Two stone lions keeping guard at Srah Damrei on Phnom Kulen

The international news media has been awash with stories over the past few days about the discovery of an Atlantis-like lost city found in the jungle of Cambodia. In fact, the city of Mahendraparvata on the Phnom Kulen plateau, a few miles north of the main Angkor complex, has over two dozen temples that are already well-known, but by using Lidar technology — a cutting-edge airborne laser technology used in archaeology to help map features that may be indistinguishable on the ground — the research team could clearly see a whole urban network including roads and dykes linking the temples. That was the main discovery, that under the vegetation on Kulen mountain lies the remnants of a city older than Angkor Wat. Perhaps the international news media went a little overboard with their headlines but the discoveries are of great archaeological value.

Hanuman has been running its own Sacred Mountain Safari onto Phnom Kulen for the past couple of years. One of the most holy places in Cambodia, the location where King Jayavarman II proclaimed the independence of Cambodia and pronounced himself a Deva Raja or God-King. Located about 50km from Siem Reap, the jungle plateau is home to a rich array of natural and historic sites offering the most diverse variety of experiences amongst our safari products. The Sacred Mountain Safari is a fantastic way to get off-the-beaten-track around the temples of Angkor and get closer to nature at this remote and beautiful location. If clients are to do just one safari on their trip to Cambodia, this would certainly be our top recommendation for the sheer variety of attractions and experience.

Our 2 day-1 night safari to Kulen includes a visit to an important place of pilgrimage for Cambodians at the giant reclining Buddha, a trek to see the monolithic stone animals at Srah Damrei, some of the remote ancient temples identified by the new laser technology, the riverbed carvings of the River of a Thousand Lingas and the famous waterfall so loved by Cambodians making the trip to this holy location. And you also get to experience our comfortable safari overnight accommodation far from the madding crowds.

For more on our safari experiences, please visit http://www.hanuman.travel/safari/safari.html.

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Looking over the Cardamom Mountain region

Wildlife Alliance are an international non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the environment, habitat, wildlife and reducing poverty. They are known in Cambodia for their care for endangered and trafficked animals, their innovative wildlife patrols, their efforts to halt deforestation as well as empowering local communities to earn a sustainable income and to preserve their environment. Now, the folks at Wildlife Alliance want to share their successes and challenges in their brand new Southern Cardamoms Experience. Aimed at the upper sector of the tourist market, their 4-day itinerary is packed full of exciting and unique opportunities to experience their ground-breaking work, as well as getting to see a slice of Cambodian life that few have seen before.

It begins with a personalized tour of the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, where 1,200 animals are housed in modern, comfortable enclosures. Wildlife Alliance has rescued more than 50,000 animals from poachers and illegal wildlife traders and many find their way to Phnom Tamao before being released back into the wild. An in-depth inspection of the elephant, tiger, bear, gibbon and waterbird enclosures are included. Next on the agenda is a helicopter ride into the Southern Cardamom mountains, a stop-over at a ranger patrol station and a visit to an inaccessible and rare ancient site containing burial jars that have remained undisturbed for centuries.

Another of Wildlife Alliance’s success stories that you will get to see, is the rural community eco-tourism center at Chiphat, which allows the community to derive benefits from tourism and appreciate the long-term incentives to protect the surrounding forest and environment. Planting your own tree at the Million Tree Nursery will precede a spot of lobster night-fishing and an overnight stay at the Koh Sathun ecolodge.

A secret wildlife rehab station, deep in the forest, will give you a first-hand insight into how WA re-introduce animals back into their natural habitat, whilst a patrol boat ride with the rangers will demonstrate the challenges they face  in countering illegal loggers and wildlife traffickers. Wildlife Alliance will also take you to see how they have helped some of the poorest farmers develop sustainable agriculture all year round, before you enjoy the luxury and relaxation offered by the 4 Rivers Floating Lodge on the Tatai River.

