We had an adventurous day for our first day in Siem Reap and we were looking forward for another one for day two. I booked our tour package on AirAsiaGo.com but it was only for half day. Thus, we added another half day tour thanks to the advice from the tour guide. We paid extra for it but it was all worth it.

We were supposed to leave our hotel at 4.30 am for the sunrise view at Angkor Wat temple but we woke up late! However we still manage to reach there on time, thanks to our speedy van driver.

Angkor Wat Temple

For those who didn’t know, you need to buy passes to enter Angkor Wat circuit. Our advice is to buy the 3 days passes, there are quite a number of temples within the circuit.

Let’s get some hard facts about Angkor Wat Temple

Angkor Wat (Khmer: អង្គរវត្ត) is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. It is the world’s largest religious building.[1] The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country’s prime attraction for visitors. Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried temple, based on early South Indian Hindu architecture, with key features such as the Jagati. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs, and for the numerous devatas (guardian spirits) adorning its walls.

The modern name, Angkor Wat, means “City Temple”; Angkor is a vernacular form of the word nokor (នគរ), which comes from the Sanskrit word nagar (नगर), Thai, Nakon, meaning capital or city. Wat is the Khmer word which comes from Sanskrit word “Vastu”. Prior to this time the temple was known as Preah Pisnulok (Vara Vishnuloka in Sanskrit), after the posthumous title of its founder, Suryavarman II. –Source from Wikipedia.org

Sunrise at Angkor Wat temple is very popular among the tourists. Hundreds had gathered and positioned their cameras and tripods for the best spot for the sunrise picture. Our tour guide brought us to a secret spot with the least people. Having a good guide is very important for getting the best spot and the best picture. The spot is getting the reflection on the whole building with the sunrise on the small lake at the main entrance of the temple.

There is a small elusive room named Prassat Kok Troung, also known as the Chamber of Echoes. It is called such way because when you thump your chest, the echoes will fill the chambers. It was quite cool actually.

A common sight in Angkor Wat temple, statues were beheaded by poachers to sell at lucrative black market around the world many years ago.

We spent at least two hours venturing Angkor Wat temple. The temple has gone thru restoration works thanks for the help from other countries. For the travel tips for Angkor Temple, you can read Travel Tips for Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Bayon Temple

After Angkor Wat temple, we head to the Bayon Temple. Bayon is built in late 12^th century or early 13^th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII.

The Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman’s capital Angkor Thom. Following Jayavarman’s death, the temple was modified by later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their religious preferences. – Source from Wikipedia.org

The stone faces of Bayon Temple..

You can ventured around the temple and find many angles to take pictures of this temple, this was one of them.

The inscriptions on the Bayon Temple, it is hard to imagine this was carved 800 years ago.
Bayon stands out from the rest with its stone faces. There are 216 gigantic faces on the temple’s towers! Bayon is located nearby Angkor Wat temple and it is a must visit temple in Angkor Circuit.

Banteay Srei Temple

Banteay Srei temple is located in Siem Reap and not in the Angkor Circuit. It took us almost an hour to travel from Angkor Circuit to Banteay Srei temple.

Banteay Srei temple was built on 967 AD and it was the only major temple at Angkor not built by a monarch. The temple was dedicated to the Hindu god Siva.

It is hard to tell that how fine the carvings and the size of this temple from this picture, the temple is relatively smaller than most of the temples in Angkor.

Look at the details of the carving and also the statue, it was absolute gorgeous!

The temple is often called as citadel of the women or citadel of the beauty due fine carvings on the walls and also the tiny dimensions of the buildings themselves. The details of the carvings on the walls of the temple are finer. This makes Banteay Srei temple another worthy place to visit in Siem Reap.

Roluos Group of Temples: Bakong, Preah Ko and Lo Lei Temple

 Roluos Group of Temples consists of Bakong, Preah Ko and Lo Lei Temple. Roluos Group of Temples are the least popular temples in Angkor compare to Angkor Wat, Bayon and Banteay Srei temples. The tour guide was surprised that we were going for Roluos group of temples tour as it is not popular with tourists. I didn’t research much about it as well when I purchased it on AirAsiaGo.com but it was an educational tour to visit the temples. Below are some of the hard facts.

Roluos is a Cambodian modern small town and an archeological site about 13 km east of Siem Reap along NH6. Once it was the seat of Hariharalaya, first capital of Khmer Empire north of Tonlé Sap (as the first capital in the strict sense of the term could have been Indrapura, identifiable with Banteay Prey Nokor).

Among “Rolous Group” of temples there are some of the earliest permanent structures built by Khmer. They mark the beginning of classical period of Khmer civilization, dating from the late 9th century. Some were totally built with bricks, others partially with laterite or sandstone. – Source from Wikipedia.org

Bakong Temple

It took almost an hour to reach Bakong Temple from Bantreay Srei Temple.

