tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310410854841712502024-03-05T12:58:32.841+08:00Caving in SE AsiaPictorial blogs on some of the interesting caves I have visited around Southeast Asia. On some blogs I have included photos taken over the years.
Although this blog was only born in 2011, I have now included older posts from my Multiply blog which closed in March 2013. This includes articles I have written. I am now also adding news relating to caves I have a particular interest in.<br>
See my website on <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/">Caves of Malaysia</a>.Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.comBlogger488125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-44008768387941409492024-01-28T17:47:00.005+08:002024-02-29T18:36:02.917+08:00Kanthan Sakyamuni Caves Monastery & other cave temples protection<p>Some months after the <a href="https://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2023/09/gunung-kanthan-cave-monastery-in-danger.html" target="_blank">change.org petition</a> to save the <a href="https://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2021/01/gunung-kanthan-sakyamuni-monastery-cave.html" target="_blank">Sakyamuni Caves Monastery</a> at Gunung Kanthan, there is finally some good news. This applies not only to the Kanthan monastery, but also to other cave temples and religious sites in general.</p><p>On 27 January 2024, <a href="https://www.change.org/p/his-royal-highness-sultan-nazrin-shah-save-sakyamuni-caves-monastery-save-gunung-kanthan-%E6%8B%AF%E6%95%91-%E9%87%8A%E8%BF%A6%E5%9C%A3%E6%B3%95%E5%B2%A9-%E4%B9%9F%E5%B0%B1%E6%98%AF%E5%9C%A8%E6%8B%AF%E6%95%91-%E6%8B%B1%E6%A1%A5%E5%B2%A9%E5%B1%B1/u/32287475?cs_tk=AmIECCMhUwU3SFoxvmUAAXicyyvNyQEABF8BvEBKhBHK0c6DUlZ_Okk8060%3D&utm_campaign=300b0fe409e24d5f89706e7c79838f3b&utm_content=initial_v0_7_0&utm_medium=email&utm_source=petition_update&utm_term=cs">change.org</a> issued an update "A Commitment to Protecting Sacred Sites: Prime Minister's Pledge to Safeguard Religious Monasteries".</p><p>There is a link to this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/100076035498424/posts/399804465897400/" target="_blank">Facebook </a>page -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiC0C0Qf8to1KOmtILKmhH-__nfeNU6j6JyhmedLF2MB9tvbou6vfGqh0-NOnVIA8dYgkxJf_S19v4PixRRFKrhHPvKajB1LABWOUr_ypyNLdvUFZv0y-fr2_fhmSIMyBd78rtu4HHe-Uvj87l8DOFsutOfPsaNDf9V_0QPqj7ygfGf5aE8apXukdNybt/s748/fb.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="748" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiC0C0Qf8to1KOmtILKmhH-__nfeNU6j6JyhmedLF2MB9tvbou6vfGqh0-NOnVIA8dYgkxJf_S19v4PixRRFKrhHPvKajB1LABWOUr_ypyNLdvUFZv0y-fr2_fhmSIMyBd78rtu4HHe-Uvj87l8DOFsutOfPsaNDf9V_0QPqj7ygfGf5aE8apXukdNybt/w640-h576/fb.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>And this leads to the n<a href="https://www.facebook.com/anwaribrahimofficial/posts/pfbid0EDJ95KjGpFXXR6dVV2ZfYqcSRzwUBZC9wuUi2bFXrskiDDXX5WhDryMiwFkWnimzl" target="_blank">ext link</a> -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrSV6Ikxnn5p9S1U1zdF7oNsfoLFwGurnLjU5sggqOWeofRfbvR_qRlCS8mLHQR0TFoE4S4-lHTOK4W7xosEUuyY3Th5iBWhyphenhyphen-DuuRNbVQ_kHo85_6sZFQp6iz6c7cfqeetFnDT7IXQk_eQiOcc-QsORDP5VqE3NSEahUYMId5olWR7kWoYX53jRy-Moa/s757/fb.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="757" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrSV6Ikxnn5p9S1U1zdF7oNsfoLFwGurnLjU5sggqOWeofRfbvR_qRlCS8mLHQR0TFoE4S4-lHTOK4W7xosEUuyY3Th5iBWhyphenhyphen-DuuRNbVQ_kHo85_6sZFQp6iz6c7cfqeetFnDT7IXQk_eQiOcc-QsORDP5VqE3NSEahUYMId5olWR7kWoYX53jRy-Moa/w640-h628/fb.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>It is encouraging news. Let's see what happens as a result.</p><p><br /></p><p>There was a further update on 21 Feb in <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/02/21/century-old-monastery-seeks-to-nullify-companys-land-lease-extension/" target="_blank">FMT </a>"Century-old monastery seeks to nullify company’s land lease extension". This was also shown on <a href="https://www.change.org/p/his-royal-highness-sultan-nazrin-shah-save-sakyamuni-caves-monastery-save-gunung-kanthan-%E6%8B%AF%E6%95%91-%E9%87%8A%E8%BF%A6%E5%9C%A3%E6%B3%95%E5%B2%A9-%E4%B9%9F%E5%B0%B1%E6%98%AF%E5%9C%A8%E6%8B%AF%E6%95%91-%E6%8B%B1%E6%A1%A5%E5%B2%A9%E5%B1%B1/u/32364887?cs_tk=AsMBJG4QUwU3SGnc32UAAXicyyvNyQEABF8BvCT5PbKNCmIzABsqna2SEiY%3D&utm_campaign=adc6da360c2e41bd80b354ace8171cc6&utm_content=initial_v0_7_0&utm_medium=email&utm_source=petition_update&utm_term=cs" target="_blank">change.org</a> on 22 Feb "LATEST FMT NEWS : Century-old monastery seeks to nullify company’s land lease extension". </p><p>The Edge <a href="https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/702717" target="_blank">28 Feb</a> "Old Perak monastery fails to set aside APMC's eviction notice".</p><p>Change.org update <a href="https://www.change.org/p/his-royal-highness-sultan-nazrin-shah-save-sakyamuni-caves-monastery-save-gunung-kanthan-%E6%8B%AF%E6%95%91-%E9%87%8A%E8%BF%A6%E5%9C%A3%E6%B3%95%E5%B2%A9-%E4%B9%9F%E5%B0%B1%E6%98%AF%E5%9C%A8%E6%8B%AF%E6%95%91-%E6%8B%B1%E6%A1%A5%E5%B2%A9%E5%B1%B1/u/32383674?cs_tk=AiExnQt6UwU3SBhj6GUAAXicyyvNyQEABF8BvOitW0kSu4WUNI6mA_l8jrc%3D&utm_campaign=a45a4846e643465186b269fc1b00d4e0&utm_content=initial_v0_7_1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=petition_update&utm_term=cs" target="_blank">28 Feb</a> "Sakyamuni Caves Monastery Gunung Kanthan" . Latest news : The Edge.</p><p>Meanwhile The Star <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/28/limestone-cave-temples-to-stay-says-perak-exco" target="_blank">28 Feb</a> had this article about cave temples in Perak - "Limestone cave temples to stay, says Perak exco".</p><p><br /></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-22729129498576043612024-01-27T17:21:00.000+08:002024-01-27T17:21:22.749+08:00Chinaraj Cave monastery aka Thai Monk Cave, Gng Lanno<p>Thai Monk Cave at Gunung Lanno is now known as Chinaraj Cave monastery. It is located at ground level on the southwest side of Gunung Lanno in Perak, not far from Kong Fook Ngam temple. </p><p>I first visited in May 1996. At that time it had a concrete path leading up to it and inside the cave. But about 10 m in there was a locked gate and we could see the cave continuing. There was a store room. To the right was a series of cement tanks/gours and a passage to another entrance. The cave is by a bend in the Sungai Raia. </p><p>My next visit was May 1999. The cave had been developed since my first visit. Half a dozen cars were parked inside the first chamber of the cave. A concrete walkway with electric lights goes through to a wang, with a pond. A new "temple" has been established - more of a meditation place for the monk.</p><p>Next visit was July 2001, on a recce for the 2001 <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/expeditions/" target="_blank">Gunung Lanno expedition</a>. The gate was locked but a man was inside and let us in when we spoke to him. The place is only open on Sundays when people come to the monk, although people look after him during the week. He lives alone, from Thailand. We went through to the house and pond. Lots of catfish and they aerate the pond. It is a long distance to the opposite side of the wang. There is a pond and swamp outside the front of the cave. After this visit I named the cave as Thai Monk and gave it the register number of Prk 18/07.</p><p>The Gunung Lanno expedition took place in November 2001. We were unable to survey the cave as we couldn't get access. However a nearby cave was surveyed, Gua Kera Mati aka Dead Monkey Cave, Prk 18/32, and this was found to connect into Thai Monk Cave.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCd4OrxIoSGjuuJrgmS1DG7WoGOTwcg2urHmdLFnCYRk5cH9l4BCvs_Mnwa7Ii0RRE4xWGtmLAMc3HrBW4AA78zMa7RKG-jeJT7ipSpZ3567WqzM-5Yc25UCXNXDYSirbTuj0w4J1Ksk6G_pjLg1lXudzKp6UaFV726n-xY0IhgIYNP6Wi5a7bCn1eWZuW/s3504/Kera%20Mati%20survey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="3504" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCd4OrxIoSGjuuJrgmS1DG7WoGOTwcg2urHmdLFnCYRk5cH9l4BCvs_Mnwa7Ii0RRE4xWGtmLAMc3HrBW4AA78zMa7RKG-jeJT7ipSpZ3567WqzM-5Yc25UCXNXDYSirbTuj0w4J1Ksk6G_pjLg1lXudzKp6UaFV726n-xY0IhgIYNP6Wi5a7bCn1eWZuW/w640-h452/Kera%20Mati%20survey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>During the expedition, we were able to hire a 4-seater plane and <a href="https://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2012/01/aerial-views-of-gunung-lanno-and-rapat.html" target="_blank">fly around</a> Gunung Lanno. From the plane we could clearly see the flooded wang of Thai Monk Cave. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCFa4nu_Omz42a8ZhLP7ZQH0T4HROw_uP1QceA04rgCdQhyThN6ltXf7N-76RnYeiRucznPmdoxl4yBSWNj3VKBpHhtGf7Uv7i2HwLbyWVS2YNrHPAcktxp4fNIBDMXG23aDy8p_gj3q5T9WUMk3grc9bdpfqqdOzA7pq8Xj_S9ziORdC8DvMPHw86VzM/s1145/Lanno%20southwest.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1145" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCFa4nu_Omz42a8ZhLP7ZQH0T4HROw_uP1QceA04rgCdQhyThN6ltXf7N-76RnYeiRucznPmdoxl4yBSWNj3VKBpHhtGf7Uv7i2HwLbyWVS2YNrHPAcktxp4fNIBDMXG23aDy8p_gj3q5T9WUMk3grc9bdpfqqdOzA7pq8Xj_S9ziORdC8DvMPHw86VzM/w640-h462/Lanno%20southwest.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>2001 views -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmu67pTIsMQ1JpcQfr2FTsgKq5D5MwBQCYBJJYCSfdrw0Bmomr3tKFo6zC0cJINLXVlZtRgiX98M_UsA2QqR-w8Z-dVznDo8_iRNp2PMKyDTQt63wxsPiyeafaL1M77HDta6dHZDvATf9OyxLtr9HT0MvA5l15hfIXDZFp49QPf-68T44ATDXiEyIb-CR/s1772/Lanno%20Thai%20monk%20113-18%202001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="1772" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmu67pTIsMQ1JpcQfr2FTsgKq5D5MwBQCYBJJYCSfdrw0Bmomr3tKFo6zC0cJINLXVlZtRgiX98M_UsA2QqR-w8Z-dVznDo8_iRNp2PMKyDTQt63wxsPiyeafaL1M77HDta6dHZDvATf9OyxLtr9HT0MvA5l15hfIXDZFp49QPf-68T44ATDXiEyIb-CR/w640-h426/Lanno%20Thai%20monk%20113-18%202001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQv7yr9E1L8QtW2Ge6iZ37ZZefmYB_pQUFkxtH2RUCRw8hs9Bi7Q4RaJTVApUmVwUcLM_ZUhs6SOR3syH1rKGLdCdU7Ee1HIeHqJa94v47xwqGw8f1Y1iNLZgAUkN0879ueJyQYq_-wn1L8f9Kl1zjPhife6CLl2xGge7NlChoffQYw-wKQWAOLDBbP-7/s1772/Lanno%20Thai%20monk%20113-17%202001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1772" data-original-width="1181" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQv7yr9E1L8QtW2Ge6iZ37ZZefmYB_pQUFkxtH2RUCRw8hs9Bi7Q4RaJTVApUmVwUcLM_ZUhs6SOR3syH1rKGLdCdU7Ee1HIeHqJa94v47xwqGw8f1Y1iNLZgAUkN0879ueJyQYq_-wn1L8f9Kl1zjPhife6CLl2xGge7NlChoffQYw-wKQWAOLDBbP-7/w426-h640/Lanno%20Thai%20monk%20113-17%202001.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sg Raia outside the cave</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My next visit was in May 2014. A building had been constructed inside the cliff and the swamp is part of the garden. There is an ornate metal fence outside. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnswcoxX4xGswEp_rtU-0ePR_JyDSTZ_HMlO1Dw0OFXNCpyfQb7RHXJKGLGi2w4rxY1NqW_bpBk0Tydc1nP0o_BO53N2cRxSkPRO0WH5X0UtdL0O8yIQotMNCAI9ukvWdWp5th3DqN3u1M2c1V4w83-vR7DCO8n7qSHtQoPwBMZTHiSwAxjJMLzyqCOm1/s768/Thai%20Monk_01%202014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnswcoxX4xGswEp_rtU-0ePR_JyDSTZ_HMlO1Dw0OFXNCpyfQb7RHXJKGLGi2w4rxY1NqW_bpBk0Tydc1nP0o_BO53N2cRxSkPRO0WH5X0UtdL0O8yIQotMNCAI9ukvWdWp5th3DqN3u1M2c1V4w83-vR7DCO8n7qSHtQoPwBMZTHiSwAxjJMLzyqCOm1/w640-h480/Thai%20Monk_01%202014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XmsO07XTR27JrWtMQ3psaU5rJcOBI2GUFGgttQZ6Pi5IylHrBBJV1TqJOUTkD7Ir5h6jX0mCx1Wjth3m1xBjL_WyR8PGbP4lfzJXfGGlzcsspau-AsbCB3yClNu3-hZVdRAS6XDX0tAN3PRSVkdjmKKpxqtDhXbJSSjKpZyqCkXMzqRF6MOWR6u2ZR5o/s768/Thai%20Monk_03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XmsO07XTR27JrWtMQ3psaU5rJcOBI2GUFGgttQZ6Pi5IylHrBBJV1TqJOUTkD7Ir5h6jX0mCx1Wjth3m1xBjL_WyR8PGbP4lfzJXfGGlzcsspau-AsbCB3yClNu3-hZVdRAS6XDX0tAN3PRSVkdjmKKpxqtDhXbJSSjKpZyqCkXMzqRF6MOWR6u2ZR5o/w640-h480/Thai%20Monk_03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB67wYTupBKX5TikgEv5koCHmJtL0_8mPI06LoFZuAU5kXu_IO4u21IqFyRvHS6dK7bycnTjuROwDSXYnvvJWSBHscUfrrGxQq9ZdpRBHp15GvveqCVXefq36nozYuPOj178kUP3kn9ElQxkCbDIqNYwb_1Lr2OTQQ2L0QXX0aoh6qhp9bMO4Qk-Hxbej/s768/Thai%20Monk_04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB67wYTupBKX5TikgEv5koCHmJtL0_8mPI06LoFZuAU5kXu_IO4u21IqFyRvHS6dK7bycnTjuROwDSXYnvvJWSBHscUfrrGxQq9ZdpRBHp15GvveqCVXefq36nozYuPOj178kUP3kn9ElQxkCbDIqNYwb_1Lr2OTQQ2L0QXX0aoh6qhp9bMO4Qk-Hxbej/w640-h480/Thai%20Monk_04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszw3vfOwh3QAFBfJ0vHrkzhKoaqNKZIGaQ0CGyFA55Ge5Jy3ZkOgFikav72deA5zB7DUfMr1R-AYHr9CORmBiRRUrdxFZLzSjE7sRK6VS0hE0gq5foUPEn8h23QrHFW9qJhCEPOOtHN-eImK9shGikj7ECCwOtlaYJ_-YSTPDg2D-CxmZSuZ-MpSazaHo/s768/Thai%20Monk_05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszw3vfOwh3QAFBfJ0vHrkzhKoaqNKZIGaQ0CGyFA55Ge5Jy3ZkOgFikav72deA5zB7DUfMr1R-AYHr9CORmBiRRUrdxFZLzSjE7sRK6VS0hE0gq5foUPEn8h23QrHFW9qJhCEPOOtHN-eImK9shGikj7ECCwOtlaYJ_-YSTPDg2D-CxmZSuZ-MpSazaHo/w640-h480/Thai%20Monk_05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MjizJJ1Olrc48hvHwyCe7zxz9xZ8ZjtDODahuAufTFSspGPOFyjnLTLyOmTCwL2q_PSuXefeTNYaf-_SeOVE7x5P0LAxFGOP0yivKgwQXuuZKwIWCY1mT_GwVUmvdLRLQHomNaMjq6ChlUrNlTXLeCXes-Fj8wELWA4EcCQZVpLjbj1Lc7JFElsegIbh/s768/Thai%20Monk_06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MjizJJ1Olrc48hvHwyCe7zxz9xZ8ZjtDODahuAufTFSspGPOFyjnLTLyOmTCwL2q_PSuXefeTNYaf-_SeOVE7x5P0LAxFGOP0yivKgwQXuuZKwIWCY1mT_GwVUmvdLRLQHomNaMjq6ChlUrNlTXLeCXes-Fj8wELWA4EcCQZVpLjbj1Lc7JFElsegIbh/w480-h640/Thai%20Monk_06.