If you are interested in finding out more about this unique interactive tour – Wildlife Alliance also have a six-day itinerary that spends more time in Chiphat and travel is by road rather than by helicopter – contact the Hanuman team at sales@hanumantourism.com. This really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

On a river patrol with park rangers

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Flight of the Gibbon – Angkor Experience

Later this month, there will be a brand new experience for visitors to the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap, Cambodia. None other than The Flight of the Gibbon – Angkor Experience, which has been running successfully in rainforest locations in Thailand for the last few years. The new arrival at Angkor offers an opportunity to soar on ziplines, traverse suspended sky bridges and abseil from towering trees, all within the forest surrounding the Angkor temples, giving you a birds-eye view of the jungle canopy. It will provide access to the forest in an exciting fashion while also protecting the eco-system. Planting new trees and other conservation projects will be a key element of the new Flight of the Gibbon Experience. More details, once we experience it for ourselves. We can’t wait.

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On the trail of tigers and big cats in north-eastern Laos.

Leopard caught on camera trap in Nam Et-Phou Louey

In the vast Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area, rare civets, Asian Golden Cats, river otters, white-cheeked crested gibbons and the utterly unique Laotian warty newt share 4200 sq km of relatively pristine forests with around a dozen tigers. Approximately half is an inaccessible core zone. The remainder includes 98 ethnic minority hamlets. Two-day wildlife-watching excursions have been pioneered to the park’s remote Nam Nern field station, a road-less former village site where a campsite and surrounding walking trails have been professionally cleared of UXO. Highlights of the trip include a night-time boat ride ‘spotlighting’ for animals and day-time guided hikes learning about wildlife tracking. Actually seeing a live tiger or leopard is unlikely but there’s more hope of spotting Sambar and Barking Deer and for each significant sighting, nearby villages receive a small payment. This is a cleverly thought-out scheme that encourages the local population to work actively against poachers. Find out more at http://www.namet.org/.

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Rain clouds over Angkor Wat… and not a tourist in sight.

The majority of visitors to Indochina prefer to travel during the high season which runs from November through March. Here are some insightful reasons to buck the trend and travel during low season which we prefer to call the ‘green’ season.

Angkor is certainly more crowded than it used to be. That is why Hanuman has carved a niche for itself as the company that approaches the temples differently, striving to avoid the crowds and to make the experience more personal, more intimate, more spiritual. Visitor numbers have risen tenfold in a decade from around 250,000 to around 2.5 million. However, the vast majority of these visitors are travelling during high season and the five months from November to March. Why not consider promoting Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam during green season? Here are a few highlights about the green season that could make the difference.

Saving Money

In these difficult economic times, price matters. Until recently, there was little difference between high season and low season prices, so there was no real economic incentive to promote the region during green season. This has all changed with the advent of the global crisis and green season rates are now substantially lower than high season, particularly for some mid-range to high-end hotels and long-haul flights. A number of hotels in places such as Siem Reap, Luang Prabang and Hoi An are offering great discounted rates off their high season prices. This particularly applies to Myanmar, where high season rates at hotels are spiraling out of control along with tourist numbers, and the green season offers an attractive alternative.

Avoiding crowds
Peak season is a busy time and it means the leading destinations (and by default the leading hotels) are very busy. Travel off-season and the numbers plummet. This means the sights are less crowded and the hotels less busy, adding up to a more relaxed and serene experience. In the recent past, our team has been in both Luang Prabang and Siem Reap and it is very tranquil compared to the high season. It almost feels like a flashback to bygone days when Cambodia and Laos were truly off-the-beaten-path and only for the most adventurous travellers. This can be particularly important for the more wealthy and discerning traveller who really wants a different experience. It is that much harder to create with ten times the number of tourists in town. The best rooms are available, the best places calm and peaceful and the best restaurants not overcrowded. Coupled with price, this is quite an incentive.

The Weather
This is the big fear when it comes to green season travel. What will the weather be like? Well the honest answer is that we don’t know anymore. Global warming, unexpected typhoons and many elements have combined to ensure the weather is not as predictable as it once was. The monsoon no longer arrives and departs to schedule.  Even when it rains, the showers are usually short and sharp, falling at the end of the day, some time between 5pm and 8pm. Yes, there may be some instant floods here and there, but this can be quite a spectacle in itself. So the weather should no longer be an obstacle for a low season visit, as it is too unpredictable these days. If we are choosing our favourite green season months, then June to August are probably the best. May is very hot in many areas and still arid, while September is traditionally the wettest, although in recent years Siem Reap has experienced major flooding in October. There’s never been a perfect season to travel to Vietnam, as there are microclimates up and down the country, so make that the perfect excuse to travel to Indochina when you want and not when everyone else does.

