon: Federal Republic of Cameroon 8. Central African Republic 9. Chad: Republic of Chad 10. Colombia: Republic of Colombia 11. Congo: Democratic Republic of the Congo 12. Congo Republic: Republic of the Congo 13. Ivory Coast: Republic of Cote d’Ivoire 14. Ecuador: Republic of Ecuador 15. Equatorial Guinea: Republic of Equatorial Guinea 16. Ethiopia: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia 17. French Guiana 18. Gabon: Gabonese Republic 19. Gambia: Republic of the Gambia 20. Ghana: Republic of Ghana 21. Guinea-Bissau: Republic of Guinea Bissau 22. Guinea: Republic of Guinea 23. Guyana: Cooperative Republic of Guyana 24. Kenya: Republic of Kenya 25. Liberia: Republic of Liberia 26. Mali: Republic of Mali 27. Mauritania : Islamic Republic of Mauritania 28. Niger : Republic of Niger 29. Nigeria: Federal Republic of Nigeria 30. Panama: Republic of Panama 31. Peru: Republic of Peru 32. Rwanda: Republic of Rwanda 33. Sao Tome & Principe: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome & Principe 34. Senegal: Republic of Senegal 35. Sierra Leone : Republic of Sierra Leone 36. Somalia: Somali Democratic Republic 37. Sudan: Republic of the Sudan 38. Suriname: Republic of Suriname 39. Tanzania: United Republic of Tanzania 40. Togo: Republic of Togo 41. Trinidad and Tobago: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 42. Uganda: Republic of Uganda 43. Venezuela: Republic of Venezuela 0 comment :: Add a comment Spectacular Syria By Bart, 03 July 2008 at 13:55:48 :: Syria A visit to a nation often not seen in a kind light in the West reveals the splendours of history and hospitality Story by ROBERT LA BUA, photos provided by TWIP Forget everything you have ever heard about Syria; it is a surprising country. Anyone who has been there can tell you the ancient ruins are beautiful, the food delicious, and the natural scenery very attractive. The nightlife is lively and the daylife intriguing. What more could you want on a holiday? Syria makes news for all the wrong reasons. We hear "Middle East" and immediately picture conflict, strife, and discord. How erroneous not to consider also the balmy climate, hospitable locals, and world-class sights to be seen. We hear "Syria" and are told to think "bad place", but what we are told and what is true are not necessarily the same thing. The diverse attractions of Syria are well known to sophisticated travellers; such Unesco World Heritage sites as Damascus, Palmyra, and Aleppo have attracted them for years. Artefacts seem to be the nation's biggest crop; the National Museum in Damascus and its associated branches in Aleppo, Tartous, and Latakia are full of cultural treasures unearthed over the years.  Frequently billed as the longest continually inhabited city in the world (though Aleppo also lays claim to the same), Damascus is home to a cosmopolitan mix of people of diverse ethnicities and economic levels; Syria is a wealthy country, with some Syrians as rich as their country's history. Damascus is a city of atmosphere, but closer examination of daily life better reveals its true charms: observe the bakers preparing their cheese-filled pastries in open-fronted shops; inhale the abundant fragrances sweet and pungent in the souks (bazaars); see the cherubic blonde child in miniature white tie led by his mother, clad in a flowing black robe from head to toe.  Syria tantalises the senses. Atmosphere notwithstanding, there are three must-see sights in Damascus: Umayyad Mosque and its glorious mosaics, the blue interior of the glitzy Sayyida Ruqayya Mosque, and the beautiful rooms of Azem Palace. These, of course, are in addition to the sights seen in the Old Souk, a never-ending parade of live entertainment from vendors selling hometown hype to vendors selling camel tripe. Aleppo's souk is similarly entertaining. Dismiss those fantasies of a mystical oasis in the desert; renowned for its cuisine, Aleppo is a big city, packed with action without losing its grace. Lording over it all is The Citadel, an enormous complex built on a hill in the city's east.  