Cambodia - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 446

highly trained English-speaking bird guides. Osmose ( 012 832812; www.osmosetonlesap.net )
also runs organised day trips to Prek Toal. These include English-speaking guides and cost
US$95 per person with a minimum group of four.
Getting to the sanctuary under your own steam from Siem Reap requires a 20-minute
moto (US$2 or so) or taxi (US$10 one way) ride to the floating village of Chong Kneas,
and then a boat to the environment office in Prek Toal village (around US$55 return, one
hour each way). This is where you pay your entrance fee, pick up a Khmer-speaking guide
and board a smaller boat to take you into the sanctuary, which is about one hour beyond.
Both boat and guide are included in the entrance fee.
Serious twitchers should contact bird specialist SVC about additional trips around Siem
Reap and Preah Vihear Province.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
TEMPLE TALK
Professor Ang Choulean is one of Cambodia's leading experts on anthropology and archaeology and a
renowned scholar on Cambodian history. He was awarded the 2011 Grand Fukuoka Prize for his out-
standing contribution to Asian culture.
What is the most important Khmer temple? Angkor Thom is the most striking and challenging for
archaeologists, since it was a living city, with humans and gods co-habiting there.
What is the most important archaeological site in Cambodia? Sambor Prei Kuk is among the most
important for its homogeneity, given the period and its artistic style.
Who is the most important king in Cambodian history? Suryavarman I, who had a real political
vision that can be measured by the monuments he built, such as Preah Vihear and Wat Phu.
What is your position on the debate between romance and restoration at Ta Prohm? It is a matter
of balance. The trees are most impressive, but maintaining the monument is our duty.
Which other civilisation interests you greatly? Japanese civilisation, as it is so different from Kh-
mer civilisation, which allows me to better understand my culture.