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The Sungai Raia</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCTIi_TjxjZMF4A8l8H99xz-xMt2I4WTS0d6w7UwK0OtR9JHZAMyXShyOETHBnoiBARYzVn_TjDZXlBBsie0HCYa1ZNYAnZpMnYi21DhfE5quIxqqgisjAWKwOrJJtMqhP3GhJ0fwOp2QPqF-hXT5Os5P3opCeYCsYHHMCEOLg1t04baBGhVeGBfLKdkL/s768/Thai%20Monk_08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCTIi_TjxjZMF4A8l8H99xz-xMt2I4WTS0d6w7UwK0OtR9JHZAMyXShyOETHBnoiBARYzVn_TjDZXlBBsie0HCYa1ZNYAnZpMnYi21DhfE5quIxqqgisjAWKwOrJJtMqhP3GhJ0fwOp2QPqF-hXT5Os5P3opCeYCsYHHMCEOLg1t04baBGhVeGBfLKdkL/w640-h480/Thai%20Monk_08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9XZ5bmlQ6A79WbZbHJP9SkSSFwPnRmXDRbZOB-S961k5ysJL88xDULvRxeLiGmBhkX8Dv_qD_rQRYw4Sw_nv765Sh4A2_LKNFESqBa55py3YeemVcNJilfiymr8MWoCd-5iHtyhhnN7XbX5rf4fiu5BvcIuPr1zsUpqGSwMh-a6hpR4eCDZazwuTmr7j/s768/Thai%20Monk_09.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9XZ5bmlQ6A79WbZbHJP9SkSSFwPnRmXDRbZOB-S961k5ysJL88xDULvRxeLiGmBhkX8Dv_qD_rQRYw4Sw_nv765Sh4A2_LKNFESqBa55py3YeemVcNJilfiymr8MWoCd-5iHtyhhnN7XbX5rf4fiu5BvcIuPr1zsUpqGSwMh-a6hpR4eCDZazwuTmr7j/w640-h480/Thai%20Monk_09.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSE4LSd8bu35IkRLUUYcdD5SQzVmciNbDEQgu49tVhftWr5n2kXb3PDdMkTUlQ1zq9AUGkONKzZvavU6JqrCfHo8DfK6tknEZ9gwGwlMyrU-YUdm5-QhuqHeOsxoTqaYkrUsJaYcDciFz2Va-waFwFB6h6CXq-I40Urm3Bp8gC5dzfx1dC0ry261sPlABH/s768/Thai%20Monk_10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSE4LSd8bu35IkRLUUYcdD5SQzVmciNbDEQgu49tVhftWr5n2kXb3PDdMkTUlQ1zq9AUGkONKzZvavU6JqrCfHo8DfK6tknEZ9gwGwlMyrU-YUdm5-QhuqHeOsxoTqaYkrUsJaYcDciFz2Va-waFwFB6h6CXq-I40Urm3Bp8gC5dzfx1dC0ry261sPlABH/w640-h480/Thai%20Monk_10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBZ_HFXdmmQFQ1ujI-Pd1AzYCHDOXae50agRDA1hZbpOA5ho0ZO_p6D5nF2uxwTX-Kl34cA9b-7Dz1r3cwGlVnL7_Igfsb7y14Eol4DFrT-AMel0yL-jMudaCz7gVzNZZa27A_2JA0InT2cvqWvV2Ht9fittX2DKzd_S29Ke5mVG5CLz5r6HU2YDARK3n/s768/Thai%20Monk_11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBZ_HFXdmmQFQ1ujI-Pd1AzYCHDOXae50agRDA1hZbpOA5ho0ZO_p6D5nF2uxwTX-Kl34cA9b-7Dz1r3cwGlVnL7_Igfsb7y14Eol4DFrT-AMel0yL-jMudaCz7gVzNZZa27A_2JA0InT2cvqWvV2Ht9fittX2DKzd_S29Ke5mVG5CLz5r6HU2YDARK3n/w480-h640/Thai%20Monk_11.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The track that leads further around the hill was closed off by a large gate by the temple -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo-MfswFQv4L3Z-u_FkPiYN_4BzLLXu-DfSy46OeseAFem7cZmQC0D9rN89hl-H60lAn0BEuyr0vRjv7alqidgV_g5oCWkNvDm3YhsJOAcAm51KGLloEs7hltwTN5EgVJU2isxKF8bfz3Adg1GniFwSHRjVnelVYMRXXSbkeyj3qxoRjsWJIFpI2u1pTE/s768/Thai%20Monk_07.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo-MfswFQv4L3Z-u_FkPiYN_4BzLLXu-DfSy46OeseAFem7cZmQC0D9rN89hl-H60lAn0BEuyr0vRjv7alqidgV_g5oCWkNvDm3YhsJOAcAm51KGLloEs7hltwTN5EgVJU2isxKF8bfz3Adg1GniFwSHRjVnelVYMRXXSbkeyj3qxoRjsWJIFpI2u1pTE/w640-h480/Thai%20Monk_07.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Now (2024) the cave is known as Chinaraj Cave monastery - a Buddhist temple, Tokong Siam. I don't know when this was established. In Feb 2022 <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2022/02/08/devoted-to-safety" target="_blank">The Star</a> referred to it as Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Chinaraj. It was one of 19 caves in the Kinta Valley to receive an eviction notice, to vacate in 30 days. However a <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/01/10/perak-cave-temples-can-stay-eviction-notices-revoked" target="_blank">few days</a> later the notices were revoked. </p><p>According to Google Maps, the temple is open mornings and evenings. There are hundreds of photos on the page. </p><p>Cave location 4°31'8.12" N 101° 8'18.01"E.</p><p>--</p><p>See my <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/books/" target="_blank">Cave Register</a> .</p><p><br /></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-35780763466304107832024-01-07T18:53:00.001+08:002024-01-07T18:53:11.879+08:00Bat Cave, Phnom Sampeu, Battambang, Cambodia<p>In 2008 on the caving expedition to Cambodia, we spent time exploring and surveying caves in the Battambang area. The best known hill is Phnom Sampov (Sampeu). Phnom Sampeu is the famous hill which contains the killing caves and is on the tourist itinerary. It is a striking limestone outcrop with a wat on top.</p><p>Towards the end of a day spent surveying caves on the hill, we descended and had a look at the northern side, which is on the opposite side to the killing caves. Here we saw Bat Cave. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2Zx6yYYpEjU1hD-iyqkQkrridHQpz3hP95d6Ik9CBeRAyatwxuxNv5Afyfo4uymIhac_4MPXpV8RyaXDBGun-okcZ6lCHQy3NpVBPXTQ3AbevvAW_RypKAHEvSCEYF0fwj06959J5BG4Jzpj_xX4GeSpJHnJIp0QwVwR3SvExConN4iIC-br7tXjhLBJ/s1335/ge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="1335" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2Zx6yYYpEjU1hD-iyqkQkrridHQpz3hP95d6Ik9CBeRAyatwxuxNv5Afyfo4uymIhac_4MPXpV8RyaXDBGun-okcZ6lCHQy3NpVBPXTQ3AbevvAW_RypKAHEvSCEYF0fwj06959J5BG4Jzpj_xX4GeSpJHnJIp0QwVwR3SvExConN4iIC-br7tXjhLBJ/w640-h438/ge.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcEqLX5Q-SVLIrLbQbvThQzanznYY9DyDmx9o4w3UslJX8LFOh_J1cZy8NzSBXa0kbZfiqryh8FAc0ubtl2cBt1-Ugsxzxmk6UDXHxAN82g11kYA0_rHB8XwCrsVrsSsrOfi67hKjRqxencr1NugKS2d-di-efjnODXeRMJXIayu1ORU5__Mxr-nYDFKW/s1229/Battambang_256_rotation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="922" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcEqLX5Q-SVLIrLbQbvThQzanznYY9DyDmx9o4w3UslJX8LFOh_J1cZy8NzSBXa0kbZfiqryh8FAc0ubtl2cBt1-Ugsxzxmk6UDXHxAN82g11kYA0_rHB8XwCrsVrsSsrOfi67hKjRqxencr1NugKS2d-di-efjnODXeRMJXIayu1ORU5__Mxr-nYDFKW/w480-h640/Battambang_256_rotation.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>In our reports, we called the cave La Ang Pracheu. Our description (from BHB 34) - "Called “PSW4 (Million Bat Cave) by Herries (2006a). This cave is located at the base of Phnom Sampeu near to where an 18 m high Buddha is currently being carved out of the rock face. A steep 15 m climb is needed to reach the large cave mouth. However, a strong stench of bat guano and the noise of the large bat colony successfully keeps explorers out of the cave, which consequently remains unsurveyed."</p><p>Apparently the bats of Bat Cave have become a tourist attraction. The Khmer Times, <a href="https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501418881/phnom-sampov-bat-cave-attracting-more-tourists/" target="_blank">7 Jan 2004</a> has an article "Phnom Sampov bat cave attracting more tourists". The article says that during the last months of 2023, more national and international tourists flocked to visit Phnom Sampov (Sampov mountain) bat cave in Battambang province. It goes on to say -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAvr6uMcpXyr_L9sCT_gXrnfOiH1gF3SOzf_Esq1B1bRpik-Gus7PvRs5VNHBLyg6kTRjdFtLK1svGLGwS0zVqMF4Ml1VsDEVuUrba8cHILwd1BoL7PigmXtFUQp8rXJlqK7Qv0uOAD7tGARGcyozdezragbYyALvTjcIgQ-NcCGz2rE6MbS2PsTdsoS6/s1082/kt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1082" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAvr6uMcpXyr_L9sCT_gXrnfOiH1gF3SOzf_Esq1B1bRpik-Gus7PvRs5VNHBLyg6kTRjdFtLK1svGLGwS0zVqMF4Ml1VsDEVuUrba8cHILwd1BoL7PigmXtFUQp8rXJlqK7Qv0uOAD7tGARGcyozdezragbYyALvTjcIgQ-NcCGz2rE6MbS2PsTdsoS6/s320/kt.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And a photo taken from the Khmer Times, AKP -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixf8_ACbC5_xf2j6FwCvz4vUjq9mybiBBvw2u9MxsEIad4f10u7uTiPaMZ4LCoea0kOqDNPNfKNu1Yl654qTsgf5HiAIsF_Oqu9L66-Jyxqr_nf90rmMm_7cpabSezCQ6UVJkSqiCzQu5PqKtS4V348LFP1a5vPLTzx6t0ucvuSh8vJtugcYctRQS-7ERz/s750/Tourists-watch-bats-flying-out-of-a-cave-in-Phnom-Sampov-mountain-in-Battambang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="750" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixf8_ACbC5_xf2j6FwCvz4vUjq9mybiBBvw2u9MxsEIad4f10u7uTiPaMZ4LCoea0kOqDNPNfKNu1Yl654qTsgf5HiAIsF_Oqu9L66-Jyxqr_nf90rmMm_7cpabSezCQ6UVJkSqiCzQu5PqKtS4V348LFP1a5vPLTzx6t0ucvuSh8vJtugcYctRQS-7ERz/w640-h376/Tourists-watch-bats-flying-out-of-a-cave-in-Phnom-Sampov-mountain-in-Battambang.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>There are lots of photos of the bat flight on <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g303666-d2664524-Reviews-Battambang_Bat_Caves-Battambang_Battambang_Province.html" target="_blank">Trip Advisor</a>.</p><p>To the right of Bat Cave, a large statue is being constructed (2008) -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUghTVGhCeQyV8jBe4FIxiabDaMuCQUYRevYfij0tSxP6vtBkogaLQahHKU4ekpVnGrVxUVHWAErwKIGtlzZTxXQmQoboo_d7uQ5RFQ6OrJ96WmJ8tMH0tqGSs_xUs-SZV9kMf4fzCN-kF71i4d7OsDe7VMjCWsLKNuNZED0JPrh4Df8NM04IT_nPwtpw/s1229/Battambang_194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1229" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUghTVGhCeQyV8jBe4FIxiabDaMuCQUYRevYfij0tSxP6vtBkogaLQahHKU4ekpVnGrVxUVHWAErwKIGtlzZTxXQmQoboo_d7uQ5RFQ6OrJ96WmJ8tMH0tqGSs_xUs-SZV9kMf4fzCN-kF71i4d7OsDe7VMjCWsLKNuNZED0JPrh4Df8NM04IT_nPwtpw/w640-h480/Battambang_194.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I had seen the statue on a visit in 2004. In my diary, 4 Sept 2004, after visiting the caves up on the hill, I wrote "We began the long descent to the car park, using the 700 (?) stairs. This killed my poor knees. I went to look at the cliff face where they are just starting to carve a 38 m high Buddha. The mural will be 120 m long and will take 7 years to complete. Quite a feat. I had to give a donation. Women were manually breaking stones.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeWH075tuHhS5wG0P0m6OddlZHa3VByDRtj0aQenQ0GeaPPkeCpolNRLz0zxC8kK_3iKOC5g2tbM7nsBw7X7diQFuugHlhSlaAgOKDOzrDIQAFjI53Hj7CW6k8ZrsGzbjZ-b93NFzuXaNlWMZNb9890MLXHa6WB_RxlGnTJsrl3YNHsVaj6lHcsnrCGHY/s640/IMG_2507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeWH075tuHhS5wG0P0m6OddlZHa3VByDRtj0aQenQ0GeaPPkeCpolNRLz0zxC8kK_3iKOC5g2tbM7nsBw7X7diQFuugHlhSlaAgOKDOzrDIQAFjI53Hj7CW6k8ZrsGzbjZ-b93NFzuXaNlWMZNb9890MLXHa6WB_RxlGnTJsrl3YNHsVaj6lHcsnrCGHY/w640-h480/IMG_2507.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfT9ofJW1-sk_YT7BU33MsQp91NSySoQ_1Tj98wHbdgy69-fUjUnF6QJZogKbwjpZf-FA7JBYFYHtfaihpgrg8LXZnXL5iYYOrYLqpnyTt821PlFpw_H_boJczRJv9yJ7Sgh2XMe4WaeEpYoKh63akKA7uQ6IilvuGu_N-TQHh469ulcJmhMUkTpfrEqd/s640/IMG_2506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfT9ofJW1-sk_YT7BU33MsQp91NSySoQ_1Tj98wHbdgy69-fUjUnF6QJZogKbwjpZf-FA7JBYFYHtfaihpgrg8LXZnXL5iYYOrYLqpnyTt821PlFpw_H_boJczRJv9yJ7Sgh2XMe4WaeEpYoKh63akKA7uQ6IilvuGu_N-TQHh469ulcJmhMUkTpfrEqd/w640-h480/IMG_2506.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>In 2008 I wrote in my diary "Bat Cave, this has the large entrance and is to the right of the new Buddha they are carving. There has not been much progress on this since my 2004 visit."</p><p>I googled the statue and </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYSVOMFyjkFiP2GRIyS4weN4JnILa8T-PcGA1LlXW1RSlEc-Q4BfODy7ccEMkud3k4HhKFUxI34ofZkIAvA482CePkWJudUH17oDi7SEk8T3rkojw8sBjwwTDvRUsjRokUpd_V94DPzGCvMCo1GseOASI7iKjALXbu4Po-ncjQyscBJjSZ1sY4ECdONN3/s1081/g2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1081" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYSVOMFyjkFiP2GRIyS4weN4JnILa8T-PcGA1LlXW1RSlEc-Q4BfODy7ccEMkud3k4HhKFUxI34ofZkIAvA482CePkWJudUH17oDi7SEk8T3rkojw8sBjwwTDvRUsjRokUpd_V94DPzGCvMCo1GseOASI7iKjALXbu4Po-ncjQyscBJjSZ1sY4ECdONN3/w640-h484/g2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2 class="lsdM5 fontBodySmall" jsan="7.lsdM5,7.fontBodySmall" jstcache="815" style="background: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-radius: 0px; border: 0px; color: #9aa0a6; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden visible; padding: 4px 0px 4px 2px; text-align: start; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="SsyS6c" jstcache="816"><a class="yo4sdb" data-attribution-url="//maps.google.com/maps/contrib/116795592407135866276" href="https://maps.google.com/maps/contrib/116795592407135866276" jsaction="titlecard.attributionClick;clickmod:titlecard.attributionClick" jsan="7.yo4sdb,0.data-attribution-url,8.href,0.target,22.jsaction" jstcache="821" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Exclusive Cambodia Travel</a></span></h2></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGElzMEkwQuM3DS4ZR69jbSViPtf7Rq_v5MLv9_4bHsM2P1rI5OI-Jf9WZldlhM2rFSG-z3ZAe5o4geWg8rCIGf98ieIDifqphQ5S_Xo-xT1dGTWIyFKjU2tGjYF7qXXBGfGayr7AQXSsldB5uSjxYBt5iZsbHwgip2qbrf0R7bWvEgoLwHK_pk8oYuSuY/s1081/g3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1081" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGElzMEkwQuM3DS4ZR69jbSViPtf7Rq_v5MLv9_4bHsM2P1rI5OI-Jf9WZldlhM2rFSG-z3ZAe5o4geWg8rCIGf98ieIDifqphQ5S_Xo-xT1dGTWIyFKjU2tGjYF7qXXBGfGayr7AQXSsldB5uSjxYBt5iZsbHwgip2qbrf0R7bWvEgoLwHK_pk8oYuSuY/w640-h490/g3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2 class="lsdM5 fontBodySmall" jsan="7.lsdM5,7.fontBodySmall" jstcache="815" style="background: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-radius: 0px; border: 0px; color: #9aa0a6; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden visible; padding: 4px 0px 4px 2px; text-align: start; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="SsyS6c" jstcache="816"><a class="yo4sdb" data-attribution-url="//maps.google.com/maps/contrib/106250305824177487953" href="https://maps.google.com/maps/contrib/106250305824177487953" jsaction="titlecard.attributionClick;clickmod:titlecard.attributionClick" jsan="7.yo4sdb,0.data-attribution-url,8.href,0.target,22.jsaction" jstcache="821" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ret Bopha</a></span></h2></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There are hundreds more photos on the internet, especially on Google Maps, under Bat Cave Phnom Sampov.