#Cambodia - Authorities pump water into Angkor Wat complex

A current hot spell has led to the Angkor waterways drying up.

The Apsara Authority is pumping water into the moat and ponds at Angkor Wat during the current dry spell.

Apsara spokesman Long Kosal yesterday said that Cambodia is being affected by the El Nino phenomenon which is causing extremely hot weather leading to severe water loss due to evaporation. He said this has seriously impacted water management in the Angkor area.

“Groundwater and surface water is very important to maintain the beauty and environment in the Angkor area, especially Angkor Wat temple,” he said. “So to maintain the right level of water in the moat and ponds around Angkor Wat temple requires proper water management.

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Mr Kosal said the authority is pumping water into the southern pond at Angkor Wat to maintain its water level and will do so for the northern pond after current archaeological work in it are complete.

“We are pumping water from Siem Reap river which is the only major source of supply for the Angkor area,” he added.

Phoeun Sokhim, deputy director of the Department of Water Management at the Apsara Authority, yesterday said that the moat surrounding Angkor Wat is losing more than 10,000 cubic meters per day due to evaporation and into the ground.

“Although the water evaporation is high, it does not affect the level of water in the Angkor Wat moat, because the moat contains more than one million cubic meters of water which is maintained through regular pumping,” he said.

Mr Sokhim noted that the Apsara Authority has also restored an ancient waterway system to help water flow from the Angkor Thom moat to maintain the water level in Angkor Wat moat.

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He added that Apsara Authority is also regularly cooperating with the Siem Reap Water Supply Authority to manage the amount of underground water being pumped to address shortage in the area.

Mr Sokhim said any excessive pumping of underground water can impact the soil which poses a risk to conservation of temples in the Angkor area.

Kol Putra, a tourist guide at the Angkor area, yesterday said he supports the Apsara Authority’s actions to maintain the water balance in the Angkor Wat moat.

Mr Sokhim noted that the Apsara Authority has also restored an ancient waterway system to help water flow from the Angkor Thom moat to maintain the water level in Angkor Wat moat.

Source - Khmer Times

#Thailand - Ayutthaya Historical Park, Wat Chaiwatthanaram

New life for old Ayutthaya

The TV series 'Love Destiny' has renewed Thais' interest in the former Siamese capital

MINGLING ROMANCE, fantasy and history, Channel 3’s hit comedy series “Buppesannivas” (“Love Destiny”) has managed to bring classical Ayutthaya back to life. True fans are flocking to the old capital of Siam to dress in elegant period costumes and pose for pictures among the ruined temples and palaces of Ayutthaya Historical Park.

Fans of the television series can easily imagine Khun Sri Wisanwacha and Karaked paddling in a boat to the market. 

The government’s Fine Arts Department recently organised a one-day tour for public and a media mob to the site in a bid to get folks better informed about the long history resting silently in its stones.

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“‘Buppesannivas’ has inspired many more people to visit Ayutthaya,” said Anandha Chuchoti, the department’s director general. “Wat Chaiwatthanaram, for example, which is one of the main locations seen in the TV series, welcomed more than 30,000 tourists within three weeks of the show going on air.” 

The department is developing a map of the key sites used in the TV show and incorporating QR codes that visitors can scan as they follow a designated route. Guides are also on hand to explain the architecture and describe the way of life hundreds of years ago. 

“And next month we’re hosting a one-day excursion from Ayutthaya to Lop Buri to showcase the beauty of both cities during the reign of King Narai,” Anandha said.

Towering Petch Fortress is another point of keen interest, sitting at the convergence of the Chao Phraya and Pa Sak rivers. King Mahadhammaraja erected it in 1580, with eight apertures left in the brickwork for cannon. Here, merchants from China, Portugal, Japan, England and France once gathered.

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 Ayutthaya was known as “the Venice of the East” long before Bangkok inherited the description, said archaeologist Pathravadee Deesomchoke, who’s in charge of the department’s local operations.

  “The old capital was completely surrounded by rivers and moats, making it an easily defended island. There were also 16 fortresses, and King Narai allowed only the Chinese and Persians to settle downtown.”

Pathravadee described the flourishing trade of 300 years ago. Diplomats were sent to France and Western innovations were adopted, such as using bricks and cement in construction rather than clay. 

“Ayutthaya had many markets, both on land and in the waterways, each one specialising in a certain kind of merchandise. Talad Pa Lueng sold monks’ robes and Talad Chee Kun was where you bought jewellery.”

She pointed out that Bangkok’s original defensive walls were built with bricks salvaged from the ruins of Ayutthaya during the reigns of the first three Chakri kings. “So the Fine Arts Department has had to add new bricks to the ruins here to maintain their structural strength.”
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#Myanmar (Burma) Shwedagon Pagoda entry fee increase put on hold

Shwedagon trustees have suspended plans to increase the entrance free of the pagoda for about six more months after getting a directive by the department of archaeology, national museum and library under the ministry of religious affairs and culture.

 The board of trustees of Shwedagon pagoda had intended to increase the entrance fees from K 8,000 to K 10,000 from June 1. The announcement had been made in early May.

