How often our point of reference for a historical site is based on seeing it for the first time on film!
Today's temple tour (the part we wimped out on yesterday after the sunrise excursion) includes Angkor Thom (doesn't quite have the ring of Angkor Wat) which makes AW look like a warm-up exercise in temple building. On the map it's about six times the size of AW and in design, it knocks AW right out of its waterlily-filled moat.
The centerpiece of Angkor Thom is Bayoun Temple (aka Temple of Tomb Raider fame). It's in far better shape than AW and it's been suggested that it was built almost entirely of sandstone, rather than the laterite (laterine?) used in many of the temples which is not not nearly as durable.
Our first view of Bayoun . . .
This temple is undergoing extensive restoration/rehabilitation; it's the first time we've seen actual cranes on site (that's the white angled arm on the outside of the wall) .
This temple is overwhelmingly Buddhist - I think I heard a guide describe it as 'the temple of a thousand Buddhas'. An exaggeration no doubt but Buddha's smiling face is everywhere we look, sometimes on four sides of a pedestal facing all four directions.
We had to stop and take a photo with this Buddha profile.
This may be the very best set of Buddhas we saw.
And the ever-present, ever-ready to reclaim the jungle, banyan trees.
And Tolkien trees adorn most of the walls . . .
We leave, looking through yet another passageway, ornamented with the work of craftsmen long gone.
Today's temple tour (the part we wimped out on yesterday after the sunrise excursion) includes Angkor Thom (doesn't quite have the ring of Angkor Wat) which makes AW look like a warm-up exercise in temple building. On the map it's about six times the size of AW and in design, it knocks AW right out of its waterlily-filled moat.
The centerpiece of Angkor Thom is Bayoun Temple (aka Temple of Tomb Raider fame). It's in far better shape than AW and it's been suggested that it was built almost entirely of sandstone, rather than the laterite (laterine?) used in many of the temples which is not not nearly as durable.
Our first view of Bayoun . . .
This temple is undergoing extensive restoration/rehabilitation; it's the first time we've seen actual cranes on site (that's the white angled arm on the outside of the wall) .
This temple is overwhelmingly Buddhist - I think I heard a guide describe it as 'the temple of a thousand Buddhas'. An exaggeration no doubt but Buddha's smiling face is everywhere we look, sometimes on four sides of a pedestal facing all four directions.
We had to stop and take a photo with this Buddha profile.
This may be the very best set of Buddhas we saw.
This temple was full of surprises!
More photos of the incredible interior . . .
And this one thanks to a lovely Chinese couple for whom I took a picture of them!
On to the next temple in Angkor Thom!
Definitely a change in architectural style . . .
We take a pass on the climb and head around the side . . . and find one of many wee passageways into the inner courtyards of every temple. It looks like every one of these doors through the perimeter walls could accommodate one elephant and rider. Yes, the opening is that big and these walls are amazing.
And the ever-present, ever-ready to reclaim the jungle, banyan trees.
And a temple that is distinctly Mayan in structure . . . on our map it's labeled the Royal Palace (quite a climb to get to it!).
And the Terrace of the Leper King . . . recently determined to be a crematory/burial site.
Dragon statuary adorn many of the temple approaches . . .
And Tolkien trees adorn most of the walls . . .
We emerge from our walk through the temples in the woods and find a living, active Buddhist shrine.
And our very last temple on this incredible tour, Ta Prohm.
Restoration of Ta Prohm has been jointly undertaken with the Government of India - a number of 'before' and 'after' photos show the results of their efforts. One was of this walkway - an 'after'.
This ruler was undoubtedly Hindu - this relief could have come right out of one of the temples we saw in India.
But the most spectacular feature of this temple isn't man-made, it's nature, reclaiming the jungle. These banyan trees could be hundreds of years old.
I swear once I turned my back they started growing and stopped as soon as I turned around and looked at them again. Definitely not on my list of trees I want to hug!
Some of the root systems looked like someone had upended a giant bowl of spaghetti and then had it flash frozen.
Ta Prohm is a much, much smaller temple with a series of unfolding chambers.
We leave, looking through yet another passageway, ornamented with the work of craftsmen long gone.
I wonder if we will ever know the whole story of Angkor Wat. It is deservedly one of the Seven Wonders of the World , , ,
Thanks for sharing! It's fun to live vicariously through your "excellent adventure," and I love hearing the wit in your writing. Miss you!
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