CLIMATE AND SEASONS

Cambodia is a tropical country. There are two distinct seasons, the dry and the monsoon. The monsoon lasts from May to October with southwesterly winds ushering in the clouds that bring seventy  five to eighty percent of the annual rainfall often in spectacular intense bursts for an hour at a time with fantastic lightening displays. The dry season runs from November to April averaging temperatures from 27 to 40 degrees Celsius. The collest and most comfortable for those from cooler climates is from October to January.

Ten Most Popular Trees in Cambodia

 Palm Tree

Straight like a column, tall like a skyscraper, the palm tree represents the Khmer soul. According to history, palm trees were discovered at the same time Khmer people established their tribes in present day Cambodia during the Funan in 600 A.D.

Besides representing Cambodia's soul, the palm tree provided raw materials for many Khmer dishes as well as household products.

For instance palm juice, which is produced by squeezing the palm flowers, can be used to make either sweet or sour drinks, which are popular across the country. The juice can also be made further into sugar palm by stirring it in a heated pot until it becomes thick and much sweeter than the original juice. Producing palm sugar requires a long process and time but it's sold at a much higher price.

If not used for juice, the palm flower will develop into palm fruit that is uniquely fresh and sweet. Today, palm fruit is used by many Cambodians to make desert by adding ingredients such as coconut milk, a bit of sugar and lots of ice to accommodate the generally hot climate of Cambodia.

Another important use of the palm tree in Cambodia society is for the construction of the traditional Khmer home, such as the roof of cover and the walls. Leaves need to be dried under the sun first, before they can be tied together to form larger pieces of roughly 1m x 0.5m.

The trunk of the palm tree also has its use. The palm trunk is softer in the inside than the outside; quite the opposite from most other trees. For this reason, the palm trunk is perfect for making small boats.

Not a single component of the palm tree is unused . Palm trees were here when the first Khmer arrived ; hopefully, it will always be here as the Khmer population continues to grow rapidly, expanding into the countryside where most palm trees persist.

 

 Banana Tree

The Banana tree is like a giant flower and unlike most trees. It has big leaves in proportion to its trunk and branches. All its branches grow outward from the tree top like a blooming flower. The Banana tree has so many uses. Its leaf can be used to wrap cakes, food etc. The trunk of the tree is used in preparation for various Buddhist ceremonies and when it's mashed into little pieces it becomes pig's food and even used for human soup. Its fruit can be eaten as desert as well as for traditional ceremonies and remedy.

Coconut Tree

The Coconut tree is similar to the palm tree but it's not as straight. It grows easily but only in tropical climates. The coconut tree has many uses. Its leaf can be used to make household products and its fruit can be used as a drink or to make deserts. Traditionally, coconut flower is used in wedding ceremonies.

Bamboo Tree

The Bamboo tree is known for its straight trunk which is useful for construction, usually scaffolding. The leaf of the bamboo tree is used to wrap Chinese cake, called Nom Zhang. When young, bamboo is called Tra Peang, which is another popular vegetable in Cambodia.

Rubber Tree

The Rubber tree can be found in various countries; however, it is a very special tree to Cambodians. Cambodian's soil is very fertile for rubber trees to grow and many people across the country make a decent living from growing rubber trees. After three to five years rubber trees start giving the milky like liquid that is eventually made into rubber. The tree itself is also very good for wood fire and housing.

Tek Doh or Tek Doh Ko (milk) Tree

 Even though this tree doesn't have many uses but it's an indigenous tree to Cambodian.Its fruit-Phle Te Doh Ko (milk fruit) is sweet and milky and has large seeds. There are two kinds of Tek Doh Ko tree: male and female. They are similar, although the female tree produces large fruit. Unfortunately, today this tree is a rare sight in Cambodia.



 

Papaya Tree

The Papaya tree is a common site in Cambodia. Although its trunk doesn't have much use, its fruit can be used in many different ways. Ripe papaya is a delicious fruit, while the raw one is used for papaya salad or in Khmer, Bok Lhong. Papaya can also be put in soup or marinated and become Chruok L'hong.

