Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Siem Reap - Banteay Srey Temple - Ta Phrom
Day 1: Phnom Penh - Arrival | |
| Today is arrival day free at leisure. This evening, meeting your local guide with a brief of activity of your 15 days trip. Welcome dinner at Khmer Sourin Restaurant. Note: All clients can get a visa at airport; the visa fee is 20 USD in cash.Passports should be valid for at least six months beyond the end of your visit and two passport photos are needed. | |
| Day 2: Phnom Penh - Royal Palace - National Museum - Killing Field | |
| This morning start Phnom Penh sightseeing city tour with our experience tour guide. The visit included of Wat Phnom, National Museum, Silver Pagoda, Royal Palace.
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| We start head out from Phnom Penh City to Battambang. Enroute we stop at Oudong, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia (1618-1866) to discover the three large Stupas. The stupas house the remains of past monarchs, King Monivong, King Ang Duong, and recently built a new hug stupa holding relices of Buddha. Udong is one of the local picnic spot in the weekend with picnic huts selling everything from sweet palm fruit to roasted chicken cluster around the base of the hill. | |
| Day 4: Battambang - Bamboo Train | |
| Transfer by Remork to the Bamboo Train station. The Bamboo train has been set up by the villagers to facilitate the transportation of goods and persons. The train itself is very basic. One platform on 4 wheels activated by a small motor. Sitting on the platform, you will travel the 8 km to the next station through beautiful landscape and rice paddies. On arrival, visit the village and discover the daily life of the Cambodian countryside. Stop at a workshop specialized in wooden sculpture. Continue to the local NGO (non governmental organization) “La Maison de Coco” and to the city center with its beautiful houses dating from the colonial time. Afternoon, free at leisure. Optional activities: depend on your time we can drive to Phnom Bannon Hill. Climb the 337 steps to reach Prasat Bannon temple dating from 12th century and relish the breathtaking view over the surrounding plains. Lunch/Dinner at local restaurant | |
| Day 5: Battambang - Sangke River - Floating Village - Siem Reap | |
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| Today you will take an excursion tour to the famous Banteay Srey Temple (citadel of the women) and Banteay Samre temple which are about 30 km away from Siem Reap. Including a visit to an ethnic local village. Afternoon, we visit the rest of the temples around Angkor Thom City, Preah Khan, Neak Poan, Thomanan & Chausay Tevoda and the famous Ta Prohm Temples was a monastery built by Jayavarman VII as a residence for his mother. Ta Prohm has been controversially left to the destructive power of the jungle by French archeologists to show how nature can destroy man's work. It has been largely overgrown by the jungle and as you climb through the dilapidated stone structures you see many giant trees growing out of the top of the temple itself. It's the sort of place where you'd expect to see Indiana Jones step out from behind a fallen pillar. As such, it is one of the most regularly visited temples, with visitors often arriving during the warmer hours of the middle of the day to take advantage of the protective canopy the forest spreads above the temple.
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| Day 8: Siem Reap - Rolus Group | |
| This morning, we visit Roluos group of temples locate about 20 km from Siem Reap town. The temple lies the complex of Roluos, one of the first Khmer capitals built by Jayavarman II, then called Hariharalaya. We can visit three remaining Hindu sanctuaries Preah Ko, Bakong and Lolei. On our return to the hotel, we visit “Les Artisans d' Angkor" which provides training to young Cambodians in an effort to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting. | |
| We depart by private transport to Kg. Thom, accompany by local guide, driving through Cambodia country side then a short stop at Kampong Khdey Bridge (built during Khmer Empire period), and a short stop at Stoung to visit some colonial houses and Khmer houses. On arrival in Kampong Thom, we check in our hotel.
Lunch at local restaurant
Afternoon, tour to Sambor Prei Kuk located 30 Km from Kampong Thom town, a pre Angkorian site dating from the 7th century which presents among the most ancient surviving examples of Khmer architecture. We continue to overnight in Kamong Cham.
