South Gate Angkor Thorn- depiction of a Hindu myth

Location: Devas at South Gate, Angkor Thorn, Siem Reap, Cambodia (13� 26' 35.89? N, 103� 51' 34.85? E)
Date: 13 November 2002; 11.40am
Camera: Canon G1

Angkor Thorn is within the Angkor Wat complex of Siem Reap, so to speak. It is however, not actually part of Angkor Wat- it is in fact the last capital of the Khmer kingdom. Visitors to Angkor Wat will probably not bother to make such a distinction; it is after all part of a visit to Angkor Wat. There are several distinguishing features of Angkor Thorn but the row of statutes lining the length of the entrance to the South Gate is one of the more enduring. On the left are the gods while on the right are the demons, or asuras. They are supposed to be engaged in a tug-of-war holding on to the seven-headed serpent, or naga. This is a depiction of the Hindu creation myth, Churning of the Ocean of Milk, which is also shown on the bas-relief of Angkor Wat.

Technorati Tags: Angkor Thorn,Angkor