Guava Tree (Trabek Tree)

The Guava tree has pale-earth like skin color and is very strong and durable. It's not a very large tree but Cambodian people love to grow this tree. Since ancient times Cambodians have used Guava tree's skin to cure diarrhea. It's very bitter and is boiled in water until its bitter taste comes out. The young guava leaf is also a very good diarrhea medicine. But beware, guava seed is very hard and shouldn't be consumed in large amounts. It can cause stomach ache or more serious stomach problems.

Jackfruit Tree

 The Jackfruit tree is a big tree compared to other fruit trees. It has green palm-size leaves and large solid trunk that can be used to make various kinds of instruments. The skin of the trunk is also a type of ancient Khmer medicine. The Jackfruit is very popular fruit in Cambodia and unlike other trees the fruit grows out of the tree trunk!

Porsat Orange Tree

The most famous and favorite Porsat Orange comes from the north-western province of Battambang, Cambodia. Porsat Orange produces orange of unique taste. Most oranges are either sweet or sour; however, Porsat Orange is both sweet and sour.

KHMER HISTORY

The race that produced the Builders of Angkor developed slowly through the fusion of the Mon-Khmer racial groups of Southern Indochina during the first six centuries of the Christian era. Under Indian influence, two principal centers of civilization developed. The older in the extreme south of the peninsula was called “Funan” (the name is a Chinese transliteration of the ancient Khmer form of the word “Phnom”, which means “hill”), a powerful maritime empire which ruled over all the shores of the Gulf of Siam. In the mid-sixth century, the Kambuja who lived in the middle Mekong (north of present day Cambodia), broke away from Funan. Within a short period, this new power known as Chenla, absorbed the Funanese Kingdom. In the late seventh century, Chenla broke into two parts: Land Chenla (to the north) and Water Chenla (to the south along the Gulf of Thailand) dominated by the Chinese. Land Chenla was fairly stable during the 8th century, whereas Water Chenla was beset by dynastic rivalries. During this period, Java invaded and took control part of the country.
At the beginning of the ninth century, the kings set up their respective capital in the present province of Siem Reap. For nearly six centuries, the kings enriched it by building temples one after another and each being more sumptuous than the other. Two hundred of these temples are spread all over in the Angkorian area some 400 square kilometers in the Siem Reap Province. The temples and their sanctuaries are best known for their architecture and sculptures.
The first founder of Angkor was King Jayayarman II (802-850), who built one of his residences on the plateau of the Kulen in 802. King Indravarman I (887-889), a nephew of King Jayavarman II, constructed a vast irrigation system at Lolei and then built the tower of Preah Ko in 879 and Bakong in 881. King Yasovarman (889-900), the son of King Indravarman I, dedicated the towers of Lolei to his memory in 893 and founded a new capital to the northwest which was to remain the very heart of Angkor. He built the Eastern Baray, a 7km X 2km size artificial lake also.
King Harshavarman I (900-923), the son of King Yasovarman, who took to the foot of Phnom Bakheng, consecrated the little temple of Baksei Chamkrong, and built Prasat Kravan in 921. King Jayavarman IV (928-941), uncle of King Harshavarman I, reigned in northeastern Cambodia near the present town of Koh Ker. He erected several majestic monuments. King Rajendravarman (944-968) returned to Angkor in 952 and built the Eastern Mebon and Prè Roup in 961. In 967, the Brahman Yajnavaraha, a high religious dignitary of royal blood, erected the temple of Banteay Srei, about 20 km northeast of the capital. King Jayavarman V (968-1001) founded a new capital around Takeo Temple.
In the eleventh century, King Suryavarman I (1002-1050) seized Angkor and founded a glorious dynasty. It was at this time that the Gopura of the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom was completed with the sober pyramid of the Phimeanakas at its center. He also erected the temple of Phnom Chiso, some parts of Preah Vihear, and Preah Khan in Kampong Svay District.
King Udayadityavarman II (1050-1066), son of king Suryavarman I, built the mountain temple of Baphuon and Western Baray. King Udayadityavarman’s brother, King Harshavarman III, succeeded him and ruled from 1066 to 1080 when violent strife led to the fall of the dynasty. King Jayavarman VI (1080-1113) continued to build Preah Vihear Mount in Vat Po and Phimai.
King Suryavarman II (1113-1150) extended his power from the coast of the China Sea to the Indian Ocean and built the temples of Angkor Wat, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, Preah Palilay, Preah Pithu and Banteay Samrè. After these dazzling achievements, the Khmer civilization began to decline due to internal strife and an attack by the Chams.
King Jayavarman VII (1181-1220) was the most fascinating personality in Khmer history. He re-established his rule over all of southern Indochina and is best known for his huge building program. He built Ta Prohm (1186) and Preah Khan (1191) to dedicate to his parents. Then he erected Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, the Terrace of the Leper King, the Terrace of the Elephants, Neak Pean, Ta Saom, Ta Nei, and a few monuments in other parts of the country. It was he who founded his great capital, Angkor Thom and in the center of which, he built the Bayon temple with its two hundred stone faces.
It is understandable that the country was exhausted after these enormous efforts. The decline of the Angkor era began after the death of King Jayavarman VII in the early thirteenth century. Due to Siamese invasion and the limitations of the irrigation system, Khmer power declined so drastically that the king was finally obliged to move to the vicinity of Phnom Penh in 1431. Then, resulting from a series of Siamese and Cham invasions, the country was placed as a French protectorate in 1863.
After regaining Independence in 1953, the country resumed several names:

