Wat's Da Heck ??

Being so far at Raffles Design Institute since 2006. First day In Singapore u know wat? Someone who is agent in Singapore came to airport and picked me up. The 1st thing which pissed me off was my bank draft I brought just little $ and Visacard. In Singapore for some nation such as Singapore we can come to study 1st and get student pass later ( student visa at other countries). I could not use my bank draft to get $ and pay the school fee and 1 more I can not pay the hostel student cuz they asked me pay the school before rend their place even I booked and informed from Cambodia already. Good luck I used to use Western Union service I asked Singapore for that place.....u know wat? They said wat is Western Union? Er....after i called my dad to transfer $ cuz back draft from ANZ Royal Bank could not use and Visa card could not also. After 1 hour i got $ and can rend the hostel. Wat's the heck again. I had booked for Single room but then they said sorry no more space, I had to stay with other strangers at share room. They are chines. Good luck they are good person and become friend later :D. The Hostel in Sg for sharing room we have to share the shower room and toilet same as army's style but for shower place has the door, I dont have to naked in front of other...hahahahahah. The room is expensive and the quality is damn, dirty messy and lots of black from Africa around...

Inportant :D

At Hostel they provided Female building and Male building . All males never be allowed to enter female area they built the mess wall around female part. Inspite of cannot join the female area, those girl come to male part instead...hahahahahhaah. There are some make love in the room...kekekeke.

I used to stayed there for 2 months. By their rule we have to pay 3 months even u leave before due date, u can not get refund. I found other place via Internet and moved ma ass outta there. The reason even it dirty and narrow but friendship I have. I study design i need to put my drafting table but not available space over there. I had no choice.

The Real History of Preah Vihear Temple

Inside Preah Vihear Temple (Photo by : Rooster_KooL , April, 2002)

Apart of Preah Vihear Temple (Photo by Rooster_KooL, April, 2002)

Name: Prasat Preah Vihear

Creator: Suryavarman I and Suryavarman II

Date built: 11th & 12th Centuries CE Primary deity: Shiva

Architecture Style: Banteay Srei style and others

Location: Preah Vihear, Cambodia

Prasat Preah Vihear (Khmer regular script:ប្រាសាទ​ព្រះ​វិហារ​ ,Thai: ปราสาทเขาพระวิหาร: Prasat Khao Phra Viharn) is a Khmer temple situated atop a 525-meter cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains in Cambodia and on the border of Sisaket Province in northeastern Thailand. In 1962, following a serious dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over ownership of the temple, the International Court of Justice in the Hague ruled that it belonged to Cambodia. The adjacent land to the north is under Thailand's control. Affording a view for many kilometers across a plain, Prasat Preah Vihear has the most spectacular setting of all the temples built during the six-century-long Khmer Empire. As a key edifice of the empire's spiritual life, it was supported and modified by successive kings and so bears elements of several architectural styles. Preah Vihear is unusual among Khmer temples in being constructed along a long north-south axis, rather than having the conventional rectangular plan with orientation toward the east. The temple gives its name to Cambodia's Preah Vihear province, in which is is located, as well as the Khao Phra Wihan National Park in Sisaket Province, Thailand, through which the temple is most easily accessible.

Access

The temple can be approached from Kantharalak district, Sisaket Province of Thailand. Cambodia allows day-trip access to the temple on a visa-free basis from Thailand. Cambodia imposes an entrance fee of US$5 or 200 baht for foreigners (as of 2006, reduced to 50 baht for nationals of Thailand), plus a fee of 5 baht for processing a copy of the passport. In addition, Thailand imposes an access fee of 400 baht for entering the National Park.

Size

The temple complex runs 800m along a north-south axis, and consists essentially of a causeway and steps rising up the hill towards the sanctuary, which sits on the clifftop at the southern end of the complex (120m above the northern end of the complex, 525m above the Cambodian plain and 625m above sea level). Although this structure is very different from the temple mountains found at Angkor, it serves the same purpose as a stylised representation of Mount Meru, the home of the gods.

The approach to the sanctuary is punctuated by five gopuras (these are conventionally numbered from the sanctuary outwards, so gopura five is the first to be reached by visitors). Each of the gopuras before the courtyards is reached by a set of steps, and so marks a change in height which increases their impact. The gopuras also block a visitor's view of the next part of the temple until he passes through the gateway, making it impossible to see the complex as a whole from any one point.