Dinner at local restaurant | |
| This morning we take a short tour of Kampong Cham includes examples of colonial architecture. Depart from Kampong Cham to Phnom Penh. Visit Wat Nokhor with its ancient temple and modern style pagoda (12th century). A short stop in Skun where local people sell popular deep fried spider. | |
| Day 11: Phnom Penh - Takeo - Kampot | |
| We start at 08:00 a.m., travel by private transport to Takeo province, 87 km south of Phnom Penh along the national Road No.2 passing Tonle Bati, a favorite picnic spot for local located on a small lake. We visit the ruin Ta Phrom Temple (Mini Angkor), a uniquely temple constructed since 12th century then continue to Takeo province town for lunch and taking a boat trip to Angkor Borei & Phnom Da Temple (constructed in the mid of 6th century). On the way back, we visit a small museum with sculptures from the time of the Funan era of early Khmer civilization (1st-5th century) Lunch/Dinner at local restaurant | |
| We continue the trip to Kampot province, after check in our hotel we take a tour to top Bokor Hill station (Bokor National Park) lie on southern tip of the Elephant Mountain near Cambodia and Vietnam border. This hill station has been abandoned twice in its history. Picnic lunch, and we enjoy the untouched jungle, water fall, rivers, ruins building such as a French Church, Casino & former King Sihanouk Villa. We continue journey from Kampot to Sihanouk Ville in the evening. Picnic Lunch / Dinner at local restaurant | |
| Day 13: Sihanoukville | |
| Optional activities: This morning tour to Ream National Park, jungle walk, and a boat trip along the National Park, Prek Teuk Sap River. Or Island Boat Trip from Ochheuteal Beach at (See Dragon Restaurant), meeting at 9am. and departure 9 .30 am to Koh Preus where to stop for snorkeling and fishing (about 1 hour), 11:30am. arrives at Koh Takiev, and take a few hours relax on nice, quiet and white sandy beach. BBQ lunch serve on the beach, late afternoon 16:30, trip return to Sihanouk Ville. | |
| Day 14: Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh | |
| Free at leisure day in the morning. Afternoon, you will be transfer to Phnom Penh. | |
| Day 15: Phnom Penh - Departure | |
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Bucket in Stream
Bucket in Stream
Stream with Lichen Rocks
Stream with Flowing Algae
Stream with Pylons
Pool in Brush
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Legless Lizard
When most people think of a lizard they think of a being with legs, but there is one lizard that defies this description and it is aptly called the legless lizard. This species looks an awful lot like a snake and it belongs to the Anguidae family, which is a family that contains 80 species. Most of these species are found in North and South America. The legless lizard is also known as the glass lizard and they are found in Europe in regions such as the Balkans, Istria, Bulgaria, Crimea, and even parts of southwest and central Asia.
A rare species of legless lizard was recently captured in the Conecuh National Forest
Habitat of the Legless Lizard
The legless lizard is usually found in dryer areas, and they seem to prefer places where there are plenty of rocks, brush, and other items that will provide them with cover. Many times these lizards will be found in dry stone walls, stone piles, and dry embankments. Legless lizards are often most active after it rain.
Diet of the Legless Lizard
These lizards can be seen in the wild as well as at many zoos, and therefore the diet of the animals will vary depending on where they live. When these reptiles are in the wild they are known to eat bird eggs, a wide variety of insects, earthworms, and even small mammals that they are able to catch. When the lizards are captive they often feed on mice, crickets, and a variety of worms such as earthworms and meal worms.
The Legless Lizard
These reptiles hunt during the day and night and they are well equipped with their large teeth and powerful jaws. Because they are ground dwellers, the lizards often eat snails, which are thought to be one of the favorite foods of the species. Although it is a sight to see the lizards rid themselves of the slime from the snails after eating! Because the species dines on insects, legless lizards are thought to be an asset to humans, which is why most people who know what they are go out of their way not to harm them.
Life Span and Cycle of the Legless Lizard
These lizards live for a very long time, more than 50 years when in captivity! While they live to be quite old, female lizards of this variety will be mature between two and three years of life. The species usually breeds in the late spring and the females are adept at finding damp areas where they lay their eggs, usually six to 10. The females will watch over the eggs closely for about six weeks, but when the young hatch the female will leave them to take care of themselves.
Californian Legless Lizard
The Difference Between Legless Lizards and Snakes
At first glance the legless lizard looks an awful lot like a snake, but there are some obvious differences. First, the lizards have movable eyes, which snakes do not have. Another thing that sets the lizards apart from snakes is that they boast rows of scales on their bellies. Perhaps the most interesting difference between the snake and the legless lizard is the fact that the legless lizard can break off its tail when it is threatened or in danger, which is why it is called the glass lizard because it looks like it is shattering when the tail breaks off! Overall, the legless lizard is very fascinating, though often misunderstood and misidentified.
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