What’s cooking in Turkey – Döner kebab

Written by Gill Dewar on August 5, 2021. Posted in Whats cooking.

What’s cooking? World recipes

DONER KEBAB

Döner kebabs are a type of Turkish dish similar to the Greek gyro or the Arab shawarma made with seasoned meat shaved from a vertical rotisserie, a style of cooking that dates back to the Ottomans. They are highly popular as a late-night snack or quick meal on the go throughout much of Europe.

A very popular take-out especially after a night out at the pub. This favourite is so, so tasty – I’m sure once you try it, you’ll certainly want to make more! Serve with warmed (lightly toasted) pita bread, chili sauce, and a salad of shredded cabbage, carrot, onion, and sliced cucumber. Also great to add as a topping for pizzas. Great to make in advance, slice and freeze.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 ¼ pounds ground lamb

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Step 2

Combine flour, oregano, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Add ground lamb and thoroughly knead with the flour mixture until thoroughly mixed together, about 3 minutes.
Step 3

Shape the seasoned ground lamb and place into a loaf pan; set on top of a baking sheet.
Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven, turning the loaf halfway to ensure even browning, about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Step 5

Wrap loaf in aluminium foil and let rest, about 10 minutes. Slice as thinly as possible to make the doner kebab pieces.

If you’ve never tried it please make sure to ask for it when you travel to Turkey

Spotted in www.theculturetrip.com

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What’s cooking in Ukraine – Borscht

Written by Gill Dewar on August 5, 2021. Posted in Whats cooking.

What’s cooking? World recipes

BORSCHT

The national dish of Ukraine that undeniably originates from the country is borscht.

Despite most people associating this recipe with Russia, borscht, or as it is properly pronounced borsch, is actually Ukrainian. Yes, there is no ‘t’ at the end of the word.

A Borscht recipe is something every home should have, regardless if you’re Ukrainian or not. This traditional Ukrainian borscht combines the earthiness of beets with the freshness of dill and other vegetables. A hearty, healthy and frugal way to use up your garden vegetables and stretch your food budget while filling your family’s bellies this fall!

One of my favorite things about Borscht is the deep ruby color that comes from the cabbage and beets! I also love that it’s incredibly healthy and packed with protein (from the broth and optional meat), iron (from the beets), vitamin C, potassium and vitamin B6 (from the carrots) plus fiber and vitamin K & C (from the cabbage).

Because we come from a lineage of Ukrainian peasants who had to survive harsh Eastern European winters with nothing more than the few staple food items they had on hand (wheat, potatoes, cabbage and beets mostly), our traditional foods tend to feature these ingredients over and over again in various ways.

Borscht definition: a beet-based soup that can be combined with whatever else you’ve got growing in your garden to create a hearty, healthy meal that also stretches your food budget and weekly meals just a little bit further.

In the late summer and fall, there is almost always a pot of borscht simmering away on my mother’s stovetop as she makes use of the beets, carrots, potatoes and fresh dill weed that need harvesting from her garden. If it’s green bean season, she’ll throw some chopped green beans in the soup as well. If not, she’ll make do with whatever ingredients she has on hand (this also makes it a great “clean out the fridge” recipe).

INGREDIENTS

1 cup of diced celery
1 cup diced onions
1 cup of chopped cabbage
2 cloves of garlic grated or pressed
1 tbsp of butter for sautéing onions and celery
8 cups water beef broth or chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes home or commercially canned
2 or 3 medium to large sized peeled beets half grated and half diced
1 or 2 medium carrots grated
1 medium potato diced
1/2 cup of fresh dill weed
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional ingredients: Bay leaf green beans, peas, beet greens and shredded pork or pork sausage

INSTRUCTIONS

Sauté the onions, celery and cabbage with the butter until soft and translucent.
Add the can of diced tomatoes and the garlic, as well as all of the water or broth.
Bring to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce to medium heat and let simmer.
Peel the beets, carrots and potato.
Dice half the beets and grate the other half.
Grate all the carrots.
Dice the potato.
Add the beets, carrots and potato to the broth. If you would like to add any other optional vegetables (ie. beans, peas, beet greens, etc.) do so now.
Allow soup to simmer on medium until diced beets and potatoes are soft (test them with a fork or by biting into them!), about 15 minutes. Remove soup from heat.
Stir in chopped fresh dill weed and salt and black pepper.
Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream and a slice of bread and butter (rye bread is best!)

