Off the beaten track forest adventure! Banteay Thom temple near Angkor Wat, Siem Reap!

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Off the beaten track forest adventure! Banteay Thom temple near Angkor Wat, Siem Reap!

Рет қаралды 1,999

4 ай бұрын

This video is part countryside/forest riding adventure and part temple exploration. Join me as I visit Banteay Thom temple, to the north east of Angkor Thom. It’s not far from Siem Reap, but once you turn off the sealed road, it can be tricky to get there, particularly in the wet season. The bush tracks are full of sand that is quite deep in places. Once you arrive at the site, follow the outer wall around to the right until the forest opens out and you reach the east gate, where you will also find the Apsara marker. Once you are inside the main temple area you will see two small structures and three towers. There is a lot of scaffolding at the site and lots of evidence of structural movement in addition to looting. If you are interested in finding out more about the looting that occurred in the 1970’s through to the 1990’s, please watch the excellent documentaries below. You’ll learn about Douglas Latchford, a private collector and dealer who, through his thirst for Khmer antiquities, was responsible for much of the looting that took place.
Cambodia tracking down thousands of priceless looted antiquities | 60 Minutes (US)
• Cambodia tracking down...
Treasure Hunters: Searching for Cambodia’s Stolen Antiquities | Foreign Correspondent (Australia)
• Treasure Hunters: Sear...
If you would like to know more about Banteay Thom, please refer to the listing on the fantastic Beyond Angkor site: beyondangkor.org/index.php/Pr...
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Пікірлер: 81

@grahampeters7642 4 ай бұрын

Such a great adventure to this temple and surprisingly rewarding can't believe how big it is what a great video well done Claire 👏 ❤

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much, Graham! It was a lovely morning out. 🙏🇰🇭🌴

@mikestravelshow 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for taking the time out to show us these temples. You went at a good time of the day so you wouldn't get too hot. 🙏

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for watching. It was a great morning out!

@heinerpetersen6778 4 ай бұрын

A walk like this to not so famous places are real gems. Hardly any people, birds around and all sorts of plants start to cover and reintegrate the walls once made by great architects and craftsmen. What a heritage! Walking there in early mornings are unbeatable experiences. I got a very deep feeling of peace and consolation out there and your videos bring out my feelings again. Thanks Claire!

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much. I can see that you understand why I love these places so much. The ruins in amongst nature are wonderful to explore, and you get feelings of peace and excitement at the same time.

@w.m.p-w8989 4 ай бұрын

There are so many of these temples throughout the Kingdom. Appreciate you showing us ...

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

There are. We are so lucky to be able to visit them.

@gerhardthen8851 4 ай бұрын

Lovely temple....Good to see restoration work happening. Always good to see your videos.🙏

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Yes, it's great to see. I think there has been a lot of ground movement at this temple. Thank you for watching 😁

@jamesanglin3032 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tour... Jim

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for coming!

@chhivsimphone364 4 ай бұрын

❤❤❤❤❤❤

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

🙏🇰🇭🌴😍

@Geoffreyboucher 4 ай бұрын

Thank you Claire looks very beautiful,,,,,peace and happiness 😊😊😊😊😊

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

It was lovely. Thank you for watching!

@tangojohn 4 ай бұрын

Awesome!!!

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@paulcleary7437 4 ай бұрын

Thanks Claire 😊

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! 🙏

@travelworklife717 4 ай бұрын

Great video as always, much appreciated. :)

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.

@ethicpereira139 4 ай бұрын

I like the music track that you added to your click. It is very soothing and relaxing touch.

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Thank you, very pleased you liked it.

@philipc239 4 ай бұрын

Love adventure vlogs 🥰🥰🥰👍👍🇰🇭🙏🙏

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

More to come! I think I have another three or so waiting to be edited. Thanks for watching :)

@guydedecker6734 4 ай бұрын

Another stunning place. Definitely one more on my to do list. Thank you so much 👍

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for watching, and I am so pleased you enjoyed it!