</p><p>References :</p><p>Berliner Höhlenkundliche Berichte <a href="https://www.speleo-berlin.de/en_publikationen.php" target="_blank">BHB 34</a> (2009) Cambodia (Battambang) and its replacement <a href="https://www.speleo-berlin.de/en_publikationen.php" target="_blank">BHB 77</a> (2019) Cambodia 1995/96–2017.</p><p>Herries, A. (2006a): Battambang Karst, North West Cambodia. – unpublished report, 11 p.</p><p>Herries, A. (2006b) Explorations in Cambodian Karst. Battambang Province, North West Cambodia. – SUSS Bull., 46 (2), 8-13; Sydney.</p><p>And my 2008 blog, <a href="https://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2008/07/battambang-caves-1-phnom-sampeu-2008.html" target="_blank">Battambang Caves 1 - Phnom Sampeu 2008</a></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-16585415687502082732023-11-30T23:54:00.006+08:002023-12-27T02:12:53.993+08:00 Atlas of Great Caves & karst of Southeast Asia, 3rd edition<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><u> Atlas of the Great Caves and the karst of Southeast Asia, </u></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><u>3rd edition</u></b></h2><p>Hot off the press, Dec 2023 </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx763tTRySczbBQoJA17g17qwGk8P04ldvLoPi50z4TyjMhysmEmxfaKFk9rlhhsQx0ulimR7-O7qOGvv_t-rhH8fHLYrkmpQCp61R1L9a9rDsHhLVd-WhiLo5YcJoLKf8L-qoRYvli5Z1_rkR4r6g0SL2-WaYUIFjRI9XXqRphivE_pJk1-7QD1Jfj1b_/s1061/BHB%2085%2086%20Atlas.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="1061" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx763tTRySczbBQoJA17g17qwGk8P04ldvLoPi50z4TyjMhysmEmxfaKFk9rlhhsQx0ulimR7-O7qOGvv_t-rhH8fHLYrkmpQCp61R1L9a9rDsHhLVd-WhiLo5YcJoLKf8L-qoRYvli5Z1_rkR4r6g0SL2-WaYUIFjRI9XXqRphivE_pJk1-7QD1Jfj1b_/w640-h314/BHB%2085%2086%20Atlas.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Available for sale from the publisher in Germany. Contact me for details.</p><p>See more on <a href="https://www.speleo-berlin.de/en_publikationen.php" target="_blank">BHB website</a>, look under 2023.</p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-82455765735081838372023-11-13T17:07:00.001+08:002023-11-13T17:07:40.683+08:00Oldest human fossils found in Vietnam<p> The <a href="https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietnam-uncovers-oldest-human-remains-4672442.html" target="_blank">VnExpress on 2 Nov 2023</a> reported on "Vietnam uncovers oldest human remains". </p><p>Skeletal human remains dating back 10,000 years have been found in a cave, making them the oldest human fossils ever unearthed in Vietnam. The remains were found last March at the Tam Chuc Pagoda Complex in Kim Bang District, in the northern province of Ha Nam.</p><p>At the Tam Chuc complex, archaeologists discovered three graves of children and adults, with the people buried in a kneeling position. There were also mollusc shells and teeth bones of small animals, which could have been food sources for ancient people. There were sea molluss shells along with stream snails. At the top of the mountain they found pieces of pottery lying alongside mollusc pieces.</p><p>At 10,000 years, these are the oldest human remains to be found in Vietnam. This means they date back to the late Pleistocene to late Holocene age, or 10,000-12,000 years ago.</p><p>Excavations at two caves in Kim Bang revealed prehistoric paleontological and material culture remains including animal fossils and reddish-brown rope pottery fragments belonging to the Dong Son culture. Dong Son was a Bronze Age culture in ancient Vietnam centered in the Red River valley of northern Vietnam from 1000 BC until the first century AD.</p><p>Photo taken from <a href="https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietnam-uncovers-oldest-human-remains-4672442.html" target="_blank">VnExpress</a> -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kWkoVKgVeo09-14y0Jcxb4jGsK3xlqEa-jglY3haFD9fLcjYbCi_rakWAwljm-9fJ_eXBWRgMW_ch_cyHtJ6euFTUfxDybMCihft-Cx8bgmgKMo-Woc7JvWwLx3yl4Lj1VpcAk2SST10iELUd_kl0S4LORjZS_nZKWIzk41U8Fdd_rs5sHd2L2aX7lzZ/s1360/CA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1360" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kWkoVKgVeo09-14y0Jcxb4jGsK3xlqEa-jglY3haFD9fLcjYbCi_rakWAwljm-9fJ_eXBWRgMW_ch_cyHtJ6euFTUfxDybMCihft-Cx8bgmgKMo-Woc7JvWwLx3yl4Lj1VpcAk2SST10iELUd_kl0S4LORjZS_nZKWIzk41U8Fdd_rs5sHd2L2aX7lzZ/w640-h426/CA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-66787831423364392812023-11-09T16:52:00.000+08:002023-11-09T16:52:00.507+08:00Earthquake affects Phi Hua To cave, Krabi, Thailand<p> An earthquake off northern Sumatra on 7 Nov 2023 apparently caused cracks in the rock at Phi Hua To cave, Krabi, Thailand. The cave has been closed indefinitely after there were small rockfalls and cracks appeared.</p><p>The cave is in Than Bok Khorani National Park, in Ao Luk district. See <a href="https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2680866/southern-cave-closed-after-earthquake-causes-cracks" target="_blank">Bangkok Post</a> report.</p><p>I visited the cave on a canoeing trip in 2002, and wrote two blogs, "<a href="https://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2008/04/canoeing-in-than-bokkhorani-park-krabi.html" target="_blank">Canoeing in Than Bokkhorani Park, Krabi</a>" and "<a href="https://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2008/08/canoeing-around-krabi-star.html" target="_blank">Canoeing around Krabi - Star</a>".</p><p>The cave is best known for its petroglyphs and is known as the Big Headed Monster Cave.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9vjLOUSQm66ISKjc1m9BHK20nm04jCiPm8-uVOJZzVhAP-8cso6Fifz_SJEEBPQL3cG6oTPjQbLs1HLanBLAHF68TY9WBDjdJPVTDtGQCjYElw109kmmtpjh309p8U0i5XRfxOCrCVtl4Ox823-r-VBMmVAtFLAQNlquBw0ZTYVNF_xX_xg7eKdtbRLP9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="413" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9vjLOUSQm66ISKjc1m9BHK20nm04jCiPm8-uVOJZzVhAP-8cso6Fifz_SJEEBPQL3cG6oTPjQbLs1HLanBLAHF68TY9WBDjdJPVTDtGQCjYElw109kmmtpjh309p8U0i5XRfxOCrCVtl4Ox823-r-VBMmVAtFLAQNlquBw0ZTYVNF_xX_xg7eKdtbRLP9=w427-h640" width="427" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-59854429524200595952023-11-07T17:43:00.006+08:002023-11-07T17:47:45.198+08:00Tham Phu Pha Phet, Satun, Thailand<p> In 2011 I wrote a blog about <a href="https://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2011/12/phu-pha-phet-cave-satun-thailand.html" target="_blank">Tham Phu Pha Phet</a> in Satun, Thailand, which I had visited with the <a href="http://axbridgecavinggroup.wikidot.com/" target="_blank">Axbridge Caving Group</a> in 2001. </p><p>The area now comes under the <a href="https://en.unesco.org/global-geoparks/satun" target="_blank">Satun UNESCO Global Geopark</a>, designated in 2018.</p><p>On 6 November 2023, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-43316-2" target="_blank">Nature </a>published a report "Unravelling the hidden diversity of cave mycobiota in Thailand’s Satun Geopark". In 2019 researchers had studied the mycobiota or fungi, in two caves in the Geopark, Le Stegodon and Phu Pha Phet Caves. </p><p>From the article :<br />"Satun Province in southern Thailand, recognized as the "Land of Palaeozoic fossils," became the country's first UNESCO Global Geopark on April 17, 2018. The Satun UNESCO Global Geopark encompasses four districts in Satun Province, known for diverse karst topography and abundant fossils from the Palaeozoic Era. Phu Pha Phet Cave, or "Diamond Mountain Cave," in Satun Province, Thailand, is the country's largest and the world's fourth-largest cave, with a length of 536.65 m and an area of 0.16 hectares. The cave has over 20 chambers with dazzling stalactites and stalagmites resembling diamond flakes, accessed via a wooden bridge and illuminated by lighting. Tourist visits are allowed with restricted access for conservation and sustainable tourism purposes, resulting in limited visitation and moderate human interference."</p><p>I don't know the definition of largest cave in this context. It is obviously not length, could be they are referring to volume. </p><p>These are the surveys from the 2001 ACG visits :</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4e8ZW175RDVqi9p0x3i0fBKohq_PerkClO1TOViT4X-SgkW9kihyM6o784RYBoDOcXn-EXWr3L4wrW2lKiT2b2w24q36YBms1ULEmaac6kdqP716Y94YXCKAqz-9paykkgBbI5-Wxw6z4vCKELRrs-Y4eZnS6k31lpqJybhUoG6w_R3kEO3W-TBa8kCet" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2889" data-original-width="2255" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4e8ZW175RDVqi9p0x3i0fBKohq_PerkClO1TOViT4X-SgkW9kihyM6o784RYBoDOcXn-EXWr3L4wrW2lKiT2b2w24q36YBms1ULEmaac6kdqP716Y94YXCKAqz-9paykkgBbI5-Wxw6z4vCKELRrs-Y4eZnS6k31lpqJybhUoG6w_R3kEO3W-TBa8kCet=w499-h640" width="499" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgL3t1TvfTJ33A8KD1kHUWJlA3tlYcSKfZMJERk_ocVYL0JxZPCsSWoDQGxqF9XXvgUPEC5uhlPSBg4fM6ZwCZLjuJ56JNU0figQksDzL4O9ZK1Cu-vZQxE3VR-KXlqKA4uh_qXD_ek5RWYlwx8YjKll-NVsAb6kiOYZjYnVrI5abKMc0u63rXPmM_YetrC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2873" data-original-width="2261" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgL3t1TvfTJ33A8KD1kHUWJlA3tlYcSKfZMJERk_ocVYL0JxZPCsSWoDQGxqF9XXvgUPEC5uhlPSBg4fM6ZwCZLjuJ56JNU0figQksDzL4O9ZK1Cu-vZQxE3VR-KXlqKA4uh_qXD_ek5RWYlwx8YjKll-NVsAb6kiOYZjYnVrI5abKMc0u63rXPmM_YetrC=w504-h640" width="504" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-62627960918600347412023-09-15T21:46:00.009+08:002023-12-06T17:15:22.237+08:00Gunung Kanthan cave monastery in danger from destruction 2023<p>It looks like the Dhamma Sakyamuni Caves Monastery at Gunung Kanthan, Perak is in danger again. The Court of Appeal’s recent decision means the likely forced eviction of the occupants of the monastery. The Court has made a unanimous decision in favour of Associated Pan Malayan Cement (APMC), a subsidiary of YTL, in a land dispute case under Order 89, against the Malaysia Dhamma Sakyamuni Monastery. APMC won its appeal after the company sought a High Court order in Ipoh in January 2022.</p><p>Once again there could be imminent destruction of the century-old monastery and also the Gunung Kanthan unique distinctive karst landscape, as well as the endemic flora and fauna. </p><p>On 13 Sept 2023, Badan Warisan issued a media statement about their concern on the Court of Appeal’s decision involving the forced eviction of the occupants of Dhamma Sakyamuni Monastery at Gunung Kanthan, north of Ipoh in Perak. See the <a href="https://badanwarisanmalaysia.org/2023/09/13/media-statement-gunung-kanthan-2/?mc_cid=8c9969cf0c&mc_eid=b9bdd911df" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p><p>There is also a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/his-royal-highness-sultan-nazrin-shah-save-sakyamuni-caves-monastery-save-gunung-kanthan-%E6%8B%AF%E6%95%91-%E9%87%8A%E8%BF%A6%E5%9C%A3%E6%B3%95%E5%B2%A9-%E4%B9%9F%E5%B0%B1%E6%98%AF%E5%9C%A8%E6%8B%AF%E6%95%91-%E6%8B%B1%E6%A1%A5%E5%B2%A9%E5%B1%B1?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_29143166_en-GB%3A6&recruiter=1206567217&recruited_by_id=8ee4f980-bc6d-11eb-81e5-ddb7f7418800&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message&utm_term=share_email_responsive&share_bandit_exp=message-29143166-en-GB&mc_cid=8c9969cf0c&mc_eid=b9bdd911df" target="_blank">petition </a>"Save Sakyamuni Caves Monastery, Save Gunung Kanthan ", which needs as many signatures as possible.</p><p>**</p><p>Media reports :</p><p>FMT <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/09/08/cement-company-wins-appeal-to-evict-century-old-perak-monastery/" target="_blank">8 Sept</a> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cement
company wins appeal to evict century-old Perak monastery</span></p><p>NST <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2023/09/953174/100-year-old-buddhist-monastery-perak-faces-eviction-after-losing" target="_blank">9 Sept</a> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">100-year-old
Buddhist monastery in Perak faces eviction after losing court battle</span></p><p>NST <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/954394/preserved-century-old-monastery-five-million-year-old-limestone-hill-may?fbclid=IwAR3Uk1bXE6gFCr4Ado0a-Vq1rWltKApaxPqBMLhBvjhf4PZ3EADWnHziKX4" target="_blank">12 Sept</a> Preserved by a century old monastery, five-million-year-old limestone hill may now make way for cement factory</p><p>NST <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/954351/abbot-century-old-buddhist-monastery-expresses-disappointment-over-court" target="_blank">12 Sept</a> Abbot of century-old Buddhist monastery expresses disappointment over court eviction </p><p>NST <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/955595/abbot-century-old-perak-buddhist-monastery-not-moving-out-will-continue" target="_blank">15 Sept</a> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Abbot
