San Tai Zi Temple

San Tai Zi Temple (三太子)

វិហារ​លោកតា​ សាន ថៃជី
-------------------------------

San Tai Zi temple is located at the corner of street number 211, along the edge of Bassac River and Steung Prek Thnot. It was built in 2009 at Krong Ta Khmao, Kandal Province.

San Tai Zi temple is marked as one of the most beautiful Chinese temples in Ta Khmao town with building, sculptures and other artificial styles following traditional Chinese architecture. This temple is served as the worshipped place by both Taoists and Buddhists and for holding of customary ceremonies by Chinese Cambodians. It is also an attractive place for general visitors both believers and non-believers alike.

Noted that San Tai Zi’s origins are Buddhists, but well known for Taoists as “Na-Zha/Na-Cha (哪吒)”, the third son of a great general in the Chinese legend named Li Jing, who later became the "Pagoda-wielding Heavenly King". However, According to Meir Shahar, Nezha is based on two figures from Hindu mythology. The first one is Yaksha and the second one is Krishna.

San Tai Zi temple of Ta Khmao Town consists of the local superstition as a sculpture of Neak Ta can be seen in a shrine under banyan tree. There are also other sculptures of Bodhisattvas such as Xuanzang (Tang Sanzang) and Guanshiyin.

Ratana Plaza

Ratana Plaza

ផ្សារទំនើប រតនាផ្លាហ្សា

------------------------------

Ratana Plaza is one among of the other shopping malls or supermarkets in Phnom Penh. It is located in the same building as Dara Airport Hotel. It has address on Confederation de la Russie Blvd (110), Sangkat Teuk Thla, Khan Sen Sok, Phnom Penh City, Cambodia. In fact, in order to reach Ratana Plaza you need to turn southward off from Confederation de la Russie Blvd (110) around 50 meters, then you will see the shopping mall’s signage on the cube shape building.

Ratana Plaza is not a pretty big super market with just only 3 floors, while the other floors, western part and the roof of the complex are served as hotel for 155 rooms and  for reception, lobby, swimming pool, bar, restaurant  and spa at the fifth-floor. Just like other super market, Ratana Plaza is equipped with some modern facilities such as elevator, security camera and more. Ratana Plaza is also decorated with attractive lights, especially in some special occasions such as New Year and Christmases.

The first floor of Ratana Plaza looks somehow interesting which houses a Lucky supermarket, Lucky Burger, KFC, iOne computers and other shops such as jewelry shops, electronic products shops, and some cosmetics and personal care. The second floor has mostly the fashion shop, cloth shops, and a big home appliance and electronic product shop – Kfour Electronic Shop.The third floor is set for the food court, kid playground, restaurant, coffee shop, and its administrative office. 

Generally, Ratana Plaza can be considered as a local shopping mall for residents of the surrounding area and for guests from Dara Airport hotel because most people tend to go shopping at famous, busy supermarkets at downtown like Aeon Mall. 

Cambodian Cultural Village

Cambodian Cultural Village

ភូមិវប្បធម៌កម្ពុជា

---------------------

Cambodian Cultural Village is located along National Road No. 6, the road to the airport, and address in Svay Dangkum Village, Krus Commune, Siem Reap Province. It is easy to recognize as its symbol which with decoration of waterwheel at the main gate. Cambodia cultural village cover a total area of 210,000 square meters.

Cambodia cultural village is a theme park which was started the construction in 2001, and opened its door for public on 24 September 2003. Inside this amusement park, there are several important historical buildings and structures presenting with miniature versions such as Royal Palace, National Museum, Central Market, Wat Phnom, and so on. According to the information from Cambodian cultural village, there are eleven unique villages, representing the varied culture heritage of nineteen ethnic groups. At each village are wood house, carving in stone, traditional performances in different styles such as Apsara dancing, performances of ethnic minorities from north-east of Cambodia, traditional wedding ceremony, circus, folk games, peacock dancing, acrobats, elephant shows, and more.  

Cambodia cultural village also has a wax museum displaying scenes from culture and history such as living activities of ethnic groups, Khmer family, war scene, scene of Preah Neang Soma (Liv Yi), and more. This wax museum also displays some famous public figures such as Samdach Choun Nath, Samdach Penn Nouth, King Ang Duong, Phirum Ngoy, pop star Sin Sisamuth, researcher from China – Chiv Ta Kvan and a lot more.

