Former monk preserves the ancient craft of making palm leaf manuscripts in Cambodia

Believed to have begun in India and South-East Asia around the 5th century BCE, palm leaf manuscripts in Cambodia were made for inscribing 'Tripitaka' - also called as Preah Trai Bekdok in Khmer - which are sacred Buddhist scriptures that contain the teachings of Buddha. Photo: The Phnom Penh Post/Asia News Network

Vowing to preserve Khmer culture and tradition, a former monk who mastered the skill of inscribing palm leaf manuscripts uses the craft to earn a living in Cambodia.

At the young age of 15, Lorth Loeng, who is now 36, entered monkhood.