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Battambang Province History

Battambang is Cambodia's second-largest city and the capital of Battambang Province, which was founded in the 11th century. It is the former capital of Monton Kmer and lies in the heart of the Northwest of Cambodia. Until the war years, in which almost every infrastructure was destructed it was the leading rice-producing province of the country.


The name Battambang or Batdambang, literally means "loss of stick" referring to a legend of the Preah Bat Dambang Kranhoung (Kranhoung Stick King). The population is nowadays around 250,000 people . It's a riverside town, home to some of the best-preserved, French colonial architecture in the country.

Until recently Battambang was off the map for road travellers, but facilities have recently been improved and it makes a great base for visiting the nearby temples, such as Phnom Banon and Wat Ek Phnom, as well as the closedby villages.

It's a secondary hub on the overland route between Thailand and Vietnam, and if the National Highway No 6 from Poipet to Siem Reap is ever upgraded it'll become an even smaller hub. The network of charming old French shop houses clustered along the riverbank is the real highlight here, and there are a number of Wats scattered around the town.

The small museum has a collection of Angkorian-era artifacts, and beyond the town there's a number of hilltop temples, yet more Wats and a pretty large lake. One of the more famous hills is Phnom Sampeau (Ship Hill) with the notorious killing caves.

Battambang did not give way to the Khmer Rouge movement after the fall of Phnom Penh, but it?s been in the centre of the ongoing government Khmer Rouge conflict ever since the Vietnamese invasion in 1979 pushed the genocidal regime out of Phnom Penh and to the Northwest. Until the surrender deal of Ieng Sary (Khmer Rouge number three man based in Pailin),Battambang was the Khmer Rouge stronghold in the region.

In the earlier history Battambang flip-flopped back and forth between Thailand (called Siam before their 20th-century renaming) and Cambodia. It's been a part of Thailand most of the time since the 15th century, with Cambodia regaining control (more specifically due the French) in 1907. The Thais grabbed it again, with Japanese assistance, in 1941 and kept the region in their camp until the World War II years in 1947.

The Allied Forces helped persuade the Thais that the region was originally part of ancient Cambodia and the world community would not take kindly to the Thais holding onto it further. Like the rest of the Northwest, there is still a lot of Thai influence apparent. The main currency is still the Thai Baht and many people are able to converse in Thai. But the area is very Khmer, with ancient Khmer ruins scattered around, and even the ways of life are much more similar to the rest of Cambodia than to Thailand.

Battambang city is a peaceful and pleasant place these days. The main parts of the city are situated closed to the Sangker River, a tranquil, small body of water that winds its way through Battambang Province. It is a nice, picturesque setting. As with much of Cambodia, the French architecture is an attractive bonus of the city. 


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Secret Prison "Toul Sleng"

The 114 photographs on this site are from Pol Pot's secret prison, codenamed "S-21" during his genocidal rule (1975-79). Between 1-2 million Cambodians – and many thousands of foreigners – were starved to death, tortured, or killed, during this reign of terror.


When the Vietnamese Army invaded in 1979 the S-21 prison staff fled, leaving behind thousands of written and photographic records. Altogether more than 6,000 photographs were left; the majority, however, have been lost or destroyed.

Former prison staff say as many as 30,000 prisoners were held at S-21 before the Khmer Rouge leadership was forced to flee, in the first days of 1979. This website contains most of the photographs that were printed for the book Killing Fields (Twin Palms Press) and for a traveling exhibition, which was on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, as well as many other locations.

Currently the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide, which is located within the former prison grounds, has the original negatives and a catalog of all 6,000 remaining negatives. Cornell University also has one of the catalogs, and the DCCam Project has also incorporated scanned versions of the images into their database, as well as Yale University.

In 1997 American photographer/researcher Doug Niven identified and located the prison photographer, Nhem Ein, who had been living in a Khmer Rouge stronghold since 1979. Since meeting Nhem Ein, many other former prison staff have been identified and interviewed, adding to our knowledge of this piece of awful history.