of century-old Perak Buddhist monastery not moving out, will continue fight</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">NST <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/956026/sam-disappointed-over-court-decision-evict-buddhist-monastery-gunung" target="_blank">16 Sept</a> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">SAM disappointed over court decision to evict Buddhist monastery in Gunung Kanthan</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">FMT <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/09/17/perak-govt-sets-up-panel-to-study-century-old-monastery-eviction-case/?fbclid=IwAR3Uxx4_AiGrpoMaBUSdcRf_5AzvvLnn8LX9z7-aSX_OOiOXQNX3jPQxFm8" target="_blank">17 Sept</a> Perak govt sets up panel to study eviction of century-old monastery</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">NST <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/956414/special-committee-study-gunung-kanthan-monastery-issue" target="_blank">17 Sept</a> Special committee to study Gunung Kanthan monastery issue</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Star <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/17/committee-formed-to-look-into-dhamma-sakyamuni-caves-monastery-says-perak-mb" target="_blank">17 Sept</a> Committee formed to look into Dhamma Sakyamuni Caves Monastery, says Perak MB</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Astro Awani video on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzlfZ-1arxI" target="_blank">youtube </a>18 Sept Consider This: Gunung Kanthan — Perak’s Quarrying Dilemma</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Star <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/18/kanthan-land-dispute-case-to-be-mediated-by-state-govt" target="_blank">18 Sept</a> Kanthan land dispute case to be mediated by state govt</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">FMT <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/09/26/were-not-budging-from-cave-monastery-says-abbot/" target="_blank">26 Sept</a> We’re not budging from cave monastery, says abbot</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">SUN <a href="https://www.thesundaily.my/local/research-work-on-tropical-limestone-karst-landscapes-to-protect-malaysia-s-unique-heritage-GP11693959" target="_blank">1 Nov</a> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Research
work on tropical limestone karst landscapes to protect Malaysia’s unique heritage</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Star <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/01/research-on-tropical-limestone-karst-aims-to-protect-malaysia039s-unique-heritage?fbclid=IwAR0b8N9GPTeDnkTnE40fri1lBqQVYL0mh1_ApMC_3t6hGNe6j-WprIGo86E" target="_blank">1 Nov</a> Research on tropical limestone karst aims to protect Malaysia's unique heritage</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-84343050251074093342023-06-14T23:53:00.001+08:002023-06-14T23:53:04.385+08:0086,000-year-old human bone found in Laos cave<p> News emerged in mid June 2023 about 86,000-year-old human bone found in Laos cave. The cave is Tam Pà Ling, or Cave of the Monkeys, located about 3,840 feet (1,170 m) above sea level at the top of Pa Ling mountain in northeastern Laos. See <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tam_Pa_Ling_Cave" target="_blank">Wikipedia </a>on Tam Pa Ling. </p><p>Hominin fossils have been found by researchers since 2009 and there were more significant finds in 2013. Dating the bones indicated a maximum age of 63,000 years, this would be the earliest skeletal evidence for the presence of Homo sapiens in mainland Southeast Asia.</p><p>The articles released in June 2023 reports fragments of a human shin bone and skull have been dated at 86,000 years. This pushes back the earliest known date of Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia. The study was reported in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38715-y" target="_blank">Nature Communications</a> on June 13 "Early presence of Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia by 86–68 kyr at Tam Pà Ling, Northern Laos". </p><p>See also an article in <a href="https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/86000-year-old-human-bone-found-in-laos-cave-hints-at-failed-population-from-prehistory" target="_blank">Live Science</a> and another in <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378160-fossils-in-laos-cave-imply-modern-humans-were-in-asia-86000-years-ago/" target="_blank">New Scientist</a>.</p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-73446701995888387902023-04-26T01:48:00.000+08:002023-04-26T01:48:00.834+08:00Batu Caves now part of a new Geopark<p> In March 2023 it was announced that the new Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark had been established. This is in Selangor, Malaysia. The Geopark includes Batu Caves and Damai park, as well as Bukit Takun, and the Klang Gates quartz ridge.</p><p>The Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark (GHL) was certified as a national geopark on 13 March. </p><p>See article in <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2023/04/23/discover-the-geological-wonders-of-this-geopark-in-gombak" target="_blank">The Star 23 April</a> "Malaysia's new geopark is a geological wonder that's just an hour from KL". </p><p>It is the 7th national geopark. Others with karst area are Langkawi, Kinta Valley and Lenggong.</p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-33361154673260256052023-03-26T22:51:00.000+08:002023-03-26T22:51:09.444+08:00Tourist dies at Tiger Cave viewpoint, Krabi. Thailand<p> In March 2023 an Australian tourist died at the viewpoint above Tiger Cave near Krabi. Thailand. </p><p>Tiger Cave temple or Wat Tham Suea is a popular tourist attraction, just outside the town of Krabi. The cave is at ground level. It is a Buddhist meditation centre. There are other caves in the area.</p><p>Another attraction is climbing the stairs to the viewpoint at the top of the hill. When I was there in 1995, there were 1237 steps up a single stairway. But the stairs have been rebuilt and now there are 1260 steps to the top. At the top is a large golden statue of Buddha and Buddha's footprint.</p><p>The Australian man died at the top of the viewpoint.</p><p>The view in 1995 ! :</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4Cp0ghfK7VZLpEyi2EPcGnls64Urx2lVqnhcfCLt1U0eYaFS2DkWHU2qN5RyZ-BIpfsz5GUt21VJGDyYNlAu6xN5j7NqUtZ8ai2MNTENX-II7Q-imNA4yeTkZGy1M-XSFEuZj3DzkUQ3cvYAaarHiQWaWZSq__9BVwvs4J7RxIOXcF-B0Pk3xE0npA/s1269/Tiger%20Cave%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="853" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4Cp0ghfK7VZLpEyi2EPcGnls64Urx2lVqnhcfCLt1U0eYaFS2DkWHU2qN5RyZ-BIpfsz5GUt21VJGDyYNlAu6xN5j7NqUtZ8ai2MNTENX-II7Q-imNA4yeTkZGy1M-XSFEuZj3DzkUQ3cvYAaarHiQWaWZSq__9BVwvs4J7RxIOXcF-B0Pk3xE0npA/w430-h640/Tiger%20Cave%201.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZDuMg5W_qP2lT1XnQAg_8lR2-qM53jdf5qbnbauU8oGx_Oo9jFnwElB4yB3oUUYrSxEI8XtB4h8d-1zkA9PYHNAF5SmeXuFt0QUcQRab0jByPZJ2F8qOp0EKjrDCnzNLnp9lwYvlms2_k3B4mA7BQdp_cWmrvm7kiCDzvWJc0bHX-jpLHJZyxQ46yA/s1263/Tiger%20Cave%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1263" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZDuMg5W_qP2lT1XnQAg_8lR2-qM53jdf5qbnbauU8oGx_Oo9jFnwElB4yB3oUUYrSxEI8XtB4h8d-1zkA9PYHNAF5SmeXuFt0QUcQRab0jByPZJ2F8qOp0EKjrDCnzNLnp9lwYvlms2_k3B4mA7BQdp_cWmrvm7kiCDzvWJc0bHX-jpLHJZyxQ46yA/w640-h440/Tiger%20Cave%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhYYlNxAMUATO8SR3-jdd3xDmfcPK0PTcrnb6eyM5TRita6WPJ2snJxO_AvHCb3kar5NVvxx3asV1XGuYt8yRPx3ahp_4H02dP4Ycaar1gNkoBWHaUZqk5sZmccmCIKXis88sTHKrH3emggsPd6YvMp2aNK2IbH1iHfwVJkiJ0xz_kycAW5Z-ohfEYA/s1333/Tiger%20Cave%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1333" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhYYlNxAMUATO8SR3-jdd3xDmfcPK0PTcrnb6eyM5TRita6WPJ2snJxO_AvHCb3kar5NVvxx3asV1XGuYt8yRPx3ahp_4H02dP4Ycaar1gNkoBWHaUZqk5sZmccmCIKXis88sTHKrH3emggsPd6YvMp2aNK2IbH1iHfwVJkiJ0xz_kycAW5Z-ohfEYA/w640-h422/Tiger%20Cave%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are lots of macaques around the area</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibZujnWYgAuUARKRf3v2EupplO3Z7Zm4qW9006-QGdv6FHAQREaMmanneh83uS2tHXBUYb0wzdt2LDY3jqNEva6uE4lfCEeYyCSN40tJqM3ZAn4g91gdl-9D4XTOQR9KsT5YB_iD327hM42f-jYgdHxzS3L7IcIU9GeylGcCVyAcW9o3bblreT63ySA/s1275/Tiger%20Cave%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="889" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibZujnWYgAuUARKRf3v2EupplO3Z7Zm4qW9006-QGdv6FHAQREaMmanneh83uS2tHXBUYb0wzdt2LDY3jqNEva6uE4lfCEeYyCSN40tJqM3ZAn4g91gdl-9D4XTOQR9KsT5YB_iD327hM42f-jYgdHxzS3L7IcIU9GeylGcCVyAcW9o3bblreT63ySA/w446-h640/Tiger%20Cave%204.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Signboard in the valley showing some of the other caves. The forested circular valley is a wang, with a sacred tree in the centre and the caves are around the cliff walls. <div>The caves are : Miusua Cave, Loogtan Cave, Loop Cave, Pla Lai Cave, Lublare Cave, Chang Kheaw Cave, Snake Cave, Jaed Chan Cave, Theawada Cave.</div><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNnElRSrF0cxkxNh1rHpJfUdi8X1ljXllVauEVxecP1s6L4wmh7AFk95ZRLT8qzaEynNpQEW-2NkE2PgEC7iDThIG7mV6V4guPyp3pzGt2Gie4C7VjHweiYqpTWU4v_uR_Gzp9GeggBkWv00LCioF7dV29EnPyfbslEAOBJQmMPLbqr94mXHzRKqlfA/s993/Tiger%20Cave%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="993" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNnElRSrF0cxkxNh1rHpJfUdi8X1ljXllVauEVxecP1s6L4wmh7AFk95ZRLT8qzaEynNpQEW-2NkE2PgEC7iDThIG7mV6V4guPyp3pzGt2Gie4C7VjHweiYqpTWU4v_uR_Gzp9GeggBkWv00LCioF7dV29EnPyfbslEAOBJQmMPLbqr94mXHzRKqlfA/w640-h570/Tiger%20Cave%205.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>See accident report in <a href="https://thethaiger.com/news/krabi/australian-tourist-dies-at-famous-cave-in-krabi?utm_source=Thaiger+Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2023-03-19" target="_blank">TheThaiger</a> , and on <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/sydney-man-edward-alchin-found-dead-after-grueling-hike-to-a-remote-cave-in-thailand/ar-AA18QspF" target="_blank">MSN </a>news.</p><p>See more on Tiger Cave in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Cave_Temple" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>.</p></div></div>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-75031872254989321502022-12-27T16:49:00.000+08:002022-12-27T16:49:18.614+08:00Caribbean Union Island gecko<p> Not related to southeast Asia, but interesting as it is about protecting an endangered gecko, and of course there are many endemic and some endangered geckos in Asian caves. </p><p>BBC news on <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-64026176" target="_blank">26 Dec 2022</a> featured a tiny gecko that lives in just one part of an eastern Caribbean island. This is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Island" target="_blank">Union Island</a>, part of the nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. </p><p>"Army of islanders to protect gecko the size of a paperclip". The article says how the Union islanders are</p><p>"on a mission to protect one of the world's tiniest species - one so rare it exists in just 50 hectares (123 acres) in a remote corner of one of the smallest islands in the Caribbean.</p><p>The Union Island gecko is the size of a paperclip, critically endangered and facing an insidious enemy - poachers.</p><p>Following its official discovery in 2005, the unique creature quickly became a coveted curio by collectors enthralled by its gem-like markings, earning it the dubious distinction of the most trafficked reptile in the Eastern Caribbean."</p><p>Since 2017 the islanders have trained as wardens and now patrol the dense forests to look for intruders. As a result the gecko population has soared " from 10,000 in 2018 to around 18,000 now - outnumbering the island's human population six-fold".</p><p>International conservationists are involved including Fauna and Flora International (FFI). The gecko has been protected by international treaty CITES since 2019.</p><p>The gecko is very pretty and changes colour when brought into the light from dark brown to multi-coloured. Photo by FFI/J BOCK from <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-64026176" target="_blank">BBC</a> :</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6MkJxqe0OeGzhWXPB6Ry6JJhMM7qlS8G3u1ICaTLtwjl70S8MppBcIc6K83gxQSUUiVHMmDw9vl292HfiyZQiBlRrdVwReuieG-CMf5ym5HPhpjAK3Az4mRYWXVOgZFp14LrH0bgSSIIIpU34a2Ui0MN1vV8ALs-Qtu6YMLdlzLmNnyOTUIreouzTA/s976/_128092310_4.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="976" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6MkJxqe0OeGzhWXPB6Ry6JJhMM7qlS8G3u1ICaTLtwjl70S8MppBcIc6K83gxQSUUiVHMmDw9vl292HfiyZQiBlRrdVwReuieG-CMf5ym5HPhpjAK3Az4mRYWXVOgZFp14LrH0bgSSIIIpU34a2Ui0MN1vV8ALs-Qtu6YMLdlzLmNnyOTUIreouzTA/w640-h426/_128092310_4.jpg.webp" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>See more on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonatodes_daudini" target="_blank">Union Island gecko</a>.</p><p>The gecko has been listed as critically endangered on the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194258/71748321" target="_blank">IUCN Red List.</a> </p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-60291061625601146622022-09-08T23:52:00.002+08:002022-09-08T23:52:15.654+08:00Stone Age limb amputation from Kalimantan cave<p> On 7 Sept 2022 news in the media about a Stone Age limb amputation from a cave in Kalimantan, Borneo.