2019’s top Instagram posts for Southeast Asian Archaeology

If you’re not aware, I run an Instagram account along the theme of Southeast Asian Archaeology which I update (almost) every day. Most of the pictures are from my collection, although I occasionally feature pictures from other accounts as well. These were the most ‘liked’ posts from 2019:

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Remains of the sanctuary from Dong Duong, c. 9-10th century. On display at the @museum_of_cham_sculpture #vietnam #danang #quangnam #cham #southeastasianarchaeology #dongduong #museumofchamsculpture . . . . . #archaeology #archeology #vietnamarchaeology #sandstone #sculpture #champa #temple #ruin #museum #vietnamculture #culturalheritage #southeastasia #vietnamtourism #travelblogger #museumlover #vietnamhistory #danangtravel #ancient

A post shared by Southeast Asian Archaeology (@southeastasianarchaeology) on Feb 11, 2019 at 5:53am PST

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The Fine Arts Department in Thailand announced a new policy earlier this month about banning the use of styrofoam boxes in all its historical parks such as the Sukhothai Historical Park #thailand #sukhothai #unescoworldheritage #southeastasianarchaeology #environmentallyfriendly #sustainabletourism #watmahathat #สุโขทัย #watmahathatsukhothai #วัดมหาธาตุ . . https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2019/02/20/thai-historical-parks-to-be-free-of-styrofoam/ . . . #archaeology #archeology #ancientthailand #southeastasia #temple #ruins #buddhism #stupa #sukhothaihistoricalpark #thailandarchaeology #thailandtravel #thailand #thailand_ig #thailand_allshots

A post shared by Southeast Asian Archaeology (@southeastasianarchaeology) on Feb 21, 2019 at 6:06am PST

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A bit of good news for animal lovers, the Apsara Authority announced that it would be ceasing elephant rides in Angkor starting from next year, and the elephants currently in service will be sent to a sanctuary outside of Angkor. Why are elephant rides a bad thing? It's an animal welfare issue – despite their size, elephants are not meant to carry loads on their backs (which is why you see most riders sitting on their shoulders or necks). Carrying loads of tourists on their backs every day is really bad for their health! In 2016 an elephant in Angkor even died from exhaution because of the head and the strain of carrying tourists around. Keep this in mind the next time you are in Southeast Asia and are offered the opportunity to ride an elephant. #sustainabletourism #cambodia #siemreap #eastmebon #eastmebontemple #angkor #angkortemples #elephant #elephant #saynotoelephantrides #cambodiaarchaeology #southeastasianarchaeology . . . . . #architecturelovers #sculpture #unescoworldheritage #unescoworldheritagesite #responsibletourism #responsibletravel #southeastasia #culturalheritage #archaeology #archeology #archaeologylovers #travelcambodia #travelgram #travelblogger #siemreapcambodia #pyramid

A post shared by Southeast Asian Archaeology (@southeastasianarchaeology) on Nov 23, 2019 at 6:02am PST

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Buddha in front of the main stupa of Wat Maha That in Ayutthaya. Also, me on a Sunday night, trying to get ready for the upcoming work week. #thailand #ayutthaya #watmahathat #mondayblues #weekend #buddha #southeastasianarchaeology . . . . . #archaeology #archeology #ruins #temple #thailandtravel #tourismthailand #อยุธยา #วัดมหาธาตุ #visitthailand #unesco #worldheritage #ayutthayatrip #ayutthayatrip #culturalheritage #thaiculture #southeastasia #southeastasiatrip #sculpture #monument #buddhism #culturetrip

A post shared by Southeast Asian Archaeology (@southeastasianarchaeology) on Feb 10, 2019 at 5:35am PST

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Bas-relief from the Bayon depicting a leisurely boat ride – a fitting post for the weekend! #happyweekend #bayon #cambodia #siemreap #basrelief #southeastasianarchaeology #carving #angkor #angkorthom . . . . . #archaeology #archeology #boat #sailing #river #cambodiaarchaeology #angkorwat #ancientlifestyles #canoe #lotus #southeastasia #khmer #sailing #tonlesap #visitcambodia #tourismcambodia

A post shared by Southeast Asian Archaeology (@southeastasianarchaeology) on Feb 9, 2019 at 5:58am PST

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Repost by @shomteoh: the majestic Amanda Temple in Bagan #southeastasianarchaeology #bagan #myanmar #anandatemple #repostgram #burma . . . . . #archaeology #archeology #buddhism #temple #myanmararchaeology #buddhist #oldbagan #baganmyanmar #myanmartourism #bagantour #ancientruins #architecture #southeastasia #culturalheritage

A post shared by Southeast Asian Archaeology (@southeastasianarchaeology) on Mar 7, 2019 at 6:04am PST

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Repost from @surotohari: Stencil of a boomerang in Papua, unsurprisingly next door to Australia. The rock art in this part of Indonesia suggests some sort of contact between the peoples here and the indigenous Australians during prehistory #indonesia #boomerang #rockart #fakfak #westpapua #southeastasianarchaeology #australia #culturalexchange . . . . . #archaeology #archeology #handstencil #rockpainting #cavepainting #gambarcadas #indonesianarchaeology #culturalheritage #prehistory #austronesian #indigenouspeople #indigenousaustralia #visitpapua #visitindonesia #indonesia_photography #indonesiatourism #papua #papuabarat

A post shared by Southeast Asian Archaeology (@southeastasianarchaeology) on Mar 6, 2019 at 5:38am PST

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Congratulations to Bagan, inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2019! #myanmar #bagan #worldheritage #southeastasianarchaeology #unesco #worldheritagesite #burma #ruins #temples #buddhism #visitmyanmar #visitbagan

A post shared by Southeast Asian Archaeology (@southeastasianarchaeology) on Jul 6, 2019 at 5:29am PDT

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In the forest of Phnom Kulen is a site called Srah Damrei, a unique 8-9th century site with an elephant, a couple of lions and other animals carved out of the sandstone. The elephant stands about 15 feet tall – pretty much life-sized! #cambodia #phnomkulen #southeastasianarchaeology #srahdamrei #elephant #sandstone #carving #lion #siemreap #angkor . . . . . #archaeology #archeology #cambodiaarchaeology #kulenmountain #phnomkulennationalpark #southeastasia #angkorwat #khmer #megalith #megalithicmarvels #visitcambodia #tourismcambodia #archaeologicalsite #ancienthistory #jayavarmanii #travelphotography #travelblogger #cambodiatrip #beautifulcambodia #southeastasiatrip

A post shared by Southeast Asian Archaeology (@southeastasianarchaeology) on Feb 6, 2019 at 5:39am PST

You can follow me on Instagram here. Perhaps next year I will revive the SEAArch Photo Festival and feature posts on the Instagram. What do you think?