Cambodia cultural village is popular with Cambodian and other Asian visitors

7 Makara Flyover

7 Makara Flyover
 ស្ពានអាកាស 7មករា
-------------------------  

7 Makara Sky Bridge kicked off its construction on 29^th of December in 2010. It is 345 meters long, was completed in late January in 2012 and cost USD 8.7 million. This flyover was built near Kosomak Hospital and Royal University of Phnom Penh and connects the Tuol Kork and Sen Sok districts. The bridge is located on the intersection between Confederation De La Russie Street, Yothapol Khemarak Phoumin Boulevard, and Kampuchea Krom Boulevard.

In Cambodia, the flyover is called the Sky Bridge because it is above the ground across the sky, and it is the first of its kind in the whole country.

Noted that there are 3 flyovers, located in the most congested areas of Phnom Penh City presently. They are Kbal Thnol Bridge, the first flyover, with investment of $6 million before being inaugurated for use in June 2010, the 7 Makara Bridge, the second flyover, involved an investment of $8 million and was inaugurated in January 2012, and the Stung Meanchey Bridge, the city’s third flyover, saw investment of $19 million.

Increasing and improving infrastructure in Phnom Penh would lead to many positive outcomes, including ease of travel and improved economic growth, and would be good for property values as it can help commercial areas better connect to each other and assist people in saving money and time getting around the city. 

Song Saa Island - Natural Paradise of Cambodia

Song Saa Island (Koh Oun & Koh Bong)
កោះសង្សារ (កោះអូន កោះបង)
----------------------------------

The most luxurious island in Cambodia is Song-Saa Island which is a Khmer word, meant “The Sweethearts”, implying the intimate and harmony. Song Saa Island consists of two pristine islands ( Koh Oun and Koh Bong).

These twin islands are located in the untouched Koh Rong Archipelago where is the home for the rich and diverse marine life including turtles, seahorse, and exotic species of tropical fish, while on the islands is full of virgin rainforests, tropical reefs and glistening white beaches.

Song Saa Island lies secluded 30 kilometers west of Sihanoukville, in this magnificent seascape, just 35 minutes by boat from the port of Sihanoukville. These two small adjacent islands are four and three hectares in size respectively.

Song Saa is a private island developed by a couple named Rory and Melita Hunter who are impressed with tropical environment of the islands with pristine beaches, rainforests. They are also looking ahead for new opportunities to bring their vision of world-class sustainable luxury to other parts of Cambodia and Southeast Asia.

They found a natural paradise of Cambodia – Song Saa Island!

Ou Saray Commune

Ou Saray Commune
ឃុំអូរសារាយ
--------------------------

Ou Saray Commune, Tram Kak District, Takeo Province

Ou Saray Commune is one among 15 communes of Tram Kak District, Takeo Province. This commune has 15 villages. It is located along National road no. 124 with an area of 60.7 square kilometers. According to national census in 2008, there was a population of 11,993 which had density 197.6 inhabitants per kilometer.

Ou Saray Commune is a well-known rural commune for its Kpop Trabek Dam which considered as the main irrigation system and inhabitants find it very useful for domestic usage and farming.

Romenh Commune

Romenh Commune
ឃុំរមេញ
---------------------------

Romenh Commune, Koh Andet District, Takeo Province

Romenh commune is one among 6 communes of Koh Andet District, Takeo Province.​​ This commune has 10 villages. It's not located along the national road, and it's  near Vietnam border which has an area of 70.3 square kilometers. According to national census in 2008, the commune has a population of 11,330 which has density 161.8 inhabitants per square kilometer. The occupation of most inhabitants is farmer. 

Trapang Rang Commune

Trapang Rang Commune
ឃុំត្រពំាងរំាង
-------------------------

Trapang Rang Commune, Chum Kiri District, Kampot Province

Trapang Rang Commune is one of 7 communes of Chum Kiri District, Kampot Province. It is located along village road off from National Road No. 124 around 1 kilometer. Most inhabitants do rice farming as their lands mostly covered by paddy field.

Banteay Kdey Temple

Banteay Kdey Tample
ប្រាសាទបន្ទាយក្តី
----------------------

Banteay Kdey Temple

Banteay Kdey Temple is located in front of Srah Srang and southeast of Ta Prohm Temple, Siem Reap Province. It was built in the late half of the 12th and early 13th centuries by King Jayavarman VII. The temple is similar in art and architecture of Ta Prohm, but it is smaller and less complex.

Research conducted by the University of Sofia has indicated that this temple was built on another older temple as evidenced by a foundation base found under Banteay Kdey temple. Archeologists believe the foundation may be related to Kod village during the reign of King Jayavarman II.