Bakong temple is the first temple mountain of sandstone constructed by rulers of the Khmer empire at Angkor near modern Siem Reap in Cambodia. In the final decades of the 9th century AD, it served as the official state temple of King Indravarman I in the ancient city of Hariharalaya, located in an area that today is called Roluos. – Source from Wikipedia.org

The brick towers surrounding the temple are aging. Stood tall for centuries, the towers had taken its toll through the hot and wet climate of Siem Reap. It is the matter of time restoration work will starts on Bakong Temple.

Preah Ko Temple

Next we went to Preah Ko Temple. Preah Ko temple was much smaller than Bakong temple and it was the first temple to built in Roluos.

Preah Ko (Khmer: ប្រាសាទព្រះគោ) (Khmer, The Sacred Bull) was the first temple to be built in the ancient and now defunct city of Hariharalaya (in the area that today is called Roluos), some 15 kilometers south-east of the main group of temples at Angkor, Cambodia. The temple was built under the Khmer King Indravarman I in 879 to honor members of the king’s family, whom it places in relation with the Hindu deity Shiva. -  Source from Wikipedia.org

The significant difference between Preah Ko temple and the rest are the three bull statues of sandstone located in front of the temple. All of them are facing the temple’s central towers and that is how the name Preah Ko (sacred bull) came from.

There were already restoration works on the temple. The restoration can be notable with the newer bricks and some of the newer sculptures.

Lo Lei Temple

Lo Lei Temple was the last temple we visited for the second day. The temple was the least popular among the other temples of Roluos temples.

Lo lei Temple was in bad condition mostly due to the intense weather of hot and wet for centuries.

Some of the restoration works had started but it will take years to restore this to its original beauty. This was our last stop for our second day in Siem Reap Cambodia. If you want to read more about Lo Lei Temples, visit Lolei, Siem Reap Roluos Northernmost Temple

Overall, our temples adventure on day two was another educational tour. We visited Hindu and Buddhist temples that were built by the might kings of the past. This has shown that how strong the kingdoms were in this same place. Hence, we felt it was worth it to visit Roluos group of temples as it was historically educational to us. We felt closer to this amazing place after visiting the temples and understanding the history behind each and every one of it.

If you enjoy the beauty of the sunrise at Angkor Wat then you should enjoy the sunset view at Bakheng Hill. Both of them are equally good.

Phnom Bakheng, the name of the temple is located at the top of the Bakheng Hill. It is within the vicinity of Angkor Wat circuit. There are 2 options on how to go to the hill from the entrance. Either you pay to sit on top of the elephant or you walk up. I do pity the elephants as I’m not light.

We preferred walking. It wasn’t that tough, say a good 15-20 min walk up hill? After a day of travelling, walking up the hill was somehow relaxing.

Upon reaching the top, we can see the Phnom Bakheng temple. There are parts of it were still under restoration thanks to the countries that contributing the funds.

The temple is still under restoration

First thing about this temple are the steep steps. Climbing up is slightly tougher than the most temples in Siam Reap. We carefully took our steps and in minutes we reached the top.

Upon reaching the top level of the temple, we saw a huge crowd. All of them were waiting for the sunset scene.

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There is no better place to dine than Solar De Tejeda. Located in the UNESCO heritage site itself, the restaurant is next to historical buildings and monuments.

We went there for dinner and the place is packed. Place is slightly small but the environment there is okay.

We ordered the Grilled Rib Cut for (ARS 33/US$8.70/RM27.80). My friend Chuan ordered extra 2 eggs for it. The Patagonian region of Argentina is very popular for its grill food and its beef. The grilled rib cut is grilled to perfection and it was well seasoned and the meat was tender. In short it was delicious!

Next we ordered additional Mixed Grill for two for (ARS 62/US$16.30/RM52). The ribs were well grilled and the sausages were good.

I prefer to eat the mixed grill without additional seasoning or sauces. It is good by itself. Dining at Solar De Tejeda offers a great night view of the historical buildings and monuments. They have menus in English and well mannered waiters and waitresses. This place is highly recommended!

Solar De Tejeda, Cordoba Address and Contact:

27 de Abril 23

Tel: 0351-4219702

An interview with veteran 4×4WorldExplorer.com traveler, Steven Ng told me about a beautiful fall in Zambia during the Trans Africa 2008 expedition. The group of  4×4WorldExplorer.com drove from South Africa back to Malaysia. The journey took more than a month.

It came no surprise that there was no better accommodation rather than the Zambezi Sun if you wanted to stay near the Victoria Falls of Zambia.

Instead of the usual welcome drink, the group got a shock by the welcome group of 3 traditional warriors armed with weapons and shields. That was a real shocker but a great welcome.

The hotel was a nice place to stay. Just a couple of meters away from the backyard is the Victoria Falls of Zambia. The hotel is so close that the mighty sounds of the waterfall can be heard carefully all the time from the hotel room.

http://www.go2africa.com/zambia/victoria-falls/livingstone/hotels/zambezi-sun

On the next morning, there were visitors from the wild. It was the wild zebras. Having wild zebras in the compound of the hotel is probably the next best thing from going to the safari.
One of the largest fall in the world.

