They are plenty of human activities in the park as well as few Cambodia people still live inside as well as a relatively low numbers of monks spread into few pagodas, including two with the perimeter of Angkor Wat temple.
Quite a lot of people are also working around the temples of Angkor : ticket controllers, cleaners and workers and engineers involved in restoration efforts. You can also bump into kids playing on the moat of Angkor or some fishermen taking their chance at the siem reap river.
SOUNDS OF ANGKOR | ANGKOR WAT POND BEFORE SUNRISE
This audio was recorded in June 2020 at the one of the busiest reflecting pond where tourists gathered by the thousand to watch the sun rising behind Angkor Wat temple. Due to the pandemic, the place was exceptionally quiet and you can hear a number of nature sounds: crickets, small frogs and toward the end, a gecko in the distance.
SOUNDS OF ANGKOR | ARCHEOLOGICAL RESTORATIONS
The audio was recorded in September 2022 at the East entrance of Ta Prohm temple, which has undergone extensive restoration. Many of the workers on these projects are from the surrounding villages and use their ancestors’ tools to work on the sandstone; however, trucks have replaced elephants for the purposes of moving large blocks of stone. Every restoration site in Angkor will always be accompanied by the sound of chisels hitting sandstone blocks.
Many archaeological restoration projects were started in 2020 when the tourism numbers fell dramatically by more than 90% due to the pandemic. In our blog, you can learn more about Angkor’s archeological projects .
Many archaeological restoration projects were started in 2020 when the tourism numbers fell dramatically by more than 90% due to the pandemic. In our blog, you can learn more about Angkor’s archeological projects .
SOUNDS OF ANGKOR | THE ANGKORIAN JUNGLE
If you have been to Angkor jungle often, you’ll become familiar with its sounds. The Angkor archaeological park hosts the largest forest near Siem Reap. There are hundreds of kilometers of jungle trails that can be explored on an ebike, some of which will lead you to hidden temples. Among the sounds you will hear are insects, monkeys, chirping birds, and more… .
A hissing sound is often heard in the temples of Angkor, and sometimes it is mistaken for the sound of an alarm system. The sound is made by insects called cicadas, which are found around the world as well. The buzzing sound of cicadas is often heard but rarely seen as they blend in with tree bark colors and patterns and stop making noise when you get too close. Cicadas live most of their lives underground (up to 17 years), and only a few weeks in the open air, long enough to mate, fertilize, and lay eggs.
SOUNDS OF ANGKOR | TA PROHM TEMPLE
The sounds of Ta Prohm temple are so distinctive that you will know you’re in Angkor even if you are blindfolded. There are flocks of parakeets flying above the temples and you can hear them chirping constantly. You can also hear the buzzling sound of cicadas in the background.
SOUNDS OF ANGKOR | RICE HARVESTING
SOUNDS OF ANGKOR | PRAYERS AT LOCAL PAGODA
Crowd gathered in front of the pagoda for the final ceremony