</p><p><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/stone-age-human-skeleton-in-borneo-provides-evidence-of-earliest-known-surgical-limb-amputation-12692194" target="_blank">Sky News</a> "Stone Age human skeleton in Borneo provides evidence of earliest known surgical limb amputation"</p><p>The article says this is the earliest known limb amputation found on a human skeleton. The foot was found to have been surgically removed when the patient was a child. The patient was known to be alive at the time and recovered. This happened about 31,000 years ago. The skeleton is of a young person. It was found in Liang Tebo cave in East Kalimantan. This area also has some of the world's oldest known rock art.</p><p>The people at that time would have been foragers. It looks like they had medical knowledge including how to prevent infections. The surgeon had knowledge of anatomy and was able to prevent blood loss and serious infection. The wound healed and the child is thought to have lived another 6 to 9 years before dying and being buried in the cave. </p><p>Until now, the oldest known complex operation was carried out on a Neolithic farmer from France about 7,000 years ago. His left forearm was surgically removed and then partially healed.</p><p>The research article was published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05160-8" target="_blank">Nature </a>on 7 Sept, "Surgical amputation of a limb 31,000 years ago in Borneo"</p><p><br /></p><p>And a <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62823559" target="_blank">BBC </a>report "Earliest evidence of amputation found in Indonesia cave".</p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-70485026297309581392021-09-30T22:01:00.003+08:002021-09-30T22:01:59.175+08:00Human jaw bone found in Maros cave, Sulawesi<p>The rock art in the caves in Maros, south Sulawesi, have been widely documented over the years. Now we have news that a Pleistocene human jawbone has been found in Leang Bulu Bettue cave. This is the first indication of humans during that time period. The jawbone, complete with teeth, has been dated to between 25,000 and 16,000 years old. The Australian archaeologists haven't been able to determine the sex or age of the person. The results were published in <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0257273" target="_blank">PLoS One</a>, Sept 29 2021</p><p>Additional news about another find - </p><p>In August a different team announced the recovery of genetic material from a 7,000-year-old skeleton from Leang Panninge in Maros. The skeleton was found in 2015 and was the first relatively complete human burial from the "Toalean" society. It was deduced the skeleton was a 17–18-year-old female with a broadly Australo-Melanesian affinity. She was buried in a flexed position, probably 7300-7200 years BP . The extracted DNA shows the remains belonged to a woman who was 18 years old when she died during the Holocene. Article published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03823-6" target="_blank">Nature</a>, 25 August 2021.</p><p>So the jawbone is a lot older than the 7000 year old skeleton. Researchers will continue digging to try and find more bones. The new find pushes back Homo sapiens’ existence on Sulawesi by thousands of years. </p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-55588752390306405882021-09-24T03:34:00.001+08:002021-09-24T03:34:18.604+08:00Cave swiftlets found dead in Phattalung caves<p> An article in <a href="https://thethaiger.com/news/south/5-billion-baht-loss-as-birds-nest-producing-swiftlets-found-dead?utm_source=Thaiger+Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2021-09-23" target="_blank">The Thaiger</a> 22 Sept 2021 "<b>5 billion baht loss as birds’ nest producing swiftlets found dead</b>".</p><p>Apparently over 1 million birds have been found dead, in 107 caves in Phattalung's 7 islands.</p><p>The article says :</p><p>"Phatthalung authorities have requested help from the Department of Special Investigation to investigate the death of birds. These were no ordinary birds though; they were swiftlets, the birds that produce the saliva that make birds’ nest, prized as a health delicacy. And it wasn’t a few birds, it was over a million birds found dead in caves where Siamnest company has the authority to collect their birds’ nest.</p><p>And the financial loss of these birds and the birds’ nests they produce has been estimated at about 5 billion baht.</p><p>The company has permission to access 107 caves in Phatthalung’s seven islands and they sent their collection teams to gather the birds’ nest between September 9 to September 17. When they arrived to the last cave, they discovered the remains of more than 1 million birds instead of the nests they were tasked with collecting.</p><p>The team found the remains of a fire and various trash strewn about including shoes and plastic bottles. After Siamnest involved the Phatthalung authorities, the Royal Thai Police joined the investigation of the mass death of the swiftlet birds.</p><p>Unlike most birds that make nests out of twigs or similar materials, swiftlets make theirs completely out of their unique saliva which solidifies to form the nest. These saliva nests are considered a delicacy, especially in Asian regions, for it’s believed healing powers. Birds’ nest soup is often made by steaming and soaking the saliva nests.</p><p>The nests are said to help with kidney health, phlegm reduction and are desired as an aphrodisiac as well. Harvesting companies have become big businesses due to the high price the unique birds’ nest can fetch, with companies like Siamnest getting exclusive access to areas the swiftlets nest or even creating artificial sanctuaries for swiftlets to nest.</p><p>Of note, disgraced police officer Pol Col Thitisan “Jo Ferrari” Utthanaphon, whose shocking wealth was revealed upon his arrest for suffocating a suspect in custody, was said to have made part of his fortune by trading birds’ nest.</p><p>___</p><p>The source of the above Thaiger article is <a href="https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006410" target="_blank">The Nation</a> , which has lots of photos:</p><p><b>Horrifying Phatthalung bird massacre costs Siamnest THB5-bn in lost revenue</b></p><p>A Royal Thai Police (RTP) team visited Phatthalung province on Monday to investigate the case of missing birds’ nests and the mass killing of swiftlets.</p><p>Siamnest company, which has the concession for collecting bird’s nests from the 107 caves in Phatthalung’s seven islands, sent its teams off to collect nests from September 9 to 17.</p><p>However, when the collectors arrived at the last cave, they found no nests but instead, the carcasses of more than a million birds, the remains of a fire and trash including plastic bottles and shoes.</p><p>The damage from this bird massacre has been estimated at about 5 billion baht.</p><p>Phatthalung authorities, meanwhile, have contacted the Department of Special Investigation to see if they will consider taking on the case.</p><p>__</p><p>I've been to several caves in Phattalung province mainland, but not islands - see labels on the right.</p><p><br /></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-79486057919804078922021-04-27T17:19:00.026+08:002022-01-29T18:42:45.397+08:00Gunung Kanthan media updates 2021<p> This is an ongoing list of media reports about the quarrying of Gunung Kanthan in Perak, Malaysia. The earlier blogs are <a href="http://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2013/09/kanthan-and-lafarge-media-web-reports.html" target="_blank">2013 </a>, <a href="http://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2014/02/gunung-kanthan-2014-media-www-reports.html" target="_blank">2014 </a>, <a href="http://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2015/03/gunung-kanthan-lafarge-media-reports.html" target="_blank">2015 </a>, and <a href="http://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2021/01/gunung-kanthan-media-updates-2016-2020.html" target="_blank">2016-2020</a>.</p><p>Gunung Kanthan is being quarried by Lafarge Msia, who changed its name to Malayan Cement in 2019. And YTL acquired Lafarge Msia stake. But YTL still calls Kanthan the Associated Pan Malaysia Cement (APMC) Kanthan Quarry.<br /></p><p>Reports from 2021 :</p><p><a href="https://www.ipohecho.com.my/2021/01/12/appeal-to-preserve-monastery-in-gunung-kanthan/" target="_blank">Ipoh Echo</a> , 12 Jan <br />Appeal to Preserve Monastery in Gunung Kanthan [this was removed by the 14th]</p><p><a href="http://perak.chinapress.com.my/?p=63627" target="_blank">Perak China Press</a> , 13 Jan<br />Hundred-year "Sakyamuni Sacred Rock" hopes that the government approves it to stay in the original site</p><p><a href="http://perak.chinapress.com.my/20210114/%e6%8b%b1%e6%a1%a5%e5%b1%b1%e5%9c%b0%e5%8c%ba%e6%bd%9c%e5%ad%98%e8%90%bd%e7%9f%b3%e9%a3%8e%e9%99%a9-%e9%87%8a%e8%bf%a6%e5%9c%a3%e6%b3%95%e5%b2%a9%e4%bd%9b%e5%af%ba%e5%8f%97%e4%bf%83/" target="_blank">Perak China Press </a>, 14 Jan<br />There is a potential risk of falling rocks in the Gongqiaoshan [Arch Bridge Mountain]<br />This included a media statement from Pan Malaysia Cement in English entitled “A tragedy waiting to happen – monastery built on volatile structure prone to limestone fall”.</p><p><a href="https://www.fauna-flora.org/news/karst-thousands-time-put-limestone-limelight" target="_blank">Flora & Fauna International</a> , 25 Jan<br />Mention of Kanthan trapdoor spider. <br /></p><p><a href="https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/122413/BERITA/Nasional/Wartakan-kawasan-hutan-batu-kapur" target="_blank">Sinar Harian</a> , 5 Feb<br />Wartakan kawasan hutan batu kapur (Gazette the limestone forest area)<br />Gua Khantan, Chemor, has a spider habitat, namely Liphistius khantan, which is placed on the red list when the species is not found anywhere in the world.</p><p></p><p>Several videos on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBRG2iv_vIMYpeo_5SMWq5Q/featured" target="_blank">Youtube</a> , 25 Apr<br />Published by the Sakyamuni Caves Monastery :<br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8eyH2GUYIs" target="_blank">Gunung Kanthan: Saving Sacred Gunung Kanthan, Beauty with Treasure</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZiZiydLqoI" target="_blank">Gunung Kanthan expedition</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cNWX9-KXgU" target="_blank">Gunung Kanthan: 100 Years History of Sakyamuni Caves Monastery<br /></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mohtNQYm0WE" target="_blank">Gunung Kanthan: Save 100-Year Sakyamuni Caves Monastery</a><br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p>YTL/APMC took the Sakyamuni Caves Monastery to court on 1 Apr but as the monks didn't have a lawyer, they were granted an extension until 17 May. It seems that area C will be blasted, leaving just area D, where Gua Kanthan is -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8nbBgRCr88gDZA2h9a72jlunR0pk0kCQ1pHCf-k8CfTN7s-CmxHR5pGU3HzQDUpjJ6QCDhSQUCuv4ZmMnHxqlIcGZ5XLElppsGuHxzFP1Nql1DD7EiHYLNhNvY5iFaS-nv9t9oEPgx6s/s1643/Kanthan+limestone_quarry+Tony+W.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1643" data-original-width="1236" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8nbBgRCr88gDZA2h9a72jlunR0pk0kCQ1pHCf-k8CfTN7s-CmxHR5pGU3HzQDUpjJ6QCDhSQUCuv4ZmMnHxqlIcGZ5XLElppsGuHxzFP1Nql1DD7EiHYLNhNvY5iFaS-nv9t9oEPgx6s/w482-h640/Kanthan+limestone_quarry+Tony+W.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=1965515" target="_blank">Bernama</a> , 26 May 2021</div><div>Perak state authorities urged to conserve two Kinta geosites</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/05/27/ngos-urge-perak-govt-to-fully-commit-towards-preservation-of-two-geoparks-in-kinta-valley" target="_blank">The Star</a> , 27 May 2021</div><div>"NGOs urge Perak govt to fully commit towards preservation of two geoparks in Kinta Valley"</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thesundaily.my/home/perak-state-authorities-urged-to-conserve-two-kinta-geosites-KI7903095" target="_blank">The Sun</a> . 27 May 2021</div><div>"Perak state authorities urged to conserve two Kinta Geosites"</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/28922/century-old-sakyamuni-cave-monastery-faces-eviction#disqus_thread" target="_blank">The Vibes</a> , 31 May 2021</div><div>Century-old Sakyamuni Cave Monastery faces eviction.</div><div>This is a particularly good article as it details court orders and some history of past eviction notices etc.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/29407/money-over-heritage-sakyamuni-eviction-threatens-natural-treasure-says-preservationist" target="_blank">The Vibes</a> , 1 June 2021</div><div>"Money over heritage: Sakyamuni eviction threatens natural treasure, says preservationist!