That day, it was gloomy. A bit of rain but it didn’t prevent us from seeing the massive Victoria Falls.
The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders) is a waterfall located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The falls are some of the largest in the world. – Wikipedia.org

The Victoria Falls is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the sightseeing on one of the biggest falls in the world, the  4×4WorldExplorer.com continues their journey back to Malaysia.

They called it “the Smoke that Thunders”

Watch the Victoria Falls of Zambia Video (High Quality).

Personally, I’ve been to Iguazu Falls in Brazil and I must say they are equally breathtaking!

Cheers,

Steven Ng of
4×4WorldExplorer.com

*Pictures are credit to group of the 4×4WorldExplorer.com group.*

Look out for more upcoming adventures from 4×4WorldExplorer.com at www.4×4WorldExplorer.com. They will be traveling in Brazil and other parts of South America in June 2010.

A gift for the Queen remains in the heart of Malacca for centuries. Malacca once ruled by the British from 1826 to 1946, for more than 100 years. For the remembrance of the late Queen Victoria Regina, the Malaccans erected the fountain in 1901 coinciding with the Diamond Jubilee. A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration to mark a 60th anniversary of the reign of the King or Queen.

The Victoria Fountain: Dedicated to the late Queen of the Great British Empire in 1901
Located just in front of the Christ Church and also the Stadthuys, the Victoria Fountain has been part of the icon of Malacca. The scene is almost in every post card, catalogue or books that symbolized Malacca. Listed in the Unesco Heritage site in 2008, Malacca is known as the historical city of Malaysia. The uniqueness of Malacca is it has been ruled by different colonial powers such as the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. Today, the fountain still stands tall and looks new though it has been around for more than a century.

Victoria Regina 1837-1901, Erected by the people of Malacca in memory of a Great Queen -1904
The Victoria Fountain of Malacca is not just a tribute to the late Queen, but also an important artifact of the British colonial era in the past. Its existence is important for the history of Malacca and Malaysia.

Melaka is famous for its UNESCO heritage site. For its food, it will be the chicken rice ball, the “satay celup” and the pineapple tarts. Pineapple tarts and pineapple rolls are everywhere nowadays in Jonker Street, Melaka.  However, finding a good authentic pineapple tart shop could be tough.

My parents have been patronizing a shop near Jonker Street for years. It’s called Pooh Keon Enterprise.

The most notable reason buying from this shop is because the pineapple tarts here are freshly made. There is also  a big oven baking the pineapple tarts daily. A box of the pineapple tarts cost around RM 10 (*not sure the exact figure). Pineapple tarts here are made using margarine.

I would recommend the pineapple rolls. A box of pineapple rolls  is around RM 12. The picture shows the fresh pineapple rolls on the tray getting ready to put into the oven for baking. Pineapple rolls here are made using butter.

On top of the pineapple tarts and rolls, they also sell other local food products such as husband cake, new year cake and so on.

I bought a few boxes of pineapple rolls for my family and also my in-law family. The pineapple rolls skin is fragrant with the usage of butter. The pineapple fillings are tasty and not too sweet.

However, I do find inconsistency in the boxes of pineapple rolls. Some are more fragrant and taste better while the rest taste rather plain. My mother also felt the same on the recent pineapple rolls boxes we bought.

If they can maintain their consistency, the pineapple rolls here are recommended.

Pooh Keon Enterprise Address:
No. 81, Jalan Tokong, 75200 Melaka.

9.00 AM – 6.00 PM (Monday- Thursday )
9.00 AM – 12.00 PM (Friday – Sunday )

Tel:  012-613 4338, 012-353 1577

Traveling from Buenos Aires to Cordoba was not as tiring as I thought. As the second largest city of Argentina, Cordoba is one of the first Spanish colonial capital of the region.

This is how the city looks like from Sheraton Hotel, Cordoba. We reached Cordoba late in the evening.

We took a cab to tour the city as well as having a nice dinner there. Taxi fares were cheaper than Buenos Aires. Weather was really hot as it’s summer now. Ranging around 32c and above. In general, Argentinians are friendly, thought communicating with them could be troublesome. Only a handful can speak proper English.

Declared in 2000, as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, some buildings here are dated in range of hundreds of years old. The Cathedral, perhaps the most emblematic structure of Cordoba. It can be visibly noticed from far.

The Córdoba Cabildo (colonial seat of government) is shown. Reason it’s dark because it was coincidentally Cordoba was having progressive blackout that night. We had no idea going on.

This is San Martin Square. Lots of people was having a great time during night time, probably due to the hot summer time. We stop by at Cordoba for a night. We didn’t do much thing in Cordoba except the fine dining, opposite the The Cathedral. There are more to come and lesser time to update as we approaching the Patagonia. Thanks for reading

Man riding his bicycle towards Jonker Street.

The ever busy Jonker Street.

Trishaw anyone?

Random…

Lantern was sure old.

Was it for SALE?

More vintages…

Ais Kacang anyone?

That’s all for now. More to come!