@ethicpereira139 4 ай бұрын

Good Morning Claire, it is Sunday Morning March 31st, 2024. It is 41 degrees Fahrenheit here. Had my BF, and noticed your video, I love Hiking and Nature. I do it all the time when I go back home to Tennessee. But I have to leave my state to make a living , at present I am in the state of Indiana not much hiking here it is all flat and boarding. I love to see your Hiking trips.

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for watching. I hope you can get back out there soon and have some adventures.

@ewengillies9826 4 ай бұрын

Attention to detail in the carvings is awesome. Sadly people choose to be destructive in these places of history. Bushyboy Oz.

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

It's awful to see. I imagine many of the faces were damaged to the point of being worthless to the looters in the process, too.

@5loquesea 4 ай бұрын

Hello Claire & Jeremy, must say, you're very good with orientation. Not getting lost going through those paths in the jungle! So nice to see another new site, unknown to most tourists. Amazing how big the area of this temple, but so sad to see all that beautiful stone work pile up on the ground. I guess all the heads missing, must have been looted unfortunately.

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Google Maps was very accurate this time, and I was fortunate in that. It's amazing how many of these sites exist and how they are dotted around the landscape. The looting is tragic to see. :(

@busterreid3864 4 ай бұрын

Thank you Clare. What a beautiful temple, I'll be visiting that one next time I'm in SR.

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Wonderful, it's a beautiful spot. 🌴🇰🇭🙏

@johnkerr7286 4 ай бұрын

Thank you Claire - I really love your Sunday, educational adventure videos. The Asian Koel is of the Cuckoo family, doesn't build nests and dumps its offspring on to other birds (not a bad idea actually🤣)❤

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Haha what a nasty bird! They are lovely to hear, though. Thanks for watching.

@wow888888able 4 ай бұрын

Appreciate your temple adventure in the Kingdom… not many countries around the world that you can have these temple experiences. Stay safe and be careful…

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

We are so very lucky to be able to explore these places! Thank you for watching.

@SteveSmith-zz4ih 4 ай бұрын

i remember a Aussie guy taking his Thai wife to visit Ankor Wat and he said isn't it Stunning, she replied "Looks like a bunch of Rocks" i did chastise her softly, got No Comment back. Thanks for taking us on a Tour Miss Clare.

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Oh dear, there's no coming back from a comment like that! I've been to a couple of sites that consist of one or two stones, so I guess in those cases, she would have been right!

@00akcarl 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing with us! I bet this temple was absolutely breathtaking imagine what it looked like after it was finished... The details just wow. Break's my heart to see looting and vandalism

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

It really is! Living is Siem Reap is a the wonderland if you love temples. ❤

@dominiquetheeasyminimalist 4 ай бұрын

You are one brave woman Claire, I would not have ventured that far without clear indications 😂It's beautiful, thank you!

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching! Actually, Google Maps was pretty accurate for this one.

@riandisaputra2938 4 ай бұрын

it is temple which i want to visit,, i already on half way,,,, when i cnsoder to come back because the road is so bad condition, i never reach this temple.. , it was september,, rainy season,,, but thank you for sharing it.....

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Yes, it would be very difficult in the wet season. I would probably leave the bike at the bitumen road and go in on foot.

@gathuckle2661 4 ай бұрын

Really nice. At the 11:32 mark there is a panel of four eight rayed figures in the false door. I've seen the same at Banteay Samre and Preah Khan. There is a panel of four of them in the ceiling above the geometric center of Angkor Wat with two more to the side of the panel. That figure is also carved all around the top floor of AW and there are hundreds of them in the ceiling above the relief carving on the south side of AW. It's a symbol of the primordial sun, the black sun, the best sun...Saturn. I liked the video and will be sure to get to Banteay Thom next time I'm in Siem Reap. I live in Thailand and I couldn't tell if I was hearing the koels that surround me or if the sound was coming from my headphones as I watched the video. Thanks for clearing that up.

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

It's lovely to be able to take the time to notice the detail in these places. I haven't been to Preah Khan in a while - might be time for another visit. Glad that you have koels living near you as well. Those and the little doves are the birds I hear most often here in Siem Reap. Thank you for watching! :)

@Charlie-phlezk 4 ай бұрын

@6:56 perfect sky, as you said!

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

It was a magic day!