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/29529/monastery" target="_blank">The Vibes</a> , 2 June 2021</div><div>"Sakyamuni reveals one-of-a-kind golden Buddha statue as it faces eviction"</div><div><br /></div><div>Malaysiakini , 5 June 2021</div><div>Kuari Gunung Kanthan: Tiada syarikat dapat kontrak baru - Exco Perak (Gunung Kanthan Quarry: No company gets new contract - Perak Exco)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/05/more-tourism-activities-planned-for-geoparks-in-perak-says-state-govt" target="_blank">The Star</a> , 5 June 2021</div><div>More tourism activities planned for geoparks in Perak, says state govt</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/29976/perak-exco-rubbishes-claim-on-new-gunung-kanthan-quarrying-contracts" target="_blank">The Vibes</a> , 5 June 2021</div><div>Perak exco rubbishes claim on new Gunung Kanthan quarrying contracts</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/29996/ytl-subsidiary-assures-gua-kanthan-protection-says-awarded-lease-in-1960" target="_blank">The Vibes</a> , 5 June 2021</div><div>YTL subsidiary assures Gua Kanthan protection, says awarded lease in 1960</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=1969023" target="_blank">Bernama </a>, 5 June 2021</div><div>No new contract for quarry activities at Gunung Kanthan - Perak Exco </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/05/more-tourism-activities-planned-for-geoparks-in-perak-says-state-govt" target="_blank">The Sun </a>, 5 June 2021</div><div>"More tourism activities planned for geoparks in Perak, says state govt"</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/06/move-to-boost-tourism-at-geoparks-in-kinta-district" target="_blank">The Sun </a>, 6 June 2021</div><div>"Move to boost tourism at geoparks in Kinta district"</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=1969097" target="_blank">Bernama </a>, 6 June 2021</div><div>Perak planning various tourism programmes for Kinta Valley Geopark</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/30066/gunung-kanthan" target="_blank">The Vibes</a> , 8 June 2021</div><div>More quarrying will wipe out Gunung Kanthan’s endangered species, cry green groups</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/30573/quarrying-fears-at-gunung-kanthan-geopark-fuel-anxiety-at-another-cultural-site?fbclid=IwAR04rfj1FQjhos_tTh1aQArGQ5MUs86OCgdAJKYaD2GK1Bu0ABdjO9wGLlc" target="_blank">The Vibes </a>, 14 June 2021</div><div>Quarrying fears at Gunung Kanthan geopark fuel anxiety at yet another cultural site</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.getaran.my/artikel/semasa/6371/gunung-kanthan-kenapa-sambung-kontrak-sebelum-dapatkan-ulasan-teknikal?fbclid=IwAR1yIGPLhwW5Np_fr88axUs8kEvapZQkDs2xo6K-zluLlbDwYh_AtzzwdLo" target="_blank">Getaran</a> , 14 June 2021</div><div>Gunung Kanthan, Kenapa Sambung Kontrak Sebelum Dapatkan Ulasan Teknikal? - Gunung Kanthan, why continue the contract before getting technical reviews?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://change.org">change.org</a></div><div>Save Sakyamuni Caves Monastery, Save Gunung Kanthan</div><div>An online petition to save the monastery</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/31871/For-or-against-temples-on-limestone-hills-Its-delicate-environmental-issue-say-experts" target="_blank">The Vibes </a>, 22 June 2021</div><div>For or against temples on limestone hills? It’s delicate environmental issue, say experts.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.sinchew.com.my/content/content_2502443.html?fbclid=IwAR2A1Z09-ckmxUrIxxbUwxx930v04ZJy7HO0WuXA1MESlgMpb_bUlYAH9Ic" target="_blank">Sin Chew</a> , 28 June 2021</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.orientaldaily.com.my/news/north/2021/06/28/420926?fbclid=IwAR3wdmDg_7uW69wFHTmM8gOtWOYsXAwaba90TB09t4C8HrRobG3KeXrFOdM" target="_blank">Oriental Daily</a> , 28 June 2021<br />The government is urged to intervene in the forced relocation of the Sakyamuni Buddha Temple in Gunung Kanthan</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://news.mongabay.com/2021/06/monks-and-wildlife-come-under-pressure-from-malaysian-cement-company/" target="_blank">Mongabay</a> , 30 June 2021</div><div>Monks and wildlife come under pressure from Malaysian cement company</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2021/07/05/cave-monastery-near-chemor-fears-eviction" target="_blank">The Star </a>, 5 July 2021</div><div>Cave monastery near Chemor fears eviction</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/325594?fbclid=IwAR3X9adHolCddmlj4pYEWdDx8J3K7h4_TWMsyE_12J7kWLvT8DApRMxMwgs" target="_blank">The Malaysian Insight</a> , 6 July 2021</div><div>Perak’s Gunung Kanthan in danger of being reduced to rubble</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/07/14/perak-mb-promises-to-look-into-calls-to-preserve-century-old-cave-temple-mo/1989893" target="_blank">Malay Mail</a> , 14 July 2021</div><div>Perak MB promises to look into calls to preserve century-old cave temple , monastery on Gunung Kanthan </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2021/07/14/make-cave-monastery-a-heritage-site-authorities-told" target="_blank">The Star </a>, 14 July 2021</div><div>Make cave monastery a heritage site, authorities told</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2021/07/16/mb-wants-to-settle-kanthan-cave-monastery-matter-amicably" target="_blank">The Star </a>, 16 July 2021</div><div>MB wants to settle Kanthan cave monastery matter amicably</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/35142/gunung-kanthan-monastery-eviction-case-slowed-by-nrp-restrictions" target="_blank">The Vibes </a>, 19 July 2021</div><div>Gunung Kanthan monastery eviction case slowed by NRP restrictions.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/38050/gunung-kanthan-needs-govt-protection-to-prevent-its-exploitation-cap?fbclid=IwAR0oddLCSE5RVVMwVgGbq6N-eTYcu-vmHwkvFNKypCqPYQT9MvFOV9Z1p-Y" target="_blank">The Vibes</a> , 12 Aug 2021</div><div>Gunung Kanthan needs govt protection to prevent its exploitation: CAP.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2021/08/13/good-reasons-to-preserve-gunung-kanthan" target="_blank">The Star</a> , 13 Aug 2021</div><div>Good reasons to preserve Gunung Kanthan (letter)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/08/15/in-kinta-valley-national-geopark-century-old-cave-monastery-fighting-for-it/1997800" target="_blank">Malay Mail</a> , 15 Aug 2021</div><div>In Kinta Valley National Geopark, century-old cave monastery fighting for its survival as quarrying activities encroach</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/159510/EDISI/Teliti-semula-kelulusan-kegiatan-kuari-di-Perak" target="_blank">Sinar Harian</a> , 4 Sept 2021</div><div>'Teliti semula kelulusan kegiatan kuari di Perak' (Review the approval of quarry activities in Perak) </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/09/04/environmental-activists-want-perak-govt-not-to-extend-land-leases-for-quarries-mining-sites-in-geoparks" target="_blank">The Star </a>, 4 Sept 2021</div><div>Environmental activists want Perak govt not to extend land leases for quarries, mining sites in geoparks</div><div><br /></div><div>Descent , June/July 2021, 280:19.</div><div>Peninsular Malaysia. Quarrying away Gunung Kanthan. </div><div>[Descent is a caving magazine published in the UK]</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://perak.chinapress.com.my/20210906/%E7%8F%A0%E5%AE%9D%E6%8B%B1%E6%A1%A5%E6%B4%9E%E6%96%B0%E7%9F%B3%E5%99%A8%E6%97%B6%E4%BB%A3%E5%A3%81%E7%94%BB-%E4%BC%B0%E8%AE%A1%E6%9C%892500%E8%87%B34000%E5%B9%B4%E5%8E%86%E5%8F%B2/" target="_blank">China Press</a> , 6 Sept 2021</div><div>The Neolithic murals in Gua Kanthan are estimated to be 2500 to 4000 years old</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2021/09/751615/lukisan-dipercayai-beribu-tahun-ditemukan-di-gua-kanthan" target="_blank">Harian Metro</a> , 6 Sept 2021</div><div>Lukisan dipercayai beribu tahun ditemukan di Gua Kanthan (Paintings believed to be thousands of years old found in Gua Kanthan)</div><div><br /></div><div>Berita Harian , 7 Sept 2021</div><div>Lukisan gua dianggar berusia 4,000 tahun ditemui</div><div><br /></div><div>Oriental Daily , 7 Sept 2021</div><div>Ancient rock paintings discovered in Gua Kanthan, but most of them are destroyed by modern graffiti</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.sinchew.com.my/20210907/%E6%B4%9E%E7%A9%B4%E5%A3%81%E7%94%BB-%E6%8B%B1%E6%A1%A5%E6%B4%9E%E7%A9%B4-%E5%8F%91%E7%8E%B0%E5%8D%83%E5%B9%B4%E5%A3%81%E7%94%BB-%E7%BA%A62500%E8%87%B34000%E5%B9%B4%E5%8E%86%E5%8F%B2%E7%94%BB/" target="_blank">Sin Chew</a> , 7 Sept 2021</div><div>Cave paintings - Gua Kanthan, thousand year old beautiful paintings, about 2500 to 4000 years of history</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://archive.org/details/location-and-rock-art-oct-2021-gk">archive.org</a> , Sept 2021<br /></div><div>Gunung Kanthan 2500 years to 4000 years Rock Art Found - Sept 2021</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2021/09/15/studies-needed-on-gua-kanthan-drawings-to-determine-origin" target="_blank">The Star</a> , 15 Sept 2021</div><div>Studies needed on Gua Kanthan drawings to determine origin</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/11/10/ipoh-high-court-suggests-cement-company-cave-temple-settle-eviction-out-of-court" target="_blank">The Star</a> , 10 Nov 2021</div><div>Ipoh High Court suggests cement company, cave temple settle eviction out of court</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>---<br /><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">I will add to this blog as new reports are published.</span></span><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-39905879892134068422021-02-27T18:36:00.003+08:002021-03-02T17:08:43.622+08:00Perak Man has a face<p>End of February 2021 there was lots in the media that Perak Man now has a face. This is thanks to 3D modelling.</p><p>Perak Man, the most complete skeleton found in Southeast Asia, was uncovered at Gua Gunung Runtuh by a team of archaeologists led by Prof Datuk Dr Zuraina Majid in 1990. The excavation revealed a 10,000–11,000-year-old primary burial site of an adult human buried in the foetal position.</p><p>News reports :</p><p><a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/02/24/what-10000-year-old-perak-man-may-have-looked-like/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=f8c214b841b60af50ccecc82367290dedb23b8f4-1614421683-0-AUgBffr848A5N1-XzTISBkDkQLstDxogdlxInGGCEXw-qLnnoveVypHE9C5EuobKK1_SVk6MMeyRunrJCjTdYyL52vZkCMKrprnjAOJ5e8OMv2kr0Lb1cu41-9b0ueTAgnAuFTF9feF2gverFFEF0AdcUg4N6mbuyBo2AzbLMQrBFBZaqrzIFzJU_gMI_FBR3p1STXftZNb1M-r_BHxtsgV-ODnnqmUN2X3gdEhOw9aEl_k6QWkG16I8tMFW8M28AF849yDkmCNQmd2xidu2Y3k5TCLPllVrs8refFNy54ydgf2Y0ElYPdkEBys5EXXw_2NEUhZmAfU0Fawr0isWH5a_EYa3RRWE6TYSJCoaNCNEpJtchgtqjXpuG2n1Ed7A6C3ZOcGoZcLrP2rfvQLFbXlhyuB8PncK8dMGCCKzLWuT7Xx4P79UKCTOSH4eIqyewZGu6diOMOxnmInQabCtcWHftJSt8lhUW8ggCQbg91zG" target="_blank">FMT </a>24 Feb "10,000-year-old Perak Man has a face now"</p><p><a href="https://www.theborneopost.com/2021/02/25/11000-year-old-perak-man-finally-has-a-face/" target="_blank">Bernama</a> 25 Feb “11,000-year-old Perak Man finally has a face”</p><p><a href="https://www.theborneopost.com/2021/02/25/11000-year-old-perak-man-finally-has-a-face/" target="_blank">Borneo Post</a> 25 Feb “11,000-year-old Perak man finally has a face”</p><p><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/02/25/11000-year-old-perak-man-now-has-a-face-thanks-to-3d-modelling" target="_blank">The Star</a> 25 Feb “Perak Man now has a face, thanks to 3D modelling”. <br />“Perak Man – the oldest human skeleton discovered in Malaysia in 1991 – now has a face. A team at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) used virtual 3D modelling techniques to produce a facial representation of the centuries-old Perak Man. The team used 21st-century technologies to determine the cognitive capabilities of the 11,000-year-old Perak Man. It also determined that he had type A2 brachymesophalangia, a medical term which literally means “short fingers”. NST 26 Feb “The 11,000-year-old Perak Man gets a face”; this article shows a A 3D virtual reconstruction of Perak Man’s facial features. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisB7dfN1JnnUuuWSTCN1eDAAVJ_mxzS96g4e2gp4lgqS1vIn-zM-f82CnXya-Vl1Fqs0JzTNwXt2whn3oZAkC0CVaiM2OUvPgjMUC3Lo2GkZcyrpCjeklK9AtgNUrwF3v7M7vz6pIaK66_/s629/pm.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="573" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisB7dfN1JnnUuuWSTCN1eDAAVJ_mxzS96g4e2gp4lgqS1vIn-zM-f82CnXya-Vl1Fqs0JzTNwXt2whn3oZAkC0CVaiM2OUvPgjMUC3Lo2GkZcyrpCjeklK9AtgNUrwF3v7M7vz6pIaK66_/w584-h640/pm.JPG" width="584" /></a></div><br /><p>Perak Man, the 11,000-year-old skeletal remains found 30 years ago in the Lenggong Valley, Perak, finally has a face. A team of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) researchers and 3D graphics expert from Brazil, Cicero Moraes, had used the 3D virtual reconstruction method to reconstruct the Perak Man’s facial features. A copy of the original skull was made using computed tomography (CT) and 3D printing.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YT4oMdLBC-w2i61NTjdFQbOYePCMn3f_0fPKylolv-aLxliTGkwjWGvUL9gKi7X_abWD16of77r_ZAS84RjRoyXiI6bEe49lPGlNo6xkZ86TcQBh0ymBMsEkbsbK1UVgXrbyO1jzBkZT/s742/fmt.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="742" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YT4oMdLBC-w2i61NTjdFQbOYePCMn3f_0fPKylolv-aLxliTGkwjWGvUL9gKi7X_abWD16of77r_ZAS84RjRoyXiI6bEe49lPGlNo6xkZ86TcQBh0ymBMsEkbsbK1UVgXrbyO1jzBkZT/w640-h418/fmt.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FMT image</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>And a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvA_x_cI2jk&feature=emb_title" target="_blank">YouTube video</a> from Bernama, "INILAH WAJAH PERAK MAN" [this is the face of Perak Man]</p><p>A scientific paper: Abdullah JY, Saidin M, Rajion ZA, Hadi H, Mohamad N, Moraes C, Abdullah JM. <i>Using 21st-century technologies to determine the cognitive capabilities of a 11,000-year-old Perak Man who had brachymesophalangia type A2.