Ancient Hindu rock carvings in Phnom Kulen

The scenic northern section of Phnom Kulen National Park was once the site of ancient city of the Khmer Empire Mahendraparvata, or
Mountain of the Great Indra. Today, the long gone city’s splendour lives on in stunning rock carvings depicting Hindu deities.
Hidden in the forest, the 11th century carvings have a wonderful history that attracts archaeological students and tourists curious about the ancient city. In Hindu-Buddhist belief, people consider mounds, cascades, valleys, storms, rain, thunder and spirits as guardians that look after forests and villages.

Overhanging rocks on mountains are also believed to be a sacred place to have temples or shrines, and though they are rare, carvings and ancient inscriptions of deities in such locations can still be found today. Among the already discovered carvings is Poeung Komnou, or Poeung Keng Korng, on the northern side of Kulen Mountain. It is located in Ta Siem commune’s Trapaing Toem village in Svay Leu district. There are several carvings depicting beautiful scenes from the Khmer Empire during the 11th century rule of Harshavarman III

The first one is an oval shaped rock depicting the Hindu God Vishnu sleeping on Adishesha (king of all nagas).
The second rock carving is located in front of Vishnu and depicts an eight-handed Ganesha (the Hindu God with an elephant like head)
surrounded by three columns.
The third carving depicts many deities in green with inscriptions and animals, including Vishnu, Vamana and Shiva. About 40m from that carving is the fourth rock, Vishnu on a Garuda. “We know that stones to build Angkor Wat were brought from quarries at the base of the nearby Kulen Mountain. The temple was built with between five million and 10 million bricks, some weighing up 1,500kg per piece,” said Meas Sovannaroth, a tour guide from Siem Reap.
Plants and wild flowers blossom in rainy season on the green rock carvings. But today, some of the overhanging rocks on which the carvings are etched sit precariously.

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The Art of War in Siem Reap

Siem Reap: About 20,000 decommissioned weapons have been transformed into sculptures at the Peace Museum of Mine Action in Siem Reap province.
On June 19, 2019, the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) revealed the artworks to educate the younger generation about tragedy of the country’s wartime past.
Heng Ratana, director-general of the Cambodian Mine Action Center, told reporters that the weaponry was broken three weeks ago. CMAC took samples of about 20,000 rifles to be turned into art and exhibited at the museum in Siem Reap.

The design of these guns, such as elephants, trees, maps, and clocks, aim to show these weapons of war can be made into peaceful objects.
If the guns are destroyed, they will lose the evidence to show the younger generation the war issue in Cambodia, but this project highlights the war, while promoting peace.

He said that an elephant was designed from nearly 5,000 old guns, while two were made from other former explosive devices that were kept in the museum.
These elephants will stand by the young generation to understand the strength and materials of the civil war in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
According to the museum staff, CMAC has an agreement with the National Police to accept old guns and ammunition for recycling purposes.

Source by: CNE

Kep Sea Port Plans

Kep: The Royal Government of Cambodia has announced plans to construct a tourist seaport in Kep province to serve the transport of international and national tourist arrivals.
Observing the growing influx of international and local tourists in Kep, the Cambodian Government and the Ministry Public Works and Transport are discussing the construction of a port in Kep. The project is in the process of seeking funding for implementation. According to a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Kep sea tourism port project is a state-sponsored project and the Ministry of Economy and Finance are discussing budget expenditures to implement the project. Because Sihanoukville and soon Kampot have a port for sea tourism, the ministry has proposed plans to build a tourist port in Kep to serve smaller numbers and reduce pressure on Kampot.

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