@aljorgy2310 4 ай бұрын

What a great adventure for a day trip! Take Care 😊😊

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

@antruok4950 4 ай бұрын

Very impressive place - Thanks for taking us 😎👍👋🙏✔️

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for coming along!

@TRUTHx247 4 ай бұрын

They’re not forgotten and we don’t consider them “abandoned”. Do people expect them to be lived in or something? There are so many of these types of temples all through out the country, often out of the way in rural areas that have less foot traffic or are hard to get to. Maybe we just have different perspectives or definitions of what is and what isn’t.

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

I know, it's more because if I didn't use those words, nobody would watch the video. In the end, we need views to keep making videos. 😀

@TRUTHx247 4 ай бұрын

@@ForRiel Ah gotcha 😊 Thank you for explaining. I’m not a KZfaqr so I don’t always understand. Love your content always. 🙏

@glenbbqdavidson7131 4 ай бұрын

Apologies

@sojeanify 4 ай бұрын

I do appreciate the honesty. Always great to watch any of your videos.@@ForRiel

@TRUTHx247 4 ай бұрын

I’m not sure I understand what you’re trying to say. I love this channel. It’s just that anyone who knows and has a deep understanding of our history will know that in the past whenever something or some place (that originally belonged to Cambodia) was labeled as “abandoned”, the neighbors use that as an excuse and justification to swoop in to seize and steal what rightfully belonged to Cambodia. People forget that that was exactly what happened to our Angkor Wat (among many other things) with the neighbor. Their claim was that it was “abandoned”, but during those times there were several ongoing wars and it’s obvious on the condition of Angkor Wat that not every damage was due to Mother Nature alone but as a result of war. Outside invaders were relentless back then and Cambodians had to flee to save themselves and it became inhabitable over time as Mother Nature took over. Angkor Wat became a war zone on many occasions deeming the temple and surrounding areas unsafe. During the Khmer Rouge regime later, many leftover inhabitants were forced out yet again. Also keep in mind, no monks were spared. The ones who were able to evade the Khmer Rouge would seek temporary refuge within the temples often for shelter and to pray and then go back into hiding in the jungle if they heard anyone coming. It was never safe for anyone to stay at any one temple for too long, especially Angkor Wat… the mother of all temples. It was no secret Angkor Wat was the largest and most revered making it one of the most dangerous places to seek shelter and hide in during those tumultuous times. They had to keep moving and stay hidden. But the ancestors of Cambodia never abandoned their beloved Angkor Wat in their hearts and their minds even when unfortunate forces were physically forcing them out temporarily due to politics and war. The gov’ was Useless and the people were Helpless so what could they have done?

@Charlie-phlezk 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing! 😇

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@brucesieverts1236 4 ай бұрын

it's so sad that most of the destruction was done during the war. as for the looting that was running rife in the end of it all

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

Yes, the looting is a visual reminder of what happened. Seeing statues with no heads or ones where only the feet remain because the body was hacked off at the ankles is beyond sad. The documentaries I linked in the description show how incredibly important these pieces are to Cambodian people.

@popkon2110 4 ай бұрын

🙏🦘🌱

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

🙂🙏🛵🌴🌳🙂🙏🛵🌴🌳

@jorgenrh7598 4 ай бұрын

❤❤😊😊🤗🤗🤔😐😯😊😇

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

🙏 🛵😀🙏🙏 🛵😀🙏🙏 🛵😀🙏

@jerrychan4278 4 ай бұрын

Hey guys I want to donate, is there a link?

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

In the description of all of our videos there are links to the charities we support - please donate directly to one of them. For many reasons, we don't accept direct donations. :)

@Brother_Eli 4 ай бұрын

Hey Claire. Do you live in Slor Kram near hot stone restaurant? I walked by a woman and said hello, she looked a lot like you. 2 days later a fella with a nice beard was in the same area.

@ForRiel 4 ай бұрын

🤣🤣🤣 yes, we do! I'm sorry if I didn't respond or didn't see you. I might have been coming back from a run and dying in the heat.

@Brother_Eli 4 ай бұрын

@@ForRiel you responded to me. You smiled and said hello, but you were about to leave. Small world.