</i> Malays J Med Sci. 2021;28(1):1–8. <a href=" https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2021.28.1.1" target="_blank">Link here</a> .</p><p>*****</p><div><br /></div><div>See my other blogs on Perak Man, listed under the labels column.</div><div><br /></div><div>*****</div><div><br /></div><div>UPDATE -</div><div>Noel makes a good comment (see comments below) that the paper title claims to "Determine the Cognitive Capabilities" of the Perak Man, which of course it doesn't. </div>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-66107971671093682142021-02-26T17:55:00.000+08:002021-02-26T17:55:36.763+08:00Rumours of Japanese gold hidden in Thai caves<p> In 2001 there was a lot in the Thai media about large quantities of gold hidden in Thai caves in Kanchanaburi. A man claimed to have found 2,500 tonnes of valuable items believed to have been left behind by retreating Japanese soldiers during World War II. He had spent 5 years searching for the gold. The place is Liijia (Li Jia) cave near Kanchanaburi, close to Thailand's western border with Myanmar. The Prime Minister travelled to the cave by helicopter but wasn't allowed to go in, stopped by the man who claimed he found the treasure. He wanted an audience with the King and said he would leave the treasure to the nation.</p><p>Chaowarin had never actually seen the hoard or even been in the cave, but was basing his claims on the story of an elderly monk who used to meditate in the cave. The monk says he stumbled across a hidden hoard of 50 chests of gold, a steam train and the skeletons of Japanese soldiers who had committed hara-kiri. He later told the story to two men who submitted a report to the king. Chaowarin was citing a document to His Majesty, as he believed that in this country nobody would lie to the king.</p><p>After digging through into the cave with rock breaking equipment and finding nothing, the treasure hunt was called off. </p><p>The Thai government then faced legal action and growing ridicule for sanctioning the massive treasure hunt that left Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra red-faced. </p><p>In 1995, the same man Chaovarin had reported finding a train carriage inside a cave in Kanchanaburi, which he claimed contained Japanese treasure. He was also inspired to go on another treasure hunt by a monk who claimed he had seen visions of gold piled high in the labyrinthine cave. But Chaovarin himself admitted later that there was no truth to that story. </p><p>In July 2020 six treasure hunters succumbed to suffocation after venturing deep into the Sangkla Buri cave near Wat Lijia. They were searching for gold believed to have been buried by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War Two. The cave was then sealed. Chaovarin resumed his search in February 2001 after authorities opened the cave to his team in a bid to end speculation about a gold hoard and to prevent future treasure hunters. </p><p>***</p><p>Then in Feb 2021, there was more news about gold hidden in a Thai cave, this time deep in the mountain of Sukhothai. The <a href="https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/2071755/cave-discovery-rekindles-hidden-gold-tales" target="_blank">Bangkok Post </a>on 21 Feb 2021 "Cave discovery rekindles hidden gold tales. Japanese soldiers said to have secreted WWII stash in mountains". </p><p>This time a resident, Kliang, led a local reporter on a tour of one of the caves where WWII Japanese soldiers were believed to have built a system of chambers, which are unexplored, where they supposedly hid their treasures. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DOe3Y8hCCsecoBLYAuvXQDNUh3hZ28IMcslmgQdw9nIGjxYFnDfe7dYhMoqZq-hLOGD0fMsHbIZ7OZBbyJtrgl84-iKCRquTCObpwSjefWLQlufoc0S9ZLbE1OrEC5n1PoaqUtmhtBRQ/s620/cave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="620" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DOe3Y8hCCsecoBLYAuvXQDNUh3hZ28IMcslmgQdw9nIGjxYFnDfe7dYhMoqZq-hLOGD0fMsHbIZ7OZBbyJtrgl84-iKCRquTCObpwSjefWLQlufoc0S9ZLbE1OrEC5n1PoaqUtmhtBRQ/w640-h426/cave.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A torch light shines on an opening in one of the caves believed by locals to hold a large amount of gold left in Sukhothai by Japanese troops during World War II.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>When Kliang was young, his grandfather had told him that tonnes of gold had been offloaded by the soldiers at the Sawankalok train station and delivered in buckboards by elephants and oxen to the mountain where the gold was stashed inside pre-built chambers. The chambers were constructed inside several caves accessible through multiple entrances. The entry points to the chambers were dynamited to seal them.</p><p>A few years after the war ended, local residents witnessed about 200 Japanese soldiers trekking to the mountain. They spent weeks looking for the hidden gold but were unable to find its location. Kliang said that when he was young, he slipped into one of the interconnected caves. The Japanese troops had built shafts to let air circulate inside the caves.</p><p>A tour of a cave revealed a large open area leading to three passages. At the top of the cave there appear to be man-made openings of various sizes, which are believed to be the shafts.</p><p>"We have here evidence of chambers having been dug. Why would anyone do that if they hadn't been hiding something of value or looking for such treasure?" Kliang said.</p><p>Somchai Duenpen, deputy municipal mayor of tambon Nai Muang, said the tale about the wartime gold should not be dismissed out of hand. Also a local historian, Mr Somchai said Sukhothai lies in the route which the Japanese soldiers used to make military advances during WWII. The soldiers left the train at Sawankalok station and marched through Sukhothai's old precinct and Ban Dan Lan Hoi on their way to Mae Sot district of Tak from where they crossed into Myanmar.</p><p>Mr Somchai, who is also expert in World Heritage cultural sites, said that during the war, it made sense for the troops to have at their disposal gold which they could use to buy necessities and food. However, he insisted it was premature to assume that cave gold existed. "We should take the tale about the wartime gold with a grain of salt," Mr Somchai said.</p><div><br /></div><p><br /></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-44195665475526140092021-01-29T17:05:00.002+08:002021-01-29T17:05:51.126+08:00Thaipusam 2021<p>Thaipusam was 28 Jan 2021. But this year it was more or less cancelled, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Malaysia was under a lockdown, so the MCO (movement control order) meant there could be no celebrations. In Kedah the State government cancelled the Thaipusam public holiday. </p><p>In Kuala Lumpur the famous Thaipusam chariot was allowed to travel from the Jalan Bandar temple to Batu Caves but without a procession. </p><p>Photo from <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/01/29/a-muted-affair-this-thaipusam" target="_blank">The Star</a> -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaTfCgXLBIiebpPJTvnqfV65QoHaAQZUaQmeQahCqNbiePuoVDzi85OiyAXnTh5OtlAtxx6teDmdbYCTbaZ-__6L9fvOHzMVI-PP2et4sZqG2QAKFhr5JbItaBxM0DqDP_HTNlzbGaELI/s592/bc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="592" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaTfCgXLBIiebpPJTvnqfV65QoHaAQZUaQmeQahCqNbiePuoVDzi85OiyAXnTh5OtlAtxx6teDmdbYCTbaZ-__6L9fvOHzMVI-PP2et4sZqG2QAKFhr5JbItaBxM0DqDP_HTNlzbGaELI/w640-h368/bc.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I don't know what the entry fee is, I assume it is for a car.</p><p>---</p><p>See my <a href="http://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2007/08/thaipusam-2007-at-batu-caves.html" target="_blank">2007 blog on Thaipusam</a>.</p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-28533061035503776982021-01-15T18:47:00.001+08:002021-01-15T18:47:28.191+08:00Oldest cave art again found in Indonesia<p> Once again the oldest rock art / cave paintings have been found in Indonesia, again in Sulawesi. This time it is a 45,000 year old painting of a Sulawesi warty pig from the Maros-Pangkep area. In mid Jan 2021 there were plenty of media reports about this. </p><p><a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/3/eabd4648" target="_blank">Science Advances</a> carries the full article on 13 Jan 2021, "Oldest cave art found in Sulawesi". This is their abstract -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk72lJgB_TmWKUnEfzGqg55hHMfY_Rh5oWs59-yUlQp5ax0E66bazEIBF55MCou3SkceHhmtCLosYE8QVf7O8UBkJdJ0lV5wAqQKaV_iaIN2s_azvitBbq6-9x8dR3P3XxBGhP-uulydZx/s724/abs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="724" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk72lJgB_TmWKUnEfzGqg55hHMfY_Rh5oWs59-yUlQp5ax0E66bazEIBF55MCou3SkceHhmtCLosYE8QVf7O8UBkJdJ0lV5wAqQKaV_iaIN2s_azvitBbq6-9x8dR3P3XxBGhP-uulydZx/w640-h296/abs.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfSFJsCenhAEERhHR7V1duQj6ShKX4Vc6553vZ5cDg3pbEbZDA1BQ6SfQXyfhDoB8qhn51DP6SJddxW6jciRIQFIgPJ42ZrD_t5FKbE-kJ982yj6_XgWNkQeV2H9YmkpC4QYscxpP08Rk/s1050/F1.large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1050" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfSFJsCenhAEERhHR7V1duQj6ShKX4Vc6553vZ5cDg3pbEbZDA1BQ6SfQXyfhDoB8qhn51DP6SJddxW6jciRIQFIgPJ42ZrD_t5FKbE-kJ982yj6_XgWNkQeV2H9YmkpC4QYscxpP08Rk/w640-h414/F1.large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUS1lt2bO1lwuFJ4Cvm9ql_dNlmmlQ4bbtWbhTtnbN9RxFmDW111UEZeIla2PD2bmiu-Y2a_u0ZZZOvYQvmH-PibZKUUZxfw6p3ljGBwgQDwDG9yzxnP8EmJav-DXhGAfUMjUgqt1ni-U/s453/fig.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="453" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUS1lt2bO1lwuFJ4Cvm9ql_dNlmmlQ4bbtWbhTtnbN9RxFmDW111UEZeIla2PD2bmiu-Y2a_u0ZZZOvYQvmH-PibZKUUZxfw6p3ljGBwgQDwDG9yzxnP8EmJav-DXhGAfUMjUgqt1ni-U/w400-h231/fig.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYB7ppCiI3DjZ8CxTP-MmIJwrNFG46nXw-B4BUeo8QQqVXTY8aAK_yWeoKCQC3s_C9xBn7sxNOCpyflw5SN4We2jmncOsVfRbPl6EwY2HiftixaMn40-TDMr6ZAb9fUohAjWUlEEnBzVAK/s791/pig.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="791" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYB7ppCiI3DjZ8CxTP-MmIJwrNFG46nXw-B4BUeo8QQqVXTY8aAK_yWeoKCQC3s_C9xBn7sxNOCpyflw5SN4We2jmncOsVfRbPl6EwY2HiftixaMn40-TDMr6ZAb9fUohAjWUlEEnBzVAK/w640-h380/pig.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I was in the <a href="http://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2011/11/cave-of-hands-leang-leang-maros.html" target="_blank">Maros area in 1994</a> and saw this babi rusa in Pettakere Cave in the Leang Leang Park -<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiuioGdLTdd_L4Er2l9-YY-_KFgo_glGfBuR7Vhk7NkWxPgbmUeEk2hE4Bu4PhwvBekDXcft5A1O2pwWU3ybUESAL4_RlP5alk_kQQLmGb5fEy0ap13e4AK49AbaqRWc6cFGfZBh9AHK0/s600/Maros+pettekere+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="600" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiuioGdLTdd_L4Er2l9-YY-_KFgo_glGfBuR7Vhk7NkWxPgbmUeEk2hE4Bu4PhwvBekDXcft5A1O2pwWU3ybUESAL4_RlP5alk_kQQLmGb5fEy0ap13e4AK49AbaqRWc6cFGfZBh9AHK0/w640-h458/Maros+pettekere+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-53605479361762229822021-01-13T18:28:00.004+08:002021-01-14T22:33:59.611+08:00Gunung Kanthan Sakyamuni monastery cave<p>An article in the Perak China Press about the ongoing attempts to save the Gua Dhamma Sakyamuni monastery at Gunung Kanthan, Perak. Gunung Kanthan is being quarried and the monastery has little protection. I was invited to visit the monastery and its caves in June 2013 and have been following the progress since. Cave register number Prk 47/09.</p><p>The article was published <a href="http://perak.chinapress.com.my/?p=63627" target="_blank">13 Jan 2021</a>. It is in Chinese, this is the online English translation :</p><p><b><u>Hundred-year "Sakyamuni Sacred Rock" hopes that the government approves it to stay in the original site</u></b></p><p>In order to ensure that the "Sacred Rock of Sakyamuni" in Kanthan Mountain's century-old Buddhist temple can be kept on the original site forever, the temple hopes that the government will assist and approve the temple on the premise of maintaining the country's multi-religious, cultural and ethnic harmony. Continue to stay at the original location.</p><p>Master Fashan, a representative of the "Sacred Rock of Sakyamuni", said that since the temple has been built for a century and has been supported by many believers at home and abroad, and Kanthan Mountain has a variety of rare species, it is necessary to retain it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq7PX0yKPTyXiJ4MX1n-uszQHaJ41ffnxAdJim5SYpBGJarFKRvGfB6SYUhQ375p7J83gsE6pSNnfMBEYJHBYBtc424hsn-F1LRvRepJTjQgfh0x1f9714MUbZJ74uVns_KTJkKrodvuD/s615/1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="615" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq7PX0yKPTyXiJ4MX1n-uszQHaJ41ffnxAdJim5SYpBGJarFKRvGfB6SYUhQ375p7J83gsE6pSNnfMBEYJHBYBtc424hsn-F1LRvRepJTjQgfh0x1f9714MUbZJ74uVns_KTJkKrodvuD/w400-h361/1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Venerable Fa Shan held a press conference today with the assistance of the director of the Perstate Public Service and Complaints Center of Barisan Nasional Rawai to seek assistance from the Perstate Government.</p><p>Master Fa Shan said that as early as 2013 to 2015, someone asked the temple to be relocated, but it was approved by the then state government to keep it on the original site. Unexpectedly, the same thing happened again in December 2020. Therefore, he hopes that the state government can extend its hand. But he declined to give more details.