According to an archeology department directive they had to report six months ahead before any increase was made and that’s why they weren’t allowed to do it.

 
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“This is not only applicable to the Shwedagon pagoda but also for all things happening in the country. A discussion must be made with the stakeholders involved first before making a final decision on policy. It is very important,” Daw May Myat Mon Win, vice chairman of Myanmar Tourism Federation told The Myanmar Times.

“This is because although the change in entrance fee does not affect the free independent traveller it does affect package tour operators as they have sold their packages a year in advance. This means they cannot amend the prices in their itinerary,” U Ye Tun Oo, Chief Executive Officer of Vivo Myanmar travel and destination told The Myanmar Times.

So the Union of Myanmar Travel Association, UMTA submitted to the ministry of religious affairs and culture that notice of six months should be given for any price change according to a press release on May 31 by UMTA.

“It is better if they took more time to discuss this and with more people so there are more options. For instance, recently Siem Reap increased the entrance fee to almost double the original amount but no one complained about that. So we should copy their business model and see how countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia charge,” Daw May Myat Mon Win said.

#Myanmar (Burma) - China to restore Thatbyinnyu Pagoda.

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will sign an agreement for the restoration of quake-hit Thatbyinnyu Pagoda in Bagan during her visit to China.

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Thatbyinnyu Pagoda which is internally damaged is going to be renovated by China. Maung Zaw / The Myanmar Times The Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko made this announcement on May 6 at a press conference on the Bagan cultural heritage conservation held at the Bagan Archaeological Museum.

“Currently the State Counsellor is on a visit to European countries. After coming back, she will visit China. Among the various issues to be discussed is the signing of a bilateral agreement on the Thatbyinnyu Pagoda restoration. After that, China will start renovation works,” said Thura U Aung Ko.

Severely-hit Thatbyinnyu Pagoda was one of the over 400 Bagan pagodas damaged by an earthquake with its epicenter in Chauk township in August last year.

“During a renovation meeting held last February, we made a request to the Chinese Ambassador. China is best at restoration,” Thura U Aung Ko said.

China agreed to Myanmar’s request and all the costs of restoration will be borne by China, it has been learnt.

Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library (Bagan branch) director U Aung Kyaw Kyaw said that the damage was severe.

”Thatbyinnyu Pagoda is not externally but internally damaged. Even echoes can no longer be heard if you make a sound inside the pagoda,” said U Aung Kyaw Kyaw.

According to data from the Department of Archaeology, the pyramidal spire and base pillars of the Thatbyinnyu Pagoda were severely damaged by last year’s earthquake. At present, emergency maintenance works for the Thatbyinnyu Pagoda are being carried out by UNESCO experts and Myanmar engineers.

In addition to Thatbyinnyu, China also donated US$100,000 for restoration works on other quake-hit pagodas in Bagan; at present, offers to help in pagoda renovation have also been received from countries like France and Italy, according to Thura U Aung Ko.

“Conserving cultural heritage is important. If we cannot repair it ourselves, we should accept assistance from other countries. Not China alone. Where it is appropriate, we should get assistance from other countries,” U Soe Win, a Nyaung-U resident, said.

Thatbyinnyu Pagoda was built in AD 1144 by King Alaung Sithu. It is a four-storey cave pagoda with a spire and it is 210 feet high. It is reputed to be the tallest pagoda in Bagan.

 

No surprises: Bangkok, Wat Pho are TripAdvisor travelers’ top choices

Bangkok is one of world’s best cities for travel and Wat Pho its best attraction, according to this year’s TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards.

Voters put the Land of Smiles at the top spot for its exotic beaches, heritage sites and amazing food. The country picked up awards in four categories: destination, landmark, island, and beach.

Bangkok came in at no. 18 on the list of the world’s top destinations while the top Buddhist temple attraction Wat Pho came in at no. 21 in the best landmark category.

Meanwhile, Phuket’s Nai Harn Beach was ranked no. 18 among the Best 25 Beaches in the World, while Koh Tao was hailed as one of the world’s 10 best islands, ranking at no. 5.

Globally, Marrakech in Morocco won the best destination, followed by Thailand’s neighbor Siem Reap in Cambodia, and Istanbul in Turkey.
Cambodia took the top spot for landmark with Angkor Wat, followed by Peru’s Machu Picchu and India’s Taj Mahal.

Source: Coconuts

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#Bangkok, Erawan Shrine ready for the grand rite

After Fine Art Department has been restored the ruin Erawan Shine for nine days, the golden Brahma statue is ready for tomorrow grand rite ceremony.
The newly restored statue is covered by old sheet weighted 2.5 kilogrammes.

This afternoon many worshipers continue to offer prayers to the statue even after it is finished.

Damaged by the bomb on August 17, the likeness of the Hindu god Brahma suffered damage to the chin, necklace, right index finger and right shin, he said, and the roof overhead was also affected. Thao Maha Prom Foundation is covering the costs of the restoration, estimated at Bt70,000.

Hosted Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanarat, tomorrow grand rite will take place at 7am.
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