If you’ve never tried it please make sure to ask for it when you travel to the Ukraine

Spotted in www.melissaknorris.com

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What’s cooking in United Kingdom – Roast Beef

Written by Gill Dewar on August 5, 2021. Posted in Whats cooking.

What’s cooking? World recipes

ROAST BEEF

British Sunday lunch is also known as a Sunday Roast and is the very heart of British food and cooking.

It is when families and friends get together and share good food. For the cook in the house, the roast recipes are time-consuming but worth every minute on the stove. Each household has its own favourite recipes.

A traditional British Sunday lunch is composed of roast meat – with roast beef at the top of the list – alongside Yorkshire Puddings, gravy, vegetables, and a dessert of pudding in the cold months replaced by a different sweet in the summer.

This hearty lunch is a matter of national pride and one of the most fabulous meals you’ll experience in the UK.

Cooking the Beef

Let the beef come to room temperature before you put it in the oven. Stand the roast in a pan, and season it generously with salt and pepper to taste. Start the beef in a hot oven at 425 F for the first 30 minutes, then lower the temperature to 375 F for the remaining time. Cook it to your preferred temperature using the following time recommendations:

Rare: 11 minutes per pound
Medium: 14 minutes per pound
Well: 16 minutes per pound

Rare: 120 F
Medium: 145 F
Well: 165 F

Though guidelines suggest a three-minute rest, a roast generally benefits from a longer recovery period. Place it on a warm platter and tent it loosely with foil, then set it aside for up to 20 minutes, which is conveniently the amount of time you need to cook the Yorkshire pudding. The muscle fibers in meat contract during cooking and resting allows them to relax, redistributing some of the meat juices (great for the gravy) and resulting in a more tender piece of meat.

If you’ve never tried it please make sure to ask for it when you travel to the United Kingdom

Spotted in www.thespruceeats.com

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Amazing travel fact Netherlands

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Amazing Facts.

The Netherlands:

Did you know that there is a museum that houses about 50 cats? Each cat has its own passport and a uniform in the form of a yellow collar. They are registered as qualified specialists in getting rid of mice. But do you know where the first cat came from?

Amazing, right?

It is indeed the Hermitage in St Petersburg.

The beginning of this tradition starts with Peter the Great. According to the legend, while on one of his numerous trips to Holland, he bought a cat named Basil, who became the first Palace pet.

This tradition was later passed on to Elizaveta Petrovna, who ordered that the best mousers from Kazan be brought to St Petersburg. It was Catherine II, the founder of the Hermitage as a museum, who made the cats the official guards of the art galleries, a position the furry employees still hold to this day.

Every year, the Winter Palace organises a well-deserved celebration for them. It now has the status of annual and international celebration. In the Great Winter Court, a solemn opening ceremony is usually held, accompanied by a military band.

All Hermitage cats are up for adoption, but you have to show you are worthy of taking care of the cat.

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Where in the World Iceland

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Where in the world.

Iceland:

Where are these waterfalls?

Deep in the remote Westfjords of Iceland, you will find the breathtakingly beautiful Dynjandi waterfall.

Dynjandi waterfall is the biggest waterfall in the Westfjords and truly deserves to be called the Jewel of the Westfjords and one of the most beautiful and majestic waterfall in Iceland.

Dynjandi, or Fjallfoss as it is often called, cascades some 99-100 meters, looking exactly like a beautiful bridal veil. On top, it is 30 meters wide and widens up to 60 meters at the bottom.

There are 6 other waterfalls below Dynjandi, which one passes on the way up to the biggest waterfall. It is quite a scenic route with an elevation of some 200 meters up to the biggest waterfall.

The uppermost waterfall is 100 meters high. You will recognize it from quite some distance, as it is reminiscent of a bridal veil because it is 30 meters in diameter on top and 60 meters in diameter at the bottom. If you walk all the way to the top, you can stand quite near the beautiful bridal veil as the waterfall has a convenient flow and is never intimidating.

Another name for this waterfall is The Mountain Fall, but Dynjandi is the original name that has also defined the names of many other places nearby, and no wonder. It means Thunderous and indeed, the nearer you get, the clearer you will hear its thundering voice.