Outside Aleppo is Qal'at Samaan, the ethereal site of Saint Simon's church, on a bluff dramatically overlooking the Antioch plains. Well worth a visit. South of Aleppo in Maarat an-Numan is the splendid Murad Basha Khan al-Maarah Museum. Mysteriously absent from most guidebooks, the museum has the best collection of ancient mosaics in the country. Less than two kilometres away is Tower Restaurant on the Aleppo-Damascus Highway, where the chouaibiat is extra special. If you are not yet a fan of this Syrian pastry made with pistachios, cheese, and rosewater, one stop here will win you over. Along the 180-kilometre coast, there are pretty beaches only a short drive from picturesque mountainscapes. Unfortunately, the beaches are covered in trash, but the scenery rises above this annoying flaw; just keep looking at the water and beyond. The mountain town of Kassab, on the border with Turkey, is especially pleasant, with cool breezes typical of the region's alpine villages supplemented with the friendliness of the Armenians who make up the majority of residents here. With almost all visitors arriving in Damascus, the first point of interest coming from the south is one of the most splendid in Syria - the magnificent Qal'at al-Hosn, more commonly known in English by its French name, Crac des Chevaliers.  This imposing fortress served as the sentinel for the important Homs Gap mountain pass, the sole route between the inland settlements and the all-important towns and sea routes on the coast; today Crac des Chevaliers (the word crac is a corruption of the Arabic word kerak, meaning fort) is the world's best-preserved medieval citadel and as such is an important architectural treasure. It still attracts hordes, only now their swords and lances are replaced with cameras and guidebooks. Nearby is the town of Safita, where the Chastel Blanc stands guard over the small village. The excellent vantage point of the "White Tower" affords commanding views clear to the Mediterranean Sea to the west, to areas of what is today Lebanon southward, and back east to Crac des Chevaliers. The quadrilateral hulk itself would be unremarkable save for the small church located within the tower, still used today by the local Greek Orthodox community. For those unaware of Syria's ethnic and religious diversity, Christian paintings with Arabic captions will be a surprising juxtaposition. Like Turkey, its neighbour to the north, Syria is a secular country whose live-and-let-live attitude is typical of Mediterranean European societies. The Crusaders left more than castles and churches as their patrimony; after a while, you will get used to all the blue-eyed blondes and redheads here, some with the surname Salibi, meaning "of the cross". Rivalling Crac des Chevaliers for most impressive citadel in Syria is Qal'at Saladin, set in a beautiful gorge high in the mountains near the resort town of Slenfeh, which itself has become a major tourist draw in this part of the country thanks to its cool breeze and abundance of high-end property for rent during the holiday season. Saladin's extraordinary setting on a rocky outcrop falling away steeply on three sides is augmented by the enormous, deep channel cut through the bedrock across the one side of the promontory (formerly) accessible by land, thereby cutting off the fortress entirely save for a single drawbridge. This massive undertaking is difficult to conceive when one considers it was achieved by manual labour using primitive tools; the resulting path through solid rock thirty metres high is nothing short of incredible. Though the castles and fortresses of Crusader Syria are impressive enough, the Roman ruins at Palmyra still reign as the most visited tourism site in the country. Palmyra, three hours' drive from Damascus, is set in splendid isolation on a desert plain, removed from the densely populated centres to the west.  