The fifth gopura, in the Koh Ker style, retains traces of the red paint with which it was once decorated, although the tiled roof has now disappeared. The fourth gopura is later, from the Khleang/Baphuon periods, and has on its southern outer pediment, "one of the masterpieces of Preah Vihear" (Freeman, p. 162): a depiction of the Churning of the Sea of Milk. The third is the largest, and is also flanked by two halls. The sanctuary is reached via two successive courtyards, in the outer of which are two libraries.

Ancient History

View from our Cambodia border to Thai border in the early morning .

Photo by Rooster_KooL, April, 2002

Construction of the first temple on the site began in the early 9th century; both then and in the following centuries it was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in his manifestations as the mountain gods Sikharesvara and Bhadresvara. The earliest surviving parts of the temple, however, date from the Koh Ker period in the early 10th century, when the empire's capital was at the city of that name. Today, elements of the Banteay Srei style of the late 10th century can be seen, but most of the temple was constructed during the reigns of the kings Suryavarman I (1002–1050) and Suryavarman II (1113–1150). An inscription found at the temple provides a detailed account of Suryavarman II studying sacred rituals, celebrating religious festivals and making gifts, including white parasols, golden bowls and elephants, to his spiritual advisor, the aged Brahman Divakarapandita. The Brahman himself took an interest in the temple, according to the inscription, donating to it a golden statue of a dancing Shiva.

International dispute over ownership

In modern times, ownership of the temple was disputed by Thailand and Cambodia, leading to an international crisis and a decision by the International Court of Justice, commonly known as the World Court, in The Hague.

The court proceedings focused not on questions of cultural heritage or on which state was the successor to the Khmer Empire but on technicalities of border demarcation work carried out in the early 20th Century by Thailand, then called Siam, and the French colonial authorities then ruling Cambodia. In 1904, the two sides formed a joint border commission. In the vicinity of the temple, the group was tasked to work under the principal that the border would follow the watershed line of the Dângrêk mountain range. In 1907, after survey work, Siam requested that French officers draw up a map to show the border’s precise location. The resulting map, which was sent to Thai authorities, showed Preah Vihear as being on the Cambodian side.

In 1954, Thai forces occupied the temple following the withdrawal of French troops from newly independent Cambodia. Cambodia protested and in 1959 asked the World Court to rule that the temple lay in Cambodian territory. The case became a volatile political issue in both countries. Diplomatic relations were severed, and threats of force voiced by both governments.

Arguing in the Hague for Cambodia was former U.S. secretary of state Dean Acheson, while Thailand’s legal team included a former British attorney general, Sir Frank Soskice. Cambodia contended that the map showing the temple as being on Cambodian soil was the authoritative document. Thailand argued that the map was invalid, was not an official document of the border commission, and violated the commission’s working principle that the border would follow the watershed line, which would place the temple in Thailand. If Thailand had not protested the map earlier, the Thai side said, it was because Thai authorities had practical possession of the temple, due to the great difficulty of scaling the cliff from the Cambodian side, or had not understood that the map was wrong.

On June 15, 1962, the court ruled 9 to 3 that the temple belonged to Cambodia and, by a vote of 7 to 5, that Thailand must return any antiquities such as sculpture that it had removed from the temple. In its decision, the court noted that over the five decades after the map was devised, the Siamese/Thai authorities did not object in various international forums to the map’s depiction of the temple’s location. Nor did they object when a French colonial official received the Siamese scholar and government figure Prince Damrong at the temple in 1930. Thailand had accepted and benefited from other parts of the border treaty, the court ruled. With these and other acts, it said, Thailand had accepted the map and therefore Cambodia was the owner of the temple. The court declined to take up the question of whether the border as shown in the 1907 map corresponded to the watershed line.

Thailand reacted angrily. It announced it would boycott meetings of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, with Thai officials saying this step was to protest a U.S. bias toward Cambodia in the dispute. As evidence, Thai officials cited the pro-Cambodia vote of an American judge on the court and Acheson’s role as Cambodia’s advocate; the U.S. government replied that Acheson was merely acting as a private attorney, engaged by Cambodia. Mass demonstrations were staged in Thailand protesting the ruling.

Thailand eventually backed down. In January 1963, Cambodia formally took possession of the site in a colorful ceremony attended by close to 1,000 people, many of whom had made the arduous climb up the cliff from the Cambodian side. A fit Prince Sihanouk, Cambodia’s leader, bounded up the cliff in less than an hour, paused to sip lemonade, then made offerings to Buddhist monks. In the ceremony, he made a gesture of conciliation, announcing that all Thais would be able to visit the temple without visas, and that Thailand was free to keep antiquities that it had taken away from the site.

However, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to separate Prasat Preah Vihear into two sides, which are the Thai and Cambodian sides. The entrance is in Thailand, but if you enter from Cambodia you have to climb the cliff.

The following information was posted online by Thailand's Thai News Agency on 24 May 2008, reflecting the current status of discuss the status of the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. "BANGKOK, May 24, 2008 (TNA) -- Cambodia has agreed to register only the ancient Preah Vihear temple ruins themselves as a UNESCO World Heritage site, leaving the surrounding area disputed by Thailand and Cambodia unresolved, and to prepare a new map showing the ruins for consideration by UNESCO and Thailand, Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said Saturday. Mr. Noppadon, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officials met in Paris for 10 hours on Thursday. The Thai foreign minister told a press conference that the meeting was held in a friendly atmosphere. The Cambodian government agreed to limit its registration of the Preah Vihear temple only as a World Heritage site, and would submit new map of temple premises to the Thai government and UNESCO for consideration on June 6. Thailand supports Cambodia in registering the ancient temple ruins as a World Heritage site, Mr. Noppadon said, indicating that he would forward the outcome of the meeting to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and related government agencies as soon as possible . Agreements reached at the meeting were contained in a joint communiqué and must be approved first by both the Thai and Cambodian governments, he said. The revised map, prepared by the Phnom Penh government and submitted when it applied for registering Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site last year, must be studied again whether it was appropriate, said Mr. Noppadon. Thailand earlier held that the dispute over the disputed 4.6 sq. km. area adjoining the temple ruins has yet to be settled. Historically, Thailand and Cambodia have both laid claim to the temple, which sits astride the border in Thailand's Si Sa Ket, but easy access is only through Thailand. The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia.

Civil war and present times

Civil war began in Cambodia in 1970; the temple's location high atop a cliff served to make it readily defensible militarily. Soldiers loyal to the Lon Nol government in Phnom Penh continued to hold it long after the plain below fell to communist forces. Tourists were able to visit from the Thai side during the war. The Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh in April 1975, but the soldiers at Preah Vihear continued to hold out after the collapse of their government. The Khmer Rouge made several unsuccessful attempts to capture the temple, then finally succeeded on May 22, 1975 by shelling the cliff, scaling it and routing the defenders, Thai officials reported at the time. It was said to be the last place in Cambodia to fall to the Khmer Rouge.

Full-scale war began again in Cambodia in December 1978 when the Vietnamese army invaded to overthrow the Khmer Rouge. Khmer Rouge troops retreated to border areas. In January, the Vietnamese reportedly attacked Khmer Rouge troops holed up in the temple, but there were no reports of damage to it. Large numbers of Cambodian refugees entered Thailand after the invasion. In June 1979, Thai security forces forcibly expelled tens of thousands of them back into Cambodia in the vicinity of Preah Vihear. Unknown numbers were killed by landmines, gunfire and exposure; the government that Vietnam installed in Phnom Penh put the number of fatalities at more than 300.

Guerilla warfare continued in Cambodia through the 1980s and well into the 1990s, hampering access to Preah Vihear. The temple opened briefly to the public in 1992, only to be re-occupied the following year by Khmer Rouge fighters. In December 1998, the temple was the scene of negotiations by which several hundred Khmer Rouge soldiers, said to be the guerrilla movement's last significant force, agreed to surrender to the Phnom Penh government.

The temple opened again to visitors from the Thai side at the end of 1998; Cambodia completed the construction of a long-awaited access road up the cliff in 2003.

Since the Cambodian government decided to nominate the site for inclusion into the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, tensions between the two countries on this issue reignited.Thailand has stated that they do not object to the application for the temple complex, but that Cambodia also listed disputed areas around the temple when applying to put the temple on the list.

Information from Wikipedia

Look at Our Cambodian Way

Photo by: Andreas LEO Urban

This is the toilet of the "Bokor mountan lodge" the most expensive accommodation in Kampot. I never imagine, why our Khmer wast like that while other don't have enough food but this place even use pineapple just for reduce the smell at toilet. It's not my original photo from me but someone who has stayed over there. What do u think while we are poor and wast like that??

Ground-breaking held for Phnom Penh's tallest skyscraper

Written by Sebastian Strangio
Wednesday, 18 June 2008

Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and GS President Kevin Kim attend ground-breaking ceremonies for IFC Phnom Penh. Planned for 52 stories, IFC will be Phnom Penh’s tallest building when its completed in 2012.