1. The Kingdom of Cambodia (under the Reachia Niyum Regime from 1953 to 1970)
2. The Khmer Republic (under the Lon Nol Regime from 1970 to 1975)
3. Democratic Kampuchea (under the Pol Pot Genocidal Regime from 1975 to 1979)
4. The People’s Republic of Kampuchea (1979-1989)
5. The State of Cambodia (1989-1993)
6. The Kingdom of Cambodia (1993 until now                                                             (Ref:Ministry of Tourism)

LOTUS FLOWERS

The lotus is rooted in deep mud and its stem grows through murky water. But the blossom rises above the muck and opens in the sun, beautiful and fragrant. In Buddhism, the lotus represents the true nature of beings.

 In ponds and stretches of still water all over the country, lotus flowers bloom pink and white. They often grow naturally, but where there are no lotus, Khmers will plant them.
The pink ones (and not the white) will go eventually to seed, becoming the green pad that can be seen being hawked all over the country. The seeds are popped out one by one, peeled and the sweet flesh eaten. 

- Lotus represents purity. It has a delicate perfume and a beautiful shape so people use the flower for religious and dedication purposes.
- Lotus represent everything we wish to express and become as good Buddhists.

- Lotus is the symbol of learning and cognitive thought.

 In Buddhism, lotus flowers mean purity of speech, mind and body rising above the waters of desire and attachment. The lotus is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols. Different colors of lotus are symbolically used to represent aspects of perfection. There are four colors, which are pink, blue, red and white. Red represents the heart--its purity, original nature, compassion, passion, love and other qualities. White symbolizes spiritual perfection and complete mental purity. Pink represents the Buddha and is the supreme lotus. Blue means wisdom, knowledge and victory over the senses.

Some types of Lotus

	Scientific Name	Common Name	Colour of Blossom
	Nelumbium ‘Alba Grandiflora’	Asiatic Lotus	White
	Nelumbium ‘Angel Wings’	Sacred Lotus	White
	Nelumbium ‘Baby Doll’	Baby Doll	White
	Nelumbium ‘Carolina Queen’	Carolina Queen	Pink
	Nelumbium ‘Charles Thomas’	Charles Thomas	Lavender
	Nelumbium Lutea	American Yellow	Yellow
	Nelumbium Momo Botan	Momo Botan	Deep rosey pink
	Nelumbium ‘Mrs Perry D Slocum’	Mrs.Perry D.Slocum	Changeable bicolour
	Nelumbium  Nucifera	Sacred or Hindu Lotus	Rose pink
	Nelumbium Nucifera ‘Alba Plena’	Shiroman Lotus	Cream white
	Nelumbium Nucifera ‘Pekinensis Rubra’	Pekinensis Rubra	Carmine Red
	Nelumbium Nucifera ‘Perry’s Giant Sunburst’	Perry's Giant Sunburst	White, Yellow
	Nelumbium Nucifera ‘Shirokunshi’	Tulip Lotus	White
	Nelumbium Nucifera var. rosea	Rose Lotus	Rose pink with yellow center
	Nelumbium Roseum Plena	Double Rose Lotus	Deep rosey pink, yellow wing

 Large pink lotus and large white lotus are common in Cambodia