A stay at Zenobia Cham Palace will allow you to walk right out into the ruins, though the budget option Hotel Heliopolis allows a better overview of the site. Similarly evocative is Apamea, near Aleppo, less visited but equally captivating nonetheless, Apamea is set on a gentle hill where the landscape adds to the effect of the two-kilometre colonnade, the main thoroughfare of a thriving ancient city lost to the past. The majestic colonnade has been re-erected and stands starkly on the landscape; originally stretching almost two kilometres, the colonnade is an excellent vantage point for Qal'at al-Mudiq, currently used as an archaeological museum displaying mosaics recovering among Apamea's Roman and Byzantine ruins. The two fortresses in the vicinity are located on opposite banks of the Orontes River, whose name derives from the Greek word for disobedient as the Orontes is the only river in Syria to flow south to north.  Syria is a colourful country in a black-and-white world. It gets a lot of bad press in the West, mostly because the Syrian government doesn't toe the line drawn by its Western counterparts with regard to its views in international affairs. This, however, is no deterrent to an enjoyable visit to a diverse, friendly, and well-fed nation with a fascinating history and proud people. If you are adventurous enough to consider holidays in places more exotic than Phuket or London, Syria will not disappoint. MORE INFO GETTING THERE Etihad Airways (http://www.etihadairways.com), the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, flies from Bangkok to Damascus via Abu Dhabi. Sit back and enjoy an inflight entertainment system more sophisticated than what you have at home; for once, you'll wish the flight took longer so that all the great films available can be seen before arrival. ACCOMMODATION The most beautiful place to sleep in Syria is undoubtedly Beit al Mamlouka (http://www.almamlouka.com), the magnificently restored Damascene home-turned-exclusive hotel run by May Mamarbachi, whose abundant taste (and money) combined to create a serene retreat worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the Old City just outside the front door. Give a rich woman with a knack for decoration a meaty project and the result will be spectacular. You may think you have rubbed Aladdin's lamp when stepping through the doorway of this very special place where antique does not equal antiquated; in addition to fountains and incense, there is complimentary wi-fi and satellite TV. To fall asleep to the tinkling of your private fountain in the popular Suleyman the Magnificent Suite is complete bliss, but you may not want to close your eyes at all once you lie down and see the splendid traditional ceiling overhead. For those who prefer large hotels, the comfy Four Seasons Damascus (http://www.fourseasons.com) provides all expected services, including a vast swathe of Syrian sweets during afternoon tea. The usual Four Seasons standard of excellence shines through from the vast array of delicious fare and to the smiles of the staff. The level of genuine, friendly hospitality is unsurpassed. Useful information: The Syrian Ministry of Tourism's web site (http://www.syriatourism.org) is packed with helpful information covering every possible aspect of the country. Lonely Planet (http://www.lonelyplanet.com) publishes an informative Syria and Lebanon travel guide full of useful tips and recommendations. 0 comment :: Add a comment Isle of Skye, Scotland By Bart, 29 June 2008 at 11:10:23 :: United Kingdom Skye or the Isle of Skye (Scottish Gaelic An t-Eilean Sgitheanach pronounced [əɲ tʰʲelan s̪kʲiə.anəx]), is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Its population is around 9,000 inhabitants. Sometimes referred to in Gaelic poetry and song as Eilean a' Cheò (The Misty Isle), Skye is renown for its natural beauty, history and wildlife. Although it has been suggested that the Gaelic name describes this shape there is no definitive agreement as to its origins.  At 1,656 km² (639 mi²), Skye is the second-largest island in Scotland after Lewis and Harris. The coastline of Skye is a series of peninsulas and bays radiating out from a centre dominated by the Cuillin Hills (Gaelic:An Cuiltheann). The Cuillin Hills, the Red Hills and Blaven have long been favourites with climbers and walkers. If you don't fancy the high places, the deeply indented coastline means you are never far from the sea. Wildlife abounds on the Island, with birds from the tiny Goldcrest to magnificent Golden Eagle, mammals from Pygmy Shrew to Red Deer and fish from Saithe to Salmon. If you are lucky you might catch sight of the elusive Otter playing on the shore. The wide range of geology and topography provides habitats for many wild flowers. As you travel around the Island it's not unusual to hear snatches of Scottish Gaelic, the indigenous language of the area. Gaelic culture and heritage pervade the atmosphere, each part of the Island having its own tales of times past and plans for the future.  