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École d’Art et de Culture Khmers
Housed in a traditional Khmer-style building, this school teaches underprivileged children traditional music, apsara dancing, painting, sculpture and shadow puppetry. You can observe classes but read the clearly posted ground rules first (note: no photos).
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Wat Dam Nak
Formerly a royal palace during the reign of King Sisowath, hence the name dam nak (palace), today Wat Dam Nak is home to the Centre for Khmer Studies , an independent institution promoting a greater understanding of Khmer culture with a drop-in research library on site.
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Battle of the Gods & the Demons
The western section of the north gallery depicts the battle between the 21 gods of the Brahmanic pantheon and various demons. The gods are featured with their traditional attributes and mounts. Vishnu has four arms and is seated on a garuda, while Shiva rides a sacred goose.
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Old French Bridge
Destroyed during the Khmer Rouge period, Kampots old French bridge was later repaired in a mishmash of styles. Its officially closed for safety reasons; locals simply climb over the barrier to walk across. Watch your step extremely carefully if you do decide to walk on it.
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Lazy Beach
Koh Rong Sanloems best strip of sand is Lazy Beach, home to the Lazy Beach Resort . Non-guests will need to buy a drink or meal at the resort restaurant to stay and admire the sand. Its an easy 25-minute stroll (flip-flops are ok) across the island from Saracen Bay.
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The All
The fighting depicted in the Civil War panel, just south of this panel, continues on a smaller scale. An antelope is being swallowed by a gargantuan fish; among the smaller fish is a prawn, under which an inscription proclaims that the king will seek out those in hiding.
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National Assembly
Home to Cambodias national parliament, this elaborate building is finished with traditional Khmer motifs. The access road is sometimes closed off to the public if the Prime Minister or foreign heads of state are visiting (or if the political temperature is rising).
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Kompong Thom Museum
This seriously bijoux museum (its one room) actually packs a pretty good punch with statuary and stelae from local sites, including a fine selection of beautiful pieces from Sambor Prei Kuk (its well worth poking your head in on your way back from the site itself).
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Governors Residence
The two-storey Governors Residence, with its balconies and wooden shutters, is a handsome legacy of very early 1900s. The interior is closed but it should be possible to stroll the grounds. It was designed by an Italian architect for the last Thai governor, who departed in 1907.
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Prasat Yeai Poeun
Prasat Yeai Poeun is arguably the most atmospheric ensemble, as it feels lost in the forest. The eastern gateway is being both held up and torn asunder by an ancient tree, the bricks interwoven with the tree’s extensive, probing roots. A truly massive tree shades the western gate.
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Tani Museum of Ceramics
This tiny museum is located in Tani commune and showcases a collection of Angkorian pottery from the days of the Khmer empire. Only pottery enthusiasts are likely to get fired up by the limited displays, but go with a good guide and they can show you some Angkor-era kilns in the ar
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Cambodia
The optimistically named Cambodia–Vietnam Friendship Monument was built to a Vietnamese (and rather communist) design in 1979. Concerts are often held in the park, which springs to life with aerobics, football and takraw (foot juggling with a rattan ball) enthusiasts after 5pm.
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Bun Rany Hun Sen Development Centre
Teaches cloth and mat weaving, sewing, marble carving and other artisanal skills to young people, and sells the items they make from a large shop on premises. There are some real bargains here on beautiful krama (checked scarves) and baskets. Travellers are welcome to visit classes
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Koh Sampovmeas
This bizarre island-park, built up in the shape of a ship, is Pursats place to see and be seen towards sunset. Young locals drop by for aerobics (classes from 5pm) or a game of badminton, while power-walkers pound the circuit between the manicured lawns and Khmer-style pavilions.
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Prasat Preah Stung
At the western end of Preah Khans baray stands Prasat Preah Stung (known to locals as Prasat Muk Buon or Temple of the Four Faces). Its particularly memorable because its central tower (held up by bamboo scaffolding) is adorned with four enigmatic, Bayon-style faces of Avalokiteshv
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Wat Langka
A colourful Buddhist temple, offering free one-hour Vipassana meditation sessions in its central vihara at 6pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and on Sunday morning at 8am. (Warning: if you’ve never done it before, an hour will seem like an eternity – it’s OK to just do 20 or
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Wat Phnom Doh Kromom
Looming over the northeast corner of the air strip, Wat Phnom Doh Kromom has Mondulkiri’s best sunset vista – a wooden platform lets you take in the views. Continue another 5km north beyond to the wat for Samot Cheur (Ocean of Trees), another viewpoint overlooking an emerald forest
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Thommanon
Thommanon is just north of Chau Say Tevoda. Although unique, the temple complements its neighbour, as it was built to a similar design around the same time and was dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. Thommanon is in good condition thanks to extensive work undertaken by the EFEO in the 1
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Krishna & the Demon King
The eastern section of the north gallery shows Vishnu incarnated as Krishna riding a garuda . He confronts a burning walled city, the residence of Bana, the demon king. The garuda puts out the fire and Bana is captured. In the final scene Krishna kneels before Shiva and asks that B
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Prahoc Factory
Heading southwest towards Battambang from Wat Ek Phnom, youll spot this factory just before the bridge across the Sangker River. Here you can see the bustling local industry behind Cambodian prahoc (fermented fish paste). The bamboo trays of fish drying in the sun along the roadsid
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