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6ar4zpwukSyk0bzI_oTqkZfTqC32qxguBPKvffT6BfxOlq8i3KSUq4eBTxQMzlU9Qeyvr3pJsi1u0bxerejLzqmikECqX9-96MThSsOTv78pRW7bhdhVWqqwZ6_KmVxIVptzV5A2n4bu/s619/2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="619" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6ar4zpwukSyk0bzI_oTqkZfTqC32qxguBPKvffT6BfxOlq8i3KSUq4eBTxQMzlU9Qeyvr3pJsi1u0bxerejLzqmikECqX9-96MThSsOTv78pRW7bhdhVWqqwZ6_KmVxIVptzV5A2n4bu/w400-h263/2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>He said that the temple called on the government to help solve the survival crisis of the temple based on five main reasons. That is, the temple is a centuries-old cave Buddhist holy site, a spiritual sanctuary for thousands of Buddhist monks and believers, and is built in a cave. The Buddha statues are the sacred symbol of Buddhism, the world's unparalleled meditation temple, and the rare animal and plant species that exist in Kanthan Mountain are priceless treasures of the country.</p><p>Rawai later pointed out at a press conference that he would assist the "Sakyamuni Rock of Sakyamuni" to reflect its appeal to the Minister of State of Perak, Datuk Sharani, and seek assistance from the state government to keep the temple on its original site.</p><p>--</p><p>There is also a <a href="http://perak.chinapress.com.my/?jwsource=cl" target="_blank">video </a>with the article. </p><p>------</p><p><b><u>Additional articles :</u></b></p><p>And an article in <a href="https://www.ipohecho.com.my/2021/01/12/appeal-to-preserve-monastery-in-gunung-kanthan/" target="_blank">Ipoh Echo</a> on 12 Jan, "Appeal to preserve monastery in Gunung Kanthan".</p><p><a href="https://www.sinchew.com.my/content/content_2409421.html" target="_blank">Sin Chew</a> 12 Jan "Temple appeals / Sakyamuni sacred rock is facing crisis and hopes the government will keep this holy place forever".</p><p><a href="https://www.orientaldaily.com.my/news/north/2021/01/12/386322" target="_blank">Oriental Daily</a> 12 Jan (in Chinese)</p><p><a href="https://www.suaraperak.com/pengurusan-kuil-mohon-gua-gunung-kanthan-sebagai-tempat-ibadat-penganut-buddha/" target="_blank">Suaraperak</a> 12 Jan "Pengurusan kuil mohon gua Gunung Kanthan sebagai tempat ibadat penganut Buddha (The management of the temple requests the Gunung Kanthan cave as a place of worship for Buddhists) :<br />Malaysian management Dhamma Sakyakumi Caves Monastery hopes the cave area on Mount Kanthan, Chemor is recognized as a place of worship for Buddhists.<br />His representative, Dr. Chiong Sai Tin said, his party has sent an application to the state government and hopes it will be considered.<br />He said the cave area existed more than 100 years ago and became a place of meditation for thousands of Buddhists.<br />“In this cave there is a temple that is home to 15 monks.<br />"This is the second time we have applied to the state government after the first application in 2014," he told reporters here today.<br />Meanwhile, Perak Barisan Nasional Service and Complaints Center chief Mohd Ravi Abdullah said he would meet with Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad this week to discuss the issue.</p><p>---</p><p>Pan Malaysia Cement began their attack on 14 Jan. They issued a media statement in English entitled “A tragedy waiting to happen – monastery built on volatile structure prone to limestone fall”. This was published in Perak Chinapress on <a href="http://perak.chinapress.com.my/20210114/%e6%8b%b1%e6%a1%a5%e5%b1%b1%e5%9c%b0%e5%8c%ba%e6%bd%9c%e5%ad%98%e8%90%bd%e7%9f%b3%e9%a3%8e%e9%99%a9-%e9%87%8a%e8%bf%a6%e5%9c%a3%e6%b3%95%e5%b2%a9%e4%bd%9b%e5%af%ba%e5%8f%97%e4%bf%83/" target="_blank">14 Jan</a>, in an article "There is a potential risk of falling rocks in the Gongqiaoshan [Arch Bridge Mountain]. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-44783589884057474292021-01-01T21:26:00.000+08:002021-01-01T21:26:43.498+08:00Gunung Kanthan media updates 2016 - 2020<p>I haven't posted anything on this blog about Gunung Kanthan since <a href="http://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2015/03/gunung-kanthan-lafarge-media-reports.html" target="_blank">2015 </a>(apart from <a href="http://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2020/04/memorial-issue-to-tony-whitten.html" target="_blank">Tony Whitten's memorial</a>) so thought I should do an update. However I have been putting some news on my Caves of Malaysia wwww : <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/archives-2020/" target="_blank">Archives 2020</a>, <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/archives-2019/" target="_blank">Archives 2019</a>, <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/archives-2018/" target="_blank">Archives 2018</a> Geopark, and <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/archives-2016/" target="_blank">Archives 2016</a>.</p><p>11 July 2017, LafargeHolcim published an <a href="https://www.lafargeholcim.com/southeast-asia-biodiversity#ixzz4mVyHYJoW" target="_blank">article</a>, " LafargeHolcim accelerates biodiversity efforts in Southeast Asia". This is a general article, not directly related to Kanthan. </p><p>2017 Lafarge study on <a href="http://cavinglizsea.blogspot.com/2017/07/study-on-snails-in-perak.html" target="_blank">snails </a>at Kanthan.</p><p>2017 <a href="https://rimba.ngo/2017/07/18/publication-update-20-project-limestone-press-release/" target="_blank">Rimba </a>report on the snail study.</p><p><a href="https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=12999" target="_blank">Zookeys </a>report on the snail study.</p><p>In <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/archives-2019/" target="_blank">2019 </a>YTL acquired LafargeHolcim’s entire 51% stake in Lafarge Malaysia Bhd and LafargeHolcim exited the Malaysian market.</p><p>YTL website published a <a href="http://www.ytl.com/sustainability/shownews.asp?newsID=4476&category=featurednews" target="_blank">feature story</a> "Kanthan Biodiversity Initiatives" on 20 Oct 2020. It says "YTL Cement continues to play its role in the biodiversity conservation by developing rehabilitation plans at the Associated Pan Malaysia Cement (APMC) Kanthan Quarry site located in Chemor, Perak.". It sounds good but I wonder if anything is actually being done. </p><p>There is a really nice diagram about Gunung Kanthan, its quarrying, flora and fauna etc on <a href="https://coggle.it/diagram/WN5QmOqtdwABA-Jc/t/gunung-kanthan" target="_blank">Coogle</a> -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvd8HNtcolU2Pww9B_rU24KJQVaYnKTv77SU6IDXBcRiETYlKm1XE2-i6BiX0TX07gqAdwQASjp3QcQF9Ala7GJaXmKKiaN7awcqhkRQoEE0BL7846Tw3p6uxXctq_IOOtfQrR6x3XWuy/s708/cog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="708" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvd8HNtcolU2Pww9B_rU24KJQVaYnKTv77SU6IDXBcRiETYlKm1XE2-i6BiX0TX07gqAdwQASjp3QcQF9Ala7GJaXmKKiaN7awcqhkRQoEE0BL7846Tw3p6uxXctq_IOOtfQrR6x3XWuy/w640-h366/cog.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>YTL Executive Chairman's <a href="http://ytl.com/sustainability/ec-letter.asp" target="_blank">Letter to Stakeholders</a> 2020 -<br />In the section BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION says "YTL Cement and Malayan Cement Berhad have continued to invest in conservation and biodiversity initiatives. These include preserving endemic species of flora and fauna in the limestone reserve of Gunung Kanthan and other karst outcrops.".</p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-45606461669001700622020-09-25T23:02:00.000+08:002020-09-25T23:02:19.020+08:00Formation of stone forests and pinnacles<p> An article appeared in arsTechnica in Sept 2020 "Mathematicians may have unlocked the secret of how “stone forests” form".</p><p>The article mentions stone forests such as those in China's Yunnan province and the tsingy in Madagascar. There is no mention of Mulu's pinnacles. The article says "These pointed rock formations, like the famed Stone Forest in China's Yunnan Province, are the result of solids dissolving into liquids in the presence of gravity, which produces natural convective flows". And "Soluble rocks like limestone, dolomite, and gypsum are submerged under water, where the minerals slowly dissolve into the surrounding water. The heavier water then sinks under the downward pull of gravity, and the flows gradually form karst topographies. When the water recedes, the pillars and stone forests emerge."</p><p>This is a controversial subject. The mathematicians based their findings on dissolving candy in a water tank. However in the case of limestone formations, these are generally thought to be subaerial erosion features. There are a few discussions about this in the comments. Also reference to an article in an international caving <a href="https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol15/iss1/1/" target="_blank">journal</a> , "Origination of stone forests in China", which I think is more credible!</p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-44902157112465334512020-09-21T16:41:00.000+08:002020-09-21T16:41:10.143+08:00Guar Kepah skeleton, Kedah, Malaysia<p>Not cave related, but still interesting. </p><p>A human skeleton was found at the construction site of the Guar Kepah archaeological gallery in Kedah, on 17 April 2017. Guar has nothing to do with a cave, and the word doesn't translate into English. </p><p>The skeleton was sent to Florida where it was dated at 5,710 years old, which makes it Neolithic. Scientists also found the person had eaten a shellfish diet. Photo taken from <a href="https://www.theborneopost.com/2017/05/20/archaeologists-strike-gold-with-new-find/" target="_blank">Borneo Post</a> -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4RGqg2Hx8DdnP763hty62DQ13BwPvj3Rs5UzbZdZk1VzVoSX7F2tYTXBpMo2qGiD4fi4ETOGzX1OfLqcM82in_SJ3hcTrm3RPqwSHtiDiPj_ayyXbZq8a9IC7Mv70xt6RDqpcIK_wDub/s600/PG02_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4RGqg2Hx8DdnP763hty62DQ13BwPvj3Rs5UzbZdZk1VzVoSX7F2tYTXBpMo2qGiD4fi4ETOGzX1OfLqcM82in_SJ3hcTrm3RPqwSHtiDiPj_ayyXbZq8a9IC7Mv70xt6RDqpcIK_wDub/w400-h271/PG02_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>In addition to the skeleton, a 5.49 m high shell midden was found at the base of the site. This contained artefacts such as pottery, stone tools and food remnants. The finding of this midden revealed the human burial process in the Neolithic age. It is the only evidence of a burial under a shell midden in Malaysia.</p><p>The only other skeleton found of a similar age was <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/archaeology/" target="_blank">Perak Woman</a> found in Lenggong in Perak, but this one was buried in a cave. It was dated at 8000 years old. </p><p>Guar Kepah historic site is older than the Bujang Valley and Sungai Batu in Kedah, and is the only location in Peninsular Malaysia which shows evidence of ancient human settlements close to the sea.</p><p>See more on the Guar Kepah skeleton in <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/04/232088/5000-year-old-skeleton-discovered-guar-kepah-construction-site" target="_blank">NST </a>and the shell midden in <a href="https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2013/12/06/at-guar-kepah-last-of-countrys-stone-age-sites/576179" target="_blank">Malay Mail 2013</a> .</p><p><br /></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331041085484171250.post-35700715948740894032020-08-23T17:15:00.002+08:002020-08-23T17:15:47.540+08:00Langkawi Geopark status revalidated<p> Langkawi became SE Asia's first UNECSCO Geopark in 2007. See more on <a href="https://langkawigeopark.com.my/" target="_blank">Langkawi Geopark</a>.</p><p>Then in 2014 it was announced that Langkawi was in danger of losing the Geopark status due to lack of conservation measures etc, see more on <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/archives-2014/" target="_blank">my website</a>. In 2015 there was a threat to <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/archives-2015/" target="_blank">Gua Pinang</a> from quarrying by Lafarge. Also there was a lot more in the <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/archives-2015/" target="_blank">media </a>about the general threat to the Geopark status.</p><p>Then things went quiet until <a href="https://cavesofmalaysia.wordpress.com/archives-2019/" target="_blank">2019 </a>when Friends of Langkawi Geopark wanted to promote it in advance of Visit Malaysia Year 2020.</p><p>The revalidation of the Geopark status was done and this certificate covers the period 1 January 2020 until 31 December 2023.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXpcPVVPofwuDwb4fAEYh8UiwXeOOVmS57eWhQGh2S8y8STD0ro_UcCfRlFLbtoIzYvr5oxw9Rjhl8apYb1LBfSkUT51d0B7AmJY6wAAEHdts91GHT45VErtpQb8VrAVoJLFUfYPkyjy1/s1453/Langkawi+geopark+2020+renewal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="1080" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXpcPVVPofwuDwb4fAEYh8UiwXeOOVmS57eWhQGh2S8y8STD0ro_UcCfRlFLbtoIzYvr5oxw9Rjhl8apYb1LBfSkUT51d0B7AmJY6wAAEHdts91GHT45VErtpQb8VrAVoJLFUfYPkyjy1/w595-h800/Langkawi+geopark+2020+renewal.jpg" width="595" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Caving Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08059068902317526805noreply@blogger.com0