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Sihanoukville - Beach Resort

'Beach town', 'port community', 'fledgling resort destination' - all describe Sihanoukville, Cambodia's premier beach town. Sihanoukville's white sand beaches and warm Gulf of Thailand waters combine with a laid back, beachy atmosphere to provide a great little tropical getaway. Sihanoukville is a place to unwind by the beach, enjoy the fresh from-the-ocean seafood, take in a snorkeling or scuba trip, and generally slow-down, lay back and chill-out.


Sihanoukville has a different look and feel than most Cambodian towns. Constructed as a port city in the late 1950s, the town is much newer, more urban and cosmopolitan than most Cambodian provincial cities.

Nowadays, Sihanoukville is as much a beach town as it is a port town, catering to beach-going weekenders from Phnom Penh as well as a steadily increasing number of foreign visitors. Still, the pace of life in Sihanoukville is very relaxed.

Cows occasionally wander the main road, outside town foreign faces draw smiles and curious stares, and most of the beaches offer only beach umbrellas, thatched roofed eateries, and a growing number of restaurants, bungalows and hotels.

Sihanoukville has a more than ample supply of accommodations, including a 5-star resort complex on Sokha Beach, several mid-range places downtown and at the beaches, a few 'upscale' three-star hotels, and dozens of budget guesthouses, especially on Weather Station Hill (Victory Hill).

Sihanoukville Beach

Considering the moderate number of visitors to Sihanoukville, the town offers a surprising number and variety of restaurants and bars.

Fresh seafood, especially crab, prawns and ocean fish, has always been one of the town's biggest draws, but there is also a wide variety of places offering foreign cuisines - Australian, French, Indian, German, Sri Lankan, British, Italian, pizza places, a couple of western bakeries and even a espresso coffee shop.

And these days Sihanoukville offers a pretty good night life as well with a wide variety of bars staying open well into the wee hours, especially on Weather Station Hill, in the downtown area, and the beach bars on Ochheuteal, ‘Serendipity’ and Victory Beaches.


ORIENTATION
Sihanoukville is not a small place, and the best way to get around is to hire a motorbike.  Sihanoukville itself is east of the main backpackers' beach and close to the more mid-range Ochatial Beach. Due south of town is tiny Ko Pos Beach, which ha a solitary mid-range hotel, and the larger Independence Beach, which has the crumbling Independence Hotel - slated for redevelopment.


INFORMATION
Cambodian's only deep-sea port is located here and considerable international aid has been spent to improve the infrastructure in the province. Although tourism has increased over the past few years, the beaches of Sihanoukville are some of the most unspoiled in all of Southeast Asia. It is a prefect tropical getaway, filled with lovely beaches and facilities for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving or just sunbathing. Boat trips are also available to many of the nearby islands. There are several hotels and local restaurants serving fresh, delicious seafood on the beach. On the weekend, there are many local visitors from Phnom Penh to relax, swimming and enjoy fresh seafood.


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Kampot Province

Set on the Kampot River, Kampot Town is the capital of Kampot province.  A lot of Kampots all in one place.  A quiet town, best known as the starting point for trips to Bokor Mountain and it's riverside scene. Kampot is a great escape from the larger cities and towns in Cambodia.  Located near the ocean, close to Vietnam, you can travel to SihanoukVille and Phnom Penh in a few hours, and to Vietnam in only an hour.  Also, the original seaside resort of Cambodia, Kep, is a short drive away.


Kampot Located on both sides of the Kampot River also know as Teuk Chhou or Prek Thom, and connected by 2 bridges, the East side of Kampot is where most of the restaurants, guesthouses, and market are located.  Along the riverfront, on both sides, are several hotels, guesthouses and restaurants with Western and Khmer (Cambodian) hosts.  The riverfront is fairly quiet and quite picturesque. 