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Where in the World Slovenia

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Where in the world.

Slovenia:

Where is this little island?

Bled Island, Lake Bled, Slovenia

Bled is a small municipality in northwestern Slovenia that was once part of Yugoslavia and became independent in 1991. In the late 1800s Bled Island and village, located in the middle of glacial Lake Bled, were seen as a health resort by aristocrats from around the world.

Today the island and the Assumption of Mary Pilgrimage Church are known to be major tourist attractions. Bled Castle is an iconic landmark because of its location teetering on a cliff overlooking the lake.

The Assumption of Mary Pilgrimage Church was built in the 15th century and is known by visitors because of the 99 steps that lead up to the church. Traditionally, local grooms carry their brides up these steps while the bride remains perfectly silent, in order to bring them happiness in the future. The church also has bells that visitors ring for good luck. Tourists can hire boats to get to the church.

Bled is famous for a dessert called the Bled Cream Cake which can be purchased at many of the cafes and restaurants in Bled.

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Amazing travel fact Slovenia

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Amazing Facts.

Slovenia:

Did you know that there is a castle that was built partly in a cave? The castle is almost one with the mountain. Originally built in the 12th century, it has been rebuilt twice since.

Amazing, right?

It is the Predjama castle in Slovenia.

Predjama Castle is one of the most famous in Slovenia, attracting each year thousands of tourists. Located in small village of Predjama, this amazing Renaissance fortress, built within a cave, is not at all the kind of castle we’re familiar with.

This ancient castle doesn’t have crenelated towers, sumptuous interior decorations or refined details, but it is a special place in so many ways. Predjama castle is definitely not incidentally among the most visited places in Slovenia.

The first thing that attracts attention is the castle’s location. At some point one could surely believe that the castle is almost one with the mountain in which it lies. And the contrast between the blackened cliffs and the white walls of the castle offers the sensation that it’s almost unreal.

Documents certify that “Predjamski Grad”, which mean in Slovenian “the castle in front of the cave”, was built around the 12th century. At that time, the architecture was strongly influenced by elements of the Gothic style. Over the centuries that followed, the castle was owned by several high-bred families.

By far the most famous of them all remains Erazem Lueger, the robber baron who owned the castle in the second half of the 15th century.

Predjama Castle is a fifth-storey building with 15 rooms. It has been rebuilt twice, after suffering considerable damage due to the war between Erazem and Emperor Frederik III and after it was destroyed by an earthquake. The present castle was built in 1570 in the Renaissance style and it is considered a real masterpiece.

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Where in the World Serbia

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Where in the world.

Serbia:

Where would you find the Vratna Gates?

In Eastern Serbia

The River Vratna has carved its bed through Eastern Serbia, creating breath-taking cliffs and canyons along the way to its confluence with the Danube. However, this isn’t the main reason why the river is famous among nature lovers.

The river has carved a path through the rocks that stood in its way, creating caves whose ceilings have collapsed over time. This created specific natural monuments called “prerast”, shaped like unusual stone bridges.

Three stone arches stand out in particular: Suva Prerast, Velika Prerast and Mala Prerast. All three are among Europe’s largest and highest natural bridges and the ideal time for visiting them is in the autumn, when the lush vegetation sheds its leaves, exposing the rock giants in their full glory.

There is a marked path leading to the arches that begins near Vratna Monastery and ascends through the dense forest. Mala Prerast (Small Stone Bridge) is just a twenty-minute walk away. Don’t be fooled by its name, though – its arch is 34 metres high and, together with Velika Prerast (Big Stone Bridge), it forms what is known locally as the Monastery Gate. You can even climb it and enjoy the surrounding landscape from an unusual point of view.

Finally, after more than two hours of walking through the canyon, you will reach Suvi Prerast (Dry Stone Bridge). It was formed in a place where the Vratna dries out in the summertime, hence its name. It is the youngest of the three gates but the most challenging to explore.

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Where in the World United Kingdom

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Where in the world.

United Kingdom:

Where is this tiny train station?

Berney Arms railway station in Norfolk, United Kingdom.

Accessible only by train, on foot, or by boat from the nearby River Yare, Berney Arms Railway Station in Norfolk is as tiny as it is remote.

There’s a rudimentary platform, with a basic wooden hut, but it’s so short that even the two-coach train which stops on its way to Great Yarmouth is longer than the platform.

