SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
Another day at Angkor, another round of temples--this time we decided to follow the "grand tour" circuit, which covers a larger area and includes more sites than the "small tour" we took yesterday. And like yesterday, it was hot as blazes. Chris and I were soaked with sweat before we entered the first temple, and by the end of the day our legs were aching from walking up and down lots of steep stone staircases. Still, it was worth it for the sights, which again were really impressive. Here's a brief rundown of the places we visited:
Preah Khan: A huge temple of countless long passages and doorways (watch your step!) which once housed an entire Buddhist university. At the entrance are a couple of imposing garuda statues (mythical half-bird, half-human creatures).
Neak Pean: This is an interesting cross-shaped arrangement of five square ponds (now dry). At the center of the large pond in the middle is a circular island with a tall sanctuary tower. At one time, water could be poured from the central pond into channels that would flow into the four smaller ponds through spouts in the shape of four heads: a man's, a lion's, a horse's, and an elephant's. Walking around the place, I was really wishing they had restored this to create a swimming pool, as I really could have used a cool-down.
Ta Som: A small temple of three concentric enclosures; nothing too special, although there are a couple of big faces and a fig tree spilling over one of the outer walls.
East Mebon: This wide, square temple is set impressively high on a raised platform--it's so tall because originally it was an island in the middle of a large moat. There are cool elephant sculptures facing outward from each corner of it, and from the top there's a nice view of the surrounding rice paddies.
Pre Rup: Even taller than the last one, this mountainous structure once was the state temple at the center of a city. We arrived here just before sunset, which apparently is the right time to visit, because there were dozens of people camped out at the top facing westward (and just as many souvenir-sellers hawking T-shirts, guidebooks, and beer). Sure enough, it made for a good sunset spot, as it's above the surrounding trees, and the light from the setting sun made the brick towers glow a luminous orange.
Another day at Angkor, another round of temples--this time we decided to follow the "grand tour" circuit, which covers a larger area and includes more sites than the "small tour" we took yesterday. And like yesterday, it was hot as blazes. Chris and I were soaked with sweat before we entered the first temple, and by the end of the day our legs were aching from walking up and down lots of steep stone staircases. Still, it was worth it for the sights, which again were really impressive. Here's a brief rundown of the places we visited:
Preah Khan: A huge temple of countless long passages and doorways (watch your step!) which once housed an entire Buddhist university. At the entrance are a couple of imposing garuda statues (mythical half-bird, half-human creatures).
Neak Pean: This is an interesting cross-shaped arrangement of five square ponds (now dry). At the center of the large pond in the middle is a circular island with a tall sanctuary tower. At one time, water could be poured from the central pond into channels that would flow into the four smaller ponds through spouts in the shape of four heads: a man's, a lion's, a horse's, and an elephant's. Walking around the place, I was really wishing they had restored this to create a swimming pool, as I really could have used a cool-down.
Ta Som: A small temple of three concentric enclosures; nothing too special, although there are a couple of big faces and a fig tree spilling over one of the outer walls.
East Mebon: This wide, square temple is set impressively high on a raised platform--it's so tall because originally it was an island in the middle of a large moat. There are cool elephant sculptures facing outward from each corner of it, and from the top there's a nice view of the surrounding rice paddies.
Pre Rup: Even taller than the last one, this mountainous structure once was the state temple at the center of a city. We arrived here just before sunset, which apparently is the right time to visit, because there were dozens of people camped out at the top facing westward (and just as many souvenir-sellers hawking T-shirts, guidebooks, and beer). Sure enough, it made for a good sunset spot, as it's above the surrounding trees, and the light from the setting sun made the brick towers glow a luminous orange.
posted by John Kuge at 8:53 PM
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