Angkor part 1

 In early July we stayed in Siem Reap for a few weeks and took in the temples. For me it was one of those experiences where you are confronted with how your own life is just one of trillions of stories in the book of history. To see buildings circa 801-1431 and to imagine how these people lived through the inscriptions and pictorial carvings on the walls was humbling. Not to mention the exceptional craftspersonship of the carvings...intricate, whimsical, humorous, fragile, robust, personal and exceptionally clever. Jed and I had a 7 day pass to the Angkor Park and organised a guided tour for 2 of those days. 


David was our guide, he spoke English well and drove us in his air-conditioned car and led us around the temples. On one day we saw 16 temples from 6am to 6pm! Although Angkor Wat is most famous, it actually has the least wow factor compared to all the temples that we saw afterwards.It was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman and is both Hindu and Buddhist. The temple was constructed as place for buddhist pilgrims all over Asia, was completed in 30 years and is the world's largest religious building. The outer walls of the complex are 1500 by 1300 metres with a 200 metre wide moat all around. 

Lotus motif at Angkor Wat

Lotus shaped towers of Angkor Wat, 5 in all, the tallest being 65 metres

Carving outer gallery wall, Angkor Wat

Water lilies in the Angkor Wat moat

Angkor Wat outer Gallery

Angkor Wat at sunrise

Angkor Wat at sunrise

If you thought Angkor Wat was large, Angkor Thom (meaning big) is a ruined citadel 9 square kilometres in size. It is enclosed by a mostly dry moat and is thought to have housed 100 000 people. People used to live in thatched and tiled houses and tended to rice fields outside the grounds.

The South Gate into Angkor Thom, the next kingdom after the Angkor Wat Complex. There is a northern southern, western and 2 eastern gates, all the same. 

Right in centre of the grounds is Bayon, the temple composed of erratic towers with 216 carved stone faces. Scholars believe the faces bear resemblance to that of king Jayavarman. The lower outer gallery walls are covered with stories of everyday activities, cock fighting, fishing, a woman giving birth, circus jugglers, elephants being ridden and people being thrown to crocodiles. 

Bayon, outer gallery

Detail of the outer carved wall of Bayon

Faces of Bayon

Ta Prohm- Tomb Raider temple

View from the top

Elephants guarding each corner

Apsara with feet on the side as the step were too shallow for feet to face forward. This creates humility when climbing the steps to the inner sanctums of the temple

Moss covered temple stones in the Angkor Thom complex

Carvings in "The Terrace of the Leper King"