The heritage of Skye & Lochalsh surrounds us in the landscape, from the dinosaur footprints in the rocks at Staffin Bay in North Skye, to the Neolithic chambered cairns and stone circles scattered in the countryside, and up to the present day peat banks, still utilised by the community. The area can be seen as a microcosm of Highland life. Visit the Isle of Skye and Scotland now on TWIP. 0 comment :: Add a comment The Temple of Preah Vihear, Cambodia By Bart, 27 June 2008 at 12:48:39 :: Cambodia To date, Unesco's 1972 Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage protects 851 properties of outstanding universal value, including 660 cultural, 166 natural and 25 mixed properties in 141 State Parties. The sacred sanctuary of Preah Vihear Temple (ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ), built for the Hindu god Shiva in the first half of the 11th Century AD during the reign of King Su ryavarman, is on the list for consideration for new sites by the World Heritage Committee (WHC) during their annual meeting in July in the Canadian city of Quebec.  The property is situated on a promontory of the Dangrek Range (Dângrêk Mountains - Thai: ทิวเขาพนมดงรัก), 547m above the Cambodian Plain, known as Phnom Preah Vihear (Sacred Hermitage Mountain), on the modern border with Thailand. The Temple of Preah Vihear is a unique architectural ensemble made up of a series of sanctuaries linked by a system of pavements and staircases on an axis 800m long. This ensemble testifies to the Khmer genius for domesticating vast territories and adapting to the landscape. The property offers the visitor a magnificent landscape embracing nearly 360 of the plain below, a landscape opening out in front of the hermits' grottoes in the cliffs. Like many Cambodian monuments, this sanctuary consists of a succession of courtyards on a common axis (though the north-south axis here is somewhat unusual).  The only access at present is by means of a steep, recently constructed track through the forest from a village, which houses soldiers and their families, as well as some Buddhist monks living at a pagoda, which also serves as a school. From here two paths lead to the temple, one passing through a village (Pjum Prasat) comprised of Cambodians wholly dedicated to shops and other facilities for visitors. Some 550 people live here. The presence of this Cambodian community has been protested by the Thai government on the grounds that it sits inside Thai territory. The other path comes through Thailand's Si Sa Ket province (Sisaket province - Thai: ศรีสะเกษ) by means of a monumental stairway with 159 steps, leading to a 25m long pavement flanked by enormous rampant na gas (snakes). The sanctuary is enclosed by two groups of galleries laid out in cloister form, foreshadowing the cruciform cloisters of Angkor Wat. The central enclosure is accessible only by the three passages coming from Gopura No.1 and two small openings to east and west. The southern side is closed by Gopura No. 1 and the northern side by a structure which is in effect a false gate. Instead of opening out on the vast spaces of the Cambodian plain, it presents a blank face. The layout thus presents an increasingly closed aspect, until at the end all that is visible is the sky. bangkokpost.com 0 comment :: Add a comment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 14 15 NEXT |
RSS
SearchCalendar
