In December 2005, after finishing my first-year elective in China, I went for a little wander around Southeast Asia. Although it was a bit of a whirlwind trip, I did have a three-day visit to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The sheer number of temples and pagodas in and around Angkor Wat made for an overwhelming experience; after just half a day, one temple started to blend into the next pagoda. Each with its history and religious significance, the temples could be appreciated at so many levels, whether from the perspective of history, or religion, or art, or even anthropology. Though now a Buddhist temple, Angkor Wat was originally built as a Hindu shrine.
Angkor Wat is located in the northwest of Cambodia seven kilometers north of the modern town of Siem Reap, which means “Siam Defeated” in Khmer.
The ubiquitous tuk-tuk takes tourists around Siem Reap.
View of the sunset from top of Bakheng
From the top of Bahkeng, glimpses of Angkor Wat can be had amidst the lush jungle
The west-facing Angkor Wat silhouetted against the morning sky
Busloads of tourists visit Angkor Wat each day
Bas-relief on the western gallery depicting scenes from the Hindu epic the Ramayana
Bas-relief depicting soldiers with shields
Riding on a hot air balloon is one way to see it
Another bas-relief depicting the monkey king
Two locals tending to a shrine in the inner temple
View from top of the inner temple
Children playing around the inner temple
A family rests in the inner temple
Intricate carvings adorn the façade
A saffron-robed monk taking a break
A tour guide waits for his group to return
Statues outside the south gate to Angkor Thom
The crumbling south gate to Angkor Thom
One of the many faces of the Bayon in Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom is the setting for many products in Western popular culture, from video games to novels to movies.
The moss-covered statues and shifted stone blocks add to the eerie feel of the Bayon
The slight smile of the faces on the Bayon is like the Buddhist version of the Mona Lisa.
When walking at the top level of the Bayon, one constantly sees the enigmatic smile of the Bodhisattva from every direction.
The exquisite Banteay Srey, located twenty kilometers north of Angkor, is a must see for anyone in the area.
The unworldly level of sharpness and detail in the artistry of the carving on the Banteay Srey is beautifully preserved.
An artist sketching at Ta Prohm, among the most famous of the temples at Angkor
Tomb Raider, anyone?
The root of a silk cotton tree runs along the gallery of the second enclosure.
Another part of the temple almost completely consumed by the jungle
A monk returning from the morning alms-receiving
The ubiquitous tuk-tuk takes tourists around Siem Reap.
View of the sunset from top of Bakheng
From the top of Bahkeng, glimpses of Angkor Wat can be had amidst the lush jungle
The west-facing Angkor Wat silhouetted against the morning sky
Busloads of tourists visit Angkor Wat each day
Bas-relief on the western gallery depicting scenes from the Hindu epic the Ramayana
Bas-relief depicting soldiers with shields
Riding on a hot air balloon is one way to see it
Another bas-relief depicting the monkey king
Two locals tending to a shrine in the inner temple
View from top of the inner temple
Children playing around the inner temple
A family rests in the inner temple
Intricate carvings adorn the façade
A saffron-robed monk taking a break
A tour guide waits for his group to return
Statues outside the south gate to Angkor Thom
The crumbling south gate to Angkor Thom
One of the many faces of the Bayon in Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom is the setting for many products in Western popular culture, from video games to novels to movies.
The moss-covered statues and shifted stone blocks add to the eerie feel of the Bayon
The slight smile of the faces on the Bayon is like the Buddhist version of the Mona Lisa.
When walking at the top level of the Bayon, one constantly sees the enigmatic smile of the Bodhisattva from every direction.
The exquisite Banteay Srey, located twenty kilometers north of Angkor, is a must see for anyone in the area.
The unworldly level of sharpness and detail in the artistry of the carving on the Banteay Srey is beautifully preserved.
An artist sketching at Ta Prohm, among the most famous of the temples at Angkor
Tomb Raider, anyone?
The root of a silk cotton tree runs along the gallery of the second enclosure.
Another part of the temple almost completely consumed by the jungle
A monk returning from the morning alms-receiving
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