POSTCARD N.179 - CAMBODIA

Postcard sent on the 2nd April, received on the 18th April 2025.

Postcard image: Banteay Srey Temple

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The restless traveller, the Ghost who Walks, the Phantom, ventured into the depths of the Asiatic jungles till he found temples forgotten by time and men... well not so much so, but this could be the first line for another epic adventure of the character created by Lee Falk in 1936...

and yet, it does apply to the latest postcard I got from my Phantom friend, from the depths of Cambodia. Danke sehr Alex!

Angkor needs no presentation. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is one of the world's most  famous landmarks, and Cambodia's most important ambassador.

The historic site of Angkor, the capital of the Khmer empire that was at its prime from the 9th till the 15th centuries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, occupies an area of approximately 400 square kilometres, on which several temples were constructed, the most famous of them all being of course the majestic Ankor Wat.

Banteay Srey temple,  the subject of the postcard photo, also located on this historic site,  was built in the 10th century and was dedicated to Shiva, the supreme God and Parvati, the Godess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood.

Built in red sandstone the temple is remarkable for the quality of the carvings on its walls and also for its small stature when compared to the other famous temples in the region.

 

The Phantom used a quite adequate stamp on this postcard since it is one that is part of a set issued on 13MAR2019 dedicated to "Mystical Angkor". 

The issue comprises 5 stamps (500; 900; 1400; 3000 and 4000 Riel) all illustrated with images of Ankor Wat images and all carrying the legend Kingdom of Wander; Save our Culture, it's our History in Khmer and English.

The nice bicolour postmark was applied at Siem Riep, the gateway to the Angkor region.

COVER N. 347 - CAMBODIA

Postmark: Siem Reap Cambodia 30.10.2023

Posted on the 30th October; received on the 28th November 2023

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Siem Reap, the base camp for Angkor Wat.... one day I'll have to get there too, meanwhile I was more than happy to get this nice cover with beautiful bicolour postmarks, from a country which I still had not in my collection. Super! Thank you so much, Edwin!

Cambodia’s history in later times is rather complex and not a very uplifting one....genocide is never something to be proud of, and the echoes of the killing fields will have left scars that will take long to heal, I'm sure. Still, all this is past and the former French colony, occupied by the Japanese during the second World War, which become independent in 1952 only to get deeply entangled in the side-effects of the Vietnam war, is now, and since the 90s of last century, a  multiparty parliamentary constitutional monarchy.

Political stability brought along eonomic growth and between 1998 and 2019 Cambodian economy grew at an average annual rate of 7.7 percent. Like elsewhere Covid took its toll, but prospects are good, and GDP is expected to grow by 5.3 this year and 6.6 in 2024.

Tourism, of course is one of the key elements of this growth (the other being the garment industry, often subject to human rights concerns....) and Angkor Wat is, I'm sure, Cambodia's top tourist attraction.

Originally an Hindu complex of temples built between 1122 and 1150, towards the turn of the century it evolved into a Buddhist one, after the conversion of king  Jayavarman VII to this creed, following his marriage with a Buddhist wife.

The importance  that the complex, spread throughout an area of 162.6 hectares which makes it the largest religious structure in the world, has for the  Cambodian soul  is readily apparent in the fact that it is one of the elements which constitute the country's national flag, its white colour representing the country’s religion and faith while the  red and blue stripes represent the nation's courage and determination and purity and justice, respectively.

Stamps left to right

500 riel stamp issued 11NOV2016 as part of a 5 stamp set (500; 2000; 2500;3000;3500 riel) issued in minisheet form dedicated to statues of the Khmer culture. Khmer being the dominant (over 90%) ethnic group of the country.

Cambodia's rich relugious and cultural heritage is not concntrated solely in Angkor Wat, and many more temples can be found elsewhere in the country.

One such temple is that of Sambor Prei Kuk, dating back to the 7th century, which, like Angkor Wat, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On 08JUL2018, Cambodia Post issued a three stamp set (2000; 3000; 4000 riel) dedicate to this temple ilustrated with photos of its main structures.

The 2000 reil stamp with the picture of three lions is part of this sereis. Of note in the inclusion of the World Heritage logo on the top right corner.

also in 2018, on 13AUG2028) Cambodia Post issued a set of five stamps (5200, 1200; 2100; 3000; 4000 riel) illustrated with photos of faces of sculptures present in the decoration of the temples at Angkor Wat. The 3000 reil stamp is part of this series.

The very uncommon postmark in that it is bicolour, blue and red, was issued at the city of Siem reap, a mere 5 km from Angkor Wat.