The Tuol Sleng Museum
The Tuol Sleng Museum, or Museum of Genocide is testament to a more recent and bloody past. Originally this building used to be a high school, until in 1975, it became the Khmer Rouge's main torture and interrogation centre, gaining the acronym 'S-21'. From here the victims were taken out and executed in what is now known as the Killing Fields.
Wat Phnom
On this site in 1372 a small monastery was founded by a wealthy Khmer woman called Penh after she found four Buddha statues in a tree trunk on the banks of the Mekong River. The hill or "Phnom " on which the monastery resides is, incidentally, the only hill in the capital.
Siem Reap
Siem Reap is a small colonial town just north of Southeast Asia's largest lake, Tonle Sap. The town itself is charming and pleasant enough to roam around, with some fine examples of French colonial architecture though modern developments, mostly in the form of hotels, has been swift here in recent years since the slow demise of the Khmer Rouge. Now that the town is safe again, visitors have been flocking in, using it as a base for visits to nearby Angkor ruins.
The Angkor Complex
The Angkor Complex is perhaps the most stunning temple complex in the world. Rediscovered by the French in 1860, this huge site has over 400 temples in total, spanning a period of 500 years. Founded in the 9th century, the complex flourished for centuries; its zenith culminating with the creation of Angkor Wat in the first half of the12th century. The builders of these awesome creations likened themselves to Gods, or Devaraja and indeed several of the temples are dedicated to former monarchs.
Ras Al Khaimah
It is the northern most emirate of the UAE. The Ruler since 1948 has been H.H. Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qassimi. Ras Al Khaimah's history extends into antiquity. Archeological excavations reveal that a settlement with an advanced civilization that carried on trade with the Indian sub-continent existed in this region. Later historical records cite that the town of Ras Al Khaimah , then known as Julfar, belonged to early Muslim Caliphs. In the 18th century, after the invasions of the Persians, Portuguese and the Dutch, it finally became a part of the Al Qawasim State. It was also once the center of the naval strength of the southern Gulf states. The traditional occupations of this emirate are mainly fishing, trading and agriculture which have been heavily modernized to meet the demands of the UAE's economy.
The Rolous Group
The Rolous group - the ancient capital of the 9th century, including the temples of Preah Ko, Bakong, and Lolei. The most impressive of the three is Prasat Bakong, a five-stepped pyramid temple dedicated to King Indravarman. The corners of the pyramid have statues of elephants and crouching lions guard the steps
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat was built between 1112 and 1152 by King Suryavarman II and dedicated to Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation, although some people believe it is actually dedicated to the king himself as the temple faces west, representing death. It is the best preserved of all the temples. Its layout and its scale are simply breathtaking: the wall surrounding the enclosure measures 1,000 by 800 meters in length and the moat, said to represent the oceans of the world is 200 meters wide. The five towers that dominate the scene are said to represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, the mythical home of the omnipotent Hindu deity Shiva. Beautiful bas beliefs and carvings adorn the inner sanctuaries depicting various Hindu mythological epics, including the longest continuous bas relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls.
Angkor Thom
The fortified Royal City of Angkor Thom, constructed by King Jayavarman II at the end of the 12th century, not long after the completion of Angkor Wat. It is surrounded with a massive perimeter wall and a moat with five monumental gates and covers an area of more than ten square kilometers. The most important monuments are located in the centre of the city, namely the Bayon, Baphoun and the Terrace of Elephants. The Bayon in particular is a fascinating piece of architecture and one of the most photographed. It is a bizarre structure, with a total of 54 towers elaborately decorated with over 200 enigmatic smiling faces.
Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm temple's principal attraction is that it has not been rescued from the thick jungle, as the rest of the Angkor Complex has. It looks much the same as it would have done when the French explorers came here 140 years ago, shrouded in undergrowth and the huge roots of old Banyan trees. Also included today are the Temples of, Takeo, Chau Say Tevoda, Thammanon, Banteay Kdei, Sras Srang, and Prasat Kravan. In the afternoon following lunch there will be a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, Asia's largest inland lake, which swells to ten times it's normal size during the wet season.
Today the provinces' capital is Ban Lung, a relatively quiet and unassuming town situated on a plateau overlooking nearby lakes and forests. The most impressive of these lakes is without doubt the beautiful crater-lake of Yak Lom. This near perfect circular lake is a favorite spot for locals to bathe and escape the heat of the day and is situated in a protected forest of giant 'emergent' trees. The area is also famous for some wonderful waterfalls set in secluded forests. These include the Ka Chhuong and Chaa Ong falls. Chaa Ong is set in a spectacular jungle gorge. Rattanakiri's appeal however doesn't end with the scenery - the province is home for several ethnic tribes that make up over three-quarters of the province's population including the Tampoun, Jarai and Kreung. An interesting feature of the Kreung is the construction of small stilt houses often referred to as 'virgin huts'. These are built to house young brides or grooms in search of a mate. Once their search has finished and a prospective partner has been found the huts are knocked down!