Spectacular Clouds
Well it’s linked to the weather, but the incredible clouds that appear during the wet season are something to behold. Like post-nuclear mushroom clouds, they tower in the sky and make for some spectacular sunsets. These are clouds the like of which you may never have seen. Similarly the storms are a force of nature and witnessing one roll in across the Mekong River from Luang Prabang to Can Tho is something visitors will never forget.

The Landscape
Travel in many parts of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar from December to April and it will be dry and arid in the countryside as the rice has already been harvested. Travel in the green season and the landscape is a rich tapestry of emerald greens glistening in the sun. Not only are the paddy fields more alive, but the lakes, rivers and streams are flowing with water, making for faster and safer boat trips across the region. The moats and ponds at the temples of Angkor fill up, making for spectacular reflections for photographs. The moss and lichen that clings to many temples comes alive, adding a dramatic carpet of green or orange to many of the ancient stones.

So whether you are looking for better value, a more intimate experience without the crowds or a more spectacular landscape, the low season can deliver. Add these together and it might just be a better time to travel to the countries of the Mekong region.

HanumanAlaya is playing its part in promoting the green season with a Stay Longer, Save More promotion through til 30 September 2013. For more details, visit http://www.hanumanalaya.com/.

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Rambutan Resort pool

Set on street 71 on the doorstep of the capital’s popular Boeung Keng Kang 1 district, the Rambutan Resort is one of Phnom Penh’s newest urban resorts. Its unassuming entrance is easy to miss but once guided through you enter a hip, sleek lobby and restaurant area with a small open kitchen facing out to an enticing saltwater pool. A warm greeting sets the tone for your stay and friendly local staff sit you down for a refreshing drink and a swift check in before you are whisked away to your room. The 19 rooms are bright, well sized and nicely finished with brushed concrete floors, whitewashed walls and well placed splashes of colour and art work. The Pool Deluxe’s are a good option, set on the 2nd and 3rd floors with spacious balconies complete with bathtub overlooking the pool below. The top floor is dominated by the Penthouse which boasts a large balcony and jacuzzi with a good view over the cities rooftops. This is a welcome addition to Phnom Penh’s rapidly growing boutique hotel scene and is also gay-friendly. A great option for couples, good value for money and a prime location close to sophisticated bars, cafes and restaurants.

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Inside the Big Top at Phare

The Big Top circus tent at Phare – The Cambodian Circus in Siem Reap has arrived and is in place. Performances from 1 June will be under cover, which will mean no more shows will be cancelled because of the rain and the atmosphere and excitement will be much more tangible for visitors. The Big Top will cater for 400 people and will include VIP seating areas. This is a must-see for visitors to Siem Reap. The shows are modern circus theatre displaying high level juggling, trapeze, contortion and acrobatics, with a story that unfurls itself throughout the performance. Under the original Big Top in Battambang, Phare Ponleu Selpak are continuing their twice-weekly shows, on Monday & Thursday, for visitors to Cambodia’s second city.

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The HaunmanAlaya Boutique Residence in Siem Reap is delighted to receive a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 per cent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.

To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months. See the HanumanAlaya Boutique Residence for yourself at http://www.hanumanalaya.com/.

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This particular ceremony is used to mark the onset of the rainy season, and dictates when the farmers must prepare their fields for the next crop of rice. Each year the Ceremony, ‘Pithi Chrat Preah Neang Korl’, is held at the Veal Preah Mean Square, situated across the road from the northern perimeter of the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh. Cambodian farmers will be waiting anxiously as the traditional ceremonies are undertaken to try and predict the weather for the coming year. The festival consists of a symbolic ploughing procession before the King or his representatives. At the end of the procession, harnesses are removed from the oxen and they are led to seven golden trays containing rice, corn, sesame seeds, beans, grass, water and wine. The oxen are allowed to eat from any of the trays and, depending upon their choice of feed, the Cambodian people believe that they can prognosticate the weather for the coming year and determine the harvests.

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