Construction is set to begin on Cambodia’s tallest building as officials broke ground on the 52-story International Finance Complex that will dominate the skyline of the Kingdom's low-slung capital after its completion in 2012.

The $1 billion IFC Phnom Penh project will include a main office tower surrounded by several smaller glass-and-steel structures, making it the latest in a string of mega-projects set to transform the city’s urban landscape in the next decade.

“The IFC Phnom Penh project [is] a symbol of Cambodia’s recent economic growth and will become a new landmark of Phnom Penh,” said Kevin Kim, CEO and President of GS Engineering & Construction, the project’s South Korean developer, at the June 18 groundbreaking ceremony at the building site on the Bassac River.

“Cambodia is the most dynamic and fastest growing country in Southeast Asia, and we want to participate in and contribute to that growth,” Kim said.

South Korean Ambassador to Cambodia Shin Hyun Suk added that the project was likely to further strengthen ties between Cambodia and South Korea, already the second leading source of foreign investment in the Kingdom after China.

“I am pleased to note that in Cambodia’s recent development, South Korea has been a key partner,” Shin told the ceremony, praising the government’s achievement in fostering political and economic stability. “The 52-story IFC building will stand as a symbol of the continuing progress in Cambodia.”

When completed, the IFC skyscraper will be the tallest building in Cambodia, eclipsing the 42-story Gold Tower 42 project, which is also Korean financed, as well as other residential and commercial towers currently planned or under construction around the capital.

In addition to offices, the IFC project will include 275 serviced apartments, long-term luxury housing, an international school and a convention center.

News from Phnom Penh Post

Life in Singapore

Many people said life in Singapore is cool cuz it's a nice and Fine Country. Do u know what is FINE country?? Hehehe...if u don't follow the rule, u will be fined :D.

As Singapore is small there is nothing much for fun, but the food are nice. There are many kinds of food, but if u don't eat spicy :D maybe u will have problem cuz most of nice food are spicy. One thing is good in here is the safety. It's very safe any time anywhere but u have to watch out as well low crime it doesn't mean no crime.

Singapore is cleaner than some other Europe countries though especially the subway is the number 1 in the world and just won award of best subway and service this year. Most of people in here take Subway or sky train we call SMRT. It's fast and cheap. They rarely use car even they have it cuz the car park is very expensive plus the gas then SMRT is the common one.

New let talk about the Education. Yep the education in Singapore is acceptable and damn strict for international student especially for University . For international student they can not work even part time when they are holding the student pass (Student visa at other country). It's Singapore law if anyone try to work, they will be kicked outta here. All of them must take 90% of their school's schedule attendant. For example my schedule has 11 weeks per term. If anyone absent 3 times per the same subject, they will fail by attendant. No matter what they have high score. Anyone who come late for the class for few minutes will according as absent. Any late submitting for any assignments will record as 0 mark. But i heard from other school is better than mine. Submitting late just cut the score 10% daily only and not so strict as this one. But still strict....hahaha :D. I bet some of u will lazy to read then enjoy my photo :D

A shot from my living place :D

The Center area where is the crowed place in Singapore


Clarke Quay, Night life entertainment


Other direction of Clark Quay where u can have fun till morning :D


China town where u can find nice food :D

Super spicy Steamboat or Hotpot. My favor even spicy than Thai food. Anyone wanna try with me? If u don't know how to eat spicy, will reak 3 gnai...hahaha

Habit :D

I like to travel as many countries as I could. I really enjoy it. Even sometime I have to travel alone, but neve rmind as long as I bring my Girlfreind(Camera)...hehehe It gonna be fun for me :D

Galeries Lafayette where i did not have enough money to buy their stuff...ban trerm het het...hahaha

The Colosseum where I love the most

Rooster_kool

There is nothing much about me. I am just ordinary guy as other do. Alright let me introduce myself s-th to u guys. I am currently studying in Singapore in majoring Interior Architecture. I graduated Interior Design at Royal Fine Arts of University in 2004 and Management Information System (MIS) at National University of Management(NUM) in 2005. At Hi5.com many people have known me as Mars and Kj Steav K2D's Radio. In here maybe people will call me Rooster_Kool as ma blog name :P. I am kinda jerk who is talkative but just with people who I know only. In first time other people will note I am rude and Vai Rerk...hehehe I use Khmerlish to express tje feeling , but later on they will recognize I am friendly and nice chatter :D...hehehehe.

P.S I just show off :P