Walk around town, rent a bicycle, or rent a small motorcycle to get around.  Also, you can ride motorcycle taxis and tuk tuks (a cart pulled by a motorcycle) for 12 to 50 cents to most places in town.

Some attractions downtown, besides the riverfront, are the central market, small caves with Buddhist shrines, and the football stadium.  Towards the ocean on the East side is the port of Kampot and many Cham Muslim communities and schools.  Across the river is Kampot's Wat or Buddhist Temple which is open to tourists.  Past the Wat are Kampot's salt fields, and further out of town are Kampot's famous Black Pepper (red and green too!) and Durian farms.  Along the riverfront, mostly North of downtown's bridges, are several guesthouses and restaurants, right on the river.

Phsar Orussey or Orussey Market

Phsar Orussey in English Orussey Market is located on Street 182 (Oknha Tep Phorn) in Orussey 1 Commune, Prampi Makara District, Phnom Penh city.
Orussey Market is the biggest market and the commercial center for Cambodians in Phnom Penh. You can find almost anything at Orussey Market but it is not recommended if you are in a hurry or just want to get souvenirs. The market has everything from fresh food, household supplies, garden tools to electronics, accessories, clothing, decoration  and much more.

The market is housed in a big square building, painted in white and blue. It is enormous inside and it is easy to get lost if you do not know your way. Orussey Market has three floors with stalls; ground floor house food in all kinds, kitchen supplies, tools, garden tools, and electronics, the first and second floor has clothing, accessories, tailors, curtains, jewelry and fabric.


Orussey Market is definitely worth a visit if you have time and patience since it has a great supply and good prices. You will also find a lot small shops and stalls around the market.
Orussey Market gives you an opportunity to interact with the local people and get an idea of their food habits and daily life, since it is the main shopping center for the Cambodians.


Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Cambodia

Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom, the Royal palace is now home to His Majesty Preah Bat  Samdach Preah Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia. 
The Palace grounds are opened to the public except when the King is in residence. Within the palace compound are the coronation hall; the entrance, which houses an open-air theater for the Royal Dance Troupe, and a balcony for Royal appearances; an open-air pavilion often used for entertaining and viewing of the King's movies; and the King's private residence, which houses a collection of Cambodian artwork from artists around the world, and his office, where he actively pursues Royal duties.

The architecturally incongruous Napoleon III pavilion shipped and reassembled in Cambodia was a gift of the French Empress Eugenie in the early 20th century. Outside the southeast wall of the palace is the house of the white elephant traditionally used for special regal occasions including Royal births, deaths or weddings.


Chiso Temple (Phnom Chiso)

62 Kilometers away from Phnom Penh by national road 2 reach to Prasat Neang Khmao (Neang Khmao Pagoda) located in Sia village, Rovieng commune, Somroang district, Takeo province. Turn right at the sign for the site and head down the dirt trial for 5 more kilometers. Phnom Chiso is 13O-meter-high Mountain.
Phnom Chiso is historical temple was built in the early 11th century by King Suryavarman I (AD 1002-1050), who practiced Brahmanism. Constructed of sandstone and other stones, it is 60 meters long and 50 meters wide and sits atop a mountain. The temple is surrounded by two galleries. The first gallery is 60 meters long on each side. The second, smaller gallery, is in the middle, where there is the main worship place with two doors and a wooden statue. There are beautiful sculptures on the lintel and the pillars.

Phnom Chiso Pagoda was built in 1917, destroyed by war during the 1970s and rebuilt in 1979. Behind it is a hall called Thammasaphea, kof and a worship place. There is an ancient water tank made of concrete. People usually climb the staircase on the west side of the mountain, which has 390 steps and descend by the south side staircase, which has 408 steps. Another set of stairs in front of the temple links the temple to Sen Chhmos temple, Sen Phouvang temple and Tonie Om, a lake considered sacred by Brahmans and used for washing away sins. A large rock yard nearby about 100 meters long and 80 meters was once the site of several other temples, but only parts of these temples remain standing.