ArchivesAugust 2008July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 CategoriesAfghanistan (1)Akrotiri (0) Albania (0) Algeria (1) American Samoa (0) Andorra (0) Angola (0) Anguilla (0) Antigua and Barbuda (0) Argentina (4) Armenia (0) Aruba (0) Ashmore and Cartier Islands (0) Australia (1) Austria (0) Azerbaijan (0) Bahrain (0) Baker Island (0) Bangladesh (0) Barbados (0) Bassas da India (0) Belarus (0) Belgium (0) Belize (0) Benin (0) Bermuda (1) Bhutan (0) Bolivia (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina (0) Botswana (0) Brazil (2) British Virgin Islands (0) Brunei (0) Bulgaria (2) Burkina Faso (0) Burma (3) Burundi (0) Cambodia (5) Cameroon (0) Canada (2) Canary Islands (0) Cayman Islands (0) Central African Republic (0) Chad (0) Chile (0) China (6) Christmas Island (0) Cocos (Keeling) Islands (0) Colombia (0) Comoros (0) Cook Islands (0) Coral Sea Islands (0) Costa Rica (0) Croatia (1) Cuba (2) Cyprus (1) Czech Republic (2) Democratic Republic of the Congo (0) Denmark (0) Dhekelia (0) Djibouti (0) Dominica (0) Dominican Republic (0) East Timor (0) Easter Island (2) Ecuador (0) Egypt (3) El Salvador (0) Equatorial Guinea (0) Eritrea (0) Estonia (0) Ethiopia (0) Europa Island (0) Falkland Islands (0) Faroe Islands (0) Fiji (1) Finland (0) France (6) French Guiana (0) French Polynesia (0) Gabon (0) Gambia (0) Gaza Strip (0) General (14) Georgia (2) Germany (4) Ghana (0) Gibraltar (0) Glorioso Islands (0) Greece (0) Greenland (0) Grenada (0) Guadeloupe (0) Guam (0) Guatemala (1) Guernsey (0) Guinea (0) Guinea-Bissau (0) Guyana (0) Haiti (0) Honduras (1) Hong Kong (1) Howland Island (0) Hungary (0) Iceland (1) India (1) Indonesia (2) Iran (2) Iraq (0) Ireland (1) Isle of Man (0) Israel (0) Italy (1) Ivory Coast (0) Jamaica (0) Japan (3) Jarvis Island (0) Jersey (0) Johnston Atoll (0) Jordan (2) Juan de Nova Island (0) Kazakhstan (0) Kenya (0) Kingman Reef (0) Kiribati (0) Korea, North (0) Korea, South (1) Kuwait (0) Kyrgyzstan (0) Laos (3) Latvia (0) Lebanon (2) Lesotho (0) Liberia (0) Libya (0) Liechtenstein (0) Lithuania (1) Luxembourg (0) Macedonia (0) Madagascar (2) Malawi (0) Malaysia (1) Maldives (1) Mali (2) Malta (0) Marshall Islands (0) Martinique (0) Mauritania (0) Mauritius Island (1) Mayotte (0) Mexico (1) Micronesia (0) Midway Islands (0) Moldova (0) Monaco (0) Mongolia (0) Montenegro (0) Montserrat (0) Morocco (1) Mozambique (0) Namibia (0) Nauru (0) Navassa Island (0) Nepal (1) Netherlands (3) Netherlands Antilles (0) New Caledonia (1) New Zealand (2) Nicaragua (0) Niger (0) Nigeria (0) Niue (0) Norfolk Island (0) Northern Mariana Islands (0) Norway (1) Oman (0) Pakistan (1) Palau (0) Palmyra Atoll (0) Panama (0) Papua New Guinea (0) Paracel Islands (0) Paraguay (0) Peru (0) Philippines (0) Pitcairn Islands (0) Poland (2) Portugal (3) Puerto Rico (0) Qatar (0) Republic of the Congo (0) Reunion (0) Romania (0) Russia (3) Rwanda (0) Saint Barthelemy (1) Saint Helena (0) Saint Kitts and Nevis (0) Saint Lucia (1) Saint Pierre and Miquelon (0) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (0) Samoa (0) San Marino (0) Sao Tome and Principe (0) Saudi Arabia (0) Senegal (0) Serbia and Montenegro (0) Seychelles (0) Sierra Leone (0) Singapore (0) Slovakia (0) Slovenia (1) Solomon Islands (0) Somalia (0) South Africa (2) Spain (0) Spratly Islands (0) Sri Lanka (2) Sudan (0) Suriname (0) Swaziland (0) Sweden (1) Switzerland (1) Syria (1) Taiwan (0) Tajikistan (0) Tanzania (0) Thailand (11) The Bahamas (0) Togo (0) Tokelau (0) Tonga (0) Travel advices (2) Trinidad and Tobago (0) Tromelin Island (0) Tunisia (1) Turkey (3) Turkmenistan (0) Turks and Caicos Islands (0) Tuvalu (0) Uganda (0) Ukraine (0) United Arab Emirates (0) United Kingdom (2) United States of America (5) Uruguay (0) Uzbekistan (0) Vanuatu (0) Vatican The Holy See (1) Venezuela (0) Vietnam (5) Virgin Islands (0) Wake Island (0) Wallis and Futuna (0) West Bank (0) Western Sahara (0) Yemen (0) Zambia (0) Zimbabwe (0) |
| Home
| Site news
| Add a photo
| Stickers
| Advertise
| Contact
| Links directory
|| Privacy Policy
| Contributors Africa - Asia - Central America - Europe - Middle East - North America - Oceania - South America - SouthEast Asia - The Caribbean Copyright © 2004-2008 TWIP | twip.fr | The-World-in-Photos.com | Photo-of-the-World.com, All rights reserved. Users of this site agree to be bound by the Terms of Use of the The World in Photos Web Site. |
 |