There’s little more than marshland and a heritage windmill in Berney Arms, so it’s a wonder that trains still call here at all.

That’s thanks to one Thomas Trench Berney, who owned the land in the 1840s, and permitted the development of the railway on the condition that a station be put there “in perpetuity”.

Good that, since there’s a nice walk south along the river to the pub in Reedham.

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Amazing travel fact Scotland

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Amazing Facts.

Scotland:

Who would not like to leave from platform Platform 9 and ¾ at Kings Cross Station to board the Hogwarts Express on their way to Hogwarts, Harry Potter’s wizard school? Even when you are a muggle, I’m sure you heard of this famous train. It’s a steam train named the Jacobite, and runs along what is considered ‘the greatest railway journey in the world.’ Do you know where we can get on board this famous train? And it’s not Kings Cross!

It’s in Fort William, Scotland.

The famous Harry Potter train runs on the old steam train lines managed by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The train runs from March until November and they are an absolutely perfect way to see the North Yorkshire Moors and take in some of the best-preserved old railway stations in England. The trip begins at Grosmont Station and takes in Goathland, Newton Dale Halt and Levisham and the final stop is Pickering Station, then returning to Grosmont.

In the Harry Potter books the Hogwarts Express is the name of the train that makes a run between London, King’s Cross Station Platform 9¾ and Hogsmeade Station. It makes this run at about six times a year, maybe more, as needed. The Express dutifully carries students to and from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the start and end of every term.

The train leaves Platform 9¾ without fail on 1 September at 11 o’clock in the morning, arriving at Hogsmeade Station in the early evening. Some students take the train back to King’s Cross Station to go home for the Christmas and Easter holidays, but some do not, as they stay at Hogwarts. It also makes the run back again to London at the end of term in June.

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Amazing travel fact Scandinavia

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Amazing Facts.

Scandinavia:

Did you know that each year in spring and autumn thousands of birds, starlings, dance across the skies and black out the sun? They move together across the area searching for the perfect spot, while flying in synchronized patterns to protect themselves from predators.

Amazing right?

Black Sun, or “Sort Sol” as it’s called in Danish, occurs when the starlings pass through the area on their migration route between their winter grounds in southern Europe and summer breeding grounds in northern Scandinavia.

They make a stop in the marshlands of the Wadden Sea National Park to rest and find food before continuing on their journey.

The phenomenon is a late-night ritual where the birds gather in large flocks just before landing on the marshlands to roost for the night. They move together across the area searching for the perfect spot, while flying in synchronized patterns to protect themselves from predators.

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Where in the World Ukraine

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Where in the world.

Ukraine:

Where would you find a monument that is higher than the Statue of Liberty?

The Motherland Monument, Kiev, Ukraine.

The Motherland Monument is part of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War and symbolizes the feat accomplished by people during the war. This museum was opened on May 9, 1981 in honour of the Soviet victory.

The majesty of the monument is really impressive.

Complete construction took 3 years of which it took only 6 months to assemble “Mother Motherland” sculpture itself. Over 3000 tons of metal and more than 3,500 cubic meters of concrete have been used on the foundations. And about 30 kilometers of the welding seams were made during the joint assembly and welding process.

When you look at the sculpture, it’s hard to believe that a small shield has a size of 12×8 meters; sword length is 16 meters. On the edge of the sword there is a special device for damping of vibrations of wind loads.

At a height of 36.6 and 91.0 meters the viewing platforms are equipped which offer the panoramic views of the capital of Ukraine.

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Amazing travel fact Portugal

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Amazing Facts.

Portugal:

Did you know that there is a medieval village built around a pile of massive granite boulders? Instead of trying to move the boulders, the villagers used them as walls, floors and even roofs.

Amazing, right?

It is indeed Monsanto in Portugal.

Located about a 3-hour drive from Lisbon, Monsanto is a unique Medieval village in Portugal where many of the houses are sandwiched between, or even under, giant granite boulders.

The placement of the rocks determined the shapes of the winding streets and the architecture of the stone houses—instead of trying to move the boulders, the villagers used them as walls, floors, and even roofs.

Besides its extraordinary rock houses, its mountaintop location also gives spectacular views of the surrounding valleys filled with higgledy-piggledy farmlands with olive trees and little stone walls.