In addition, there is a mountain cave, Vimean Chan, located about 150 meters south of the temple. It is a quiet place for Brahmans or ascetics to meditate. During the Americans' war with Vietnam, the site was bombed, dislodging several large rocks that block the entrance to the cave today.

Hun Sen Phnom Chiso Agricultural and Tourist site is located in Samrong, Bati and Prey Kabas districts. It includes a 513 hectare paddy rice field of dry rice, a 1,386 hectares field of wet rice and three water basins - Thnos Ta Kong, Tuol Lork and Sen Pea Ream.

Phnom Chiso is very popular with visitors, especially during festivals, when it is very crowded. The top of the mountain affords visitors a panoramic view of Takeo Province rice paddies stretching for kilometers.

Num Ansom or Ansom Cake

Num Ansom a kind of Khmer traditional cake. Cambodia people, mostly make this cake in some big events like Khmer New Year and Phcum Ben day.

Num Ansom, which is covered by banana leaves and boiled well before consumption, consist of two kind: Ansom Chrouk and Ansom Chek. Ansom Chrouk (pig cake) is mainly made out of pork, sticky rice, peeled mung bean and pepper, while Ansom Chek consist of ripe banana and other ingredients used in Anksom Chrouk, excerpt the pork and pepper. Num Ansom is one of the most popular traditional cakes Cambodians make during traditional ceremonies or festivals, particularly on Phchum Ben (Festival of the dead) and Khmer New Year.

Kien Svay Resort

18 kilometers away from Phnom Penh, Kien Svay is a distinctly Cambodian leisure resort. Every weekend many Phnom Penh residents get away from it all and relax by the water.
'Water Houses' are available for rental: covered platforms built on stilts sunk into the river. These are accessible only by boat and the platform owners take you there and back as part of the modest fee. Kien Svay is ideal for a leisurely picnic lunch on the river. There are also relaxing boat cruises available at reasonable rates and you can order food and drinks directly from the hut owners or you can go shopping for food and drinks in a small-established market nearby where they sell cooked food. 
Food shopping at Kien Svay can be compared to fast-food in Western countries. You go to different small stores, look for your favorite food, and the sellers will cook the food in just minutes. While mostly you can find chicken and fresh water fish, you can also shop for cooked frogs, lobsters, local-made salad, local fruits and a variety of beverages. It’s very fun going food shopping – Yummmy!!!


Phnom Penh National Museum

The National Museum of Cambodia is located on Street 13 in central Phnom Penh, next to the Royal Palace. The visitor’s entrance to the compound and the admissions ticket booth are at the corner of Streets 13 and 178.

  • Opening hours are from 8.00am until 5.00pm daily. Last admission tickets are sold at 4.30pm.
  • Admission costs are $5 for foreign visitors, 500 riels for Cambodians. Children and school groups are free
  • Guided tours can be arranged for individuals or groups at the museum entrance. Tours are available in Khmer, English, French and Japanese. A one hour group tour costs $3
  • Photography is not permitted within the museum galleries, but visitors are welcome to film or photograph the museum exterior and courtyard. Those wishing to obtain images of the museum or collection for study or Publications should email the museum to request an application form or contact a staff member.
  • Smoking is not permitted inside the museum.
  • The Museum store is located at the main entrance. Postcards, souvenirs, replica sculptures and books on a variety of art and culture topics are available.
  • Cloakroom facilities are available at the main entrance. Please leave large items and bags here.
  • Bathrooms are located downstairs near the main entrance. See the map overleaf for
    detail see map overleaf for details.

  • Donations to the museum are greatly appreciated and contribute to operating costs, programmes to protect Cambodian heritage and museum maintenance. Donation boxes are located near the main entrance, or contact a member of staff.

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