Description

Welcome to Cambodia. Though much less visited than neighbouring Thailand or Vietnam, Cambodia has established itself firmly on the Southeast Asian tourist trail. Cambodia is still probably best known for the fanatical Khmer rouge regime led by Pol Pot. It is not known how many Cambodians, between one and three million, died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, during the three years, eight months and twenty days of their rule in the mid 1970s. Nowadays Cambodia is at peace. The main reason that most people come to Cambodia is to visit the spectacular and world-famous temples of Angkor, built by the kings of the Khmer empire. The beginning of the era of the Khmer kingdom at Angkor is conventionally dated to 802 and lasted until the Thais invaded Angkor in 1431.

The ‘Temples of Angkor’ documentary starts in the bustling capital, Phnom Penh, which lies at the confluence of theTonle Sap, Mekong and Bassac rivers. The highlights of the city include the National Museum, the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda as well as Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. A day’s journey by road takes the visitor to Siem Reap, the town that has quickly developed to accommodate the growing numbers of travellers and tourists, who come to see the ancient sites of Angkor. Jayavarman, Yasovarman, Suryavarman, Rajendravarman are some of the names of the kings that ruled and built the temples at Angkor. The documentary not only covers the well known Angkor Wat, with is unmistakable five towers and vast complex of galleries; the famous stone faces of the Bayon in the heart of Angkor Thom; Ta Prohm, sometimes called the ‘jungle temple’, but also includes some of the smaller but no less interesting temples. There is also a visit to the temples of Koh Ker, which was briefly the capital of the Empire under Jayavarman 1V.

JOHN MYERS PHOTOGRAPHIC welcomes you to Cambodia – Apart from the fabulous historical sites, perhaps Cambodia’s greatest treasure is its people. The Khmer have suffered through countless wars, poverty and political instability. But thanks to an unbreakable spirit and an infectious optimism, they have prevailed. No visitor leaves Cambodia without some measure of affection and admiration for these people.

Running time is approximately 55 minutes.

Tags: Cambodia, Asia