Further up the mountain are some impressive ruins of a Templar Knights castle.

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Amazing travel fact Poland

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Amazing Facts.

Poland:

Next to Warsaw did you know Chicago has the highest Polish population in the world?

Scratch a Chicagoan, and you may very well find a Polish connection. Polish Americans are everywhere. The city often proclaims itself as Poland’s second city, with only Warsaw containing a larger Polish population.

The first wave of Polish immigration to Chicago was in the 1860s. Since then, Chicago has long been home to one of the largest Polish populations outside of Europe.

Polish Americans have not only helped shape the city; they’ve also helped influence the political development of Poland itself.

Ultimately, the mere fact that Chicagoans still brag about it proves that the city’s Polish heritage remains close to their hearts.

On the other hand in Warsaw the Old Town, entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List and it’s where the city’s heart has been beating for centuries. However, when you cross the Vistula River and look at the Old Town from a distance, you are struck by how unusual the panorama of the city is – skyscrapers rise above the red roofs of the Old Town.

Historical buildings blend in harmoniously with modern architecture, and the city surprises us by revealing its second face…

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Where in the World Poland

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Where in the world.

Poland:

Where would you find these colourful buildings?

Poznań, Poland

Poznan is a city on the Warta River in western Poland known for universities as well as its old town, with Renaissance-style buildings in Old Market Square. Poznań Town Hall houses the Historical Museum of Poznań, with exhibits on the city.

The town hall’s clock features mechanical goats that butt heads at noon. The Gothic and baroque Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral is built on an island called Ostrów Tumski.

Poznań is one of Poland’s oldest cities, there is plenty for tourists to discover here, from the ancient to the modern. With over 60,000 students, Poznań is also a university town. This means it not only has all the academic and cultural institutions that come along with a university but plenty of bars and clubs to keep everyone entertained.

Poznań’s Old Market Square is the third-largest in Poland and provides many exciting sights to see, such as the colourful 16th-century merchant houses. You won’t get the full effect of the European market life if you don’t stop for a coffee in one of the cafes here!

In 2019 Poznań was listed at #5 on the Best Travel Destinations in Europe list.

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Amazing travel fact Uzbekistan

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Amazing Facts.

Uzbekistan:

Uzbekistan is one of only two double landlocked countries in the world.

Amazing right?

Landlocked countries face the special challenge of having to rely on other countries with maritime borders for access to ocean trade routes. There are two landlocked countries in the world that are double landlocked, meaning that they are surrounded by countries that are themselves landlocked. The only two double landlocked countries of the world are Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein.

Uzbekistan is a country in Central Asia. It is bordered by Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, all of which are, themselves, landlocked countries.

Uzbekistan is a relatively new country. Beforehand, it was one of the republics that made up the Soviet Union. During the Soviet era, Uzbekistan’s goods and people had direct access to the ocean by way of other Soviet republics, such as Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. But in 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, and Uzbekistan became independent.

Independence for Uzbekistan meant that the country had no direct access to the ocean via other former Soviet republics that they had during the Soviet era. To improve the movements of goods, Uzbekistan has forged closer ties with Russia, which was the dominant force in the Soviet Union, and which is still the principle foreign influencer in Uzbekistan today.

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Where in the World Uzbekistan

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Where in the world.

Uzbekistan:

Where is this spectacular building?

In Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Samarkand’s most moving and beloved site is this stunning avenue of mausoleums, which contains some of the richest tilework in the Muslim world.

The name, which means ‘Tomb of the Living King’, refers to its original, innermost and holiest shrine – a complex of cool, quiet rooms around what is probably the grave of Qusam ibn-Abbas, who is said to have brought Islam to this area in the 7th century. The most stunning Timurid-era tilework dates from 14th and 15th centuries.

The most beautiful tomb is the Shodi Mulk Oko Mausoleum (1372), resting place of a sister and niece of Timur, second on the left after the entry stairs. The exquisite majolica and terracotta work here – notice the minuscule amount of space between the tiles – was of such exceptional quality that it merited almost no restoration.

After remarkably surviving more than seven centuries with only minor touch-up work, many of the tombs were aggressively and controversially restored in 2005. As a result, much of the brilliant mosaic, majolica and terracotta work you see today is not original.

Shah-i-Zinda is an important place of pilgrimage, so enter with respect and dress conservatively. Just outside the entrance are the foundations of a 15th-century tahorathana (bathhouse). At the end of the pathway between the mausoleums, the complex opens up into Samarkand’s main cemetery, which is a fascinating place to walk.

Travel to Uzbekistan

Amazing travel fact Kazakhstan

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Amazing Facts.

Kazakhstan:

Do you know there is a border between 2 countries that is 6 846 kms in length?

Amazing right?

The international border between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation is the longest continuous international border in the world, and the second longest by total length.

The border assumed its modern shape in 1930, and became an international border upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.

Roads and railways were not built with this border in mind, so when the border became international in 1991, for example one branch of the Trans-Siberian Railway was interrupted by two border crossings at Petropavl. In 2017, Russia and Kazakhstan agreed to permit transit (corridor) trains without border control.

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Amazing travel fact Azerbaijan

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Amazing Facts.

Azerbaijan:

Do you know that mud volcanoes are some of the most unique natural phenomenon on Earth. They are active, impressive and definitely worth seeing.

Amazing right?

Azerbaijan or as it is called here the Land of Fire has the highest number of mud volcanoes in the world. Some 350 out of over 1,000 mud volcanoes in the world are located here.

The world’s largest mud volcanoes – Boyuk Khanizadagh and Turaghai – are both in Azerbaijan. Boyuk Khanizadagh, the diameter and height of which are 10 kilometers and 700 meters respectively, erupted on October 10, 2001, shooting out flames 300 meters in the air. It was the highest record for flames shot from a mud volcano. Underground and submarine mud volcanoes are also located in Azerbaijan.

Mud volcanoes are active all year round. Over the past 200 years, more than 200 major eruptions have been recorded in the country.

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Where in the World Cambodia

Written by Gill Dewar on August 4, 2021. Posted in Where in the world.

Cambodia:

Where would you often find trees surrounding monuments and temples?

In Cambodia…

Memories of temples have faded away from the minds of Cambodians until they were completely forgotten. However it is believed that the main temple Angkor Wat was never forgotten. People always worshiped here.

A French naturalist published papers on Angkor Wat in 1863, which aroused western interest in this temple. One thing led to another, and several groups of historians started trickling in. And by early 20^th century many Angkor temples were discovered one after another.

Of course the temples were in a terrible ruinous condition. During this period of neglect Strangler Fig, a member of Banyan tree family started spreading their roots here.

Nobody realized how and when these trees completely captured several of the temples here. The roots have grown over, through and then under these temple foundations crushing them completely.

Young strangler lives on the tree’s surface, grows long roots, and descends along the trunk of the host tree. Eventually they reach the ground, enter the soil and get a firm hold. As several roots go through this process they get grafted together, enclosing their host’s trunk in a strangling latticework.

Ultimately they create a complete sheath around the trunk. At many places we saw this network of roots, and they have fiercely strong grip.

One factor that has enhanced the growth of the trees here is the unique property of the stones used for building the temples. Angkor temples are made of sandstone/laterite which is porous in nature. This enables the roots to extract water from the stones.

The roots play the role of crushing the structure and sometimes holding the structure up too. Even today, even now, at this moment the damage is taking place – little by little. A new root finds a small gap between two blocks, wedges in between them, starts growing and enlarging. The size becomes big until one day, at some moment the stones fall apart.

Travel to Cambodia

Author: Gill Dewar

What’s cooking in Turkey – Döner kebab

What’s cooking? World recipes

Ingredients

Directions

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What’s cooking in Ukraine – Borscht

What’s cooking? World recipes

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

More about our Facebook Group

What’s cooking in United Kingdom – Roast Beef

What’s cooking? World recipes

More about our Facebook Group

Amazing travel fact Netherlands

Where in the World Iceland

Where in the World Slovenia

Amazing travel fact Slovenia

Where in the World Serbia

Where in the World United Kingdom

Amazing travel fact Scotland

Amazing travel fact Scandinavia

Where in the World Ukraine

Amazing travel fact Portugal

Amazing travel fact Poland

Where in the World Poland

Amazing travel fact Uzbekistan

Where in the World Uzbekistan

Amazing travel fact Kazakhstan

Amazing travel fact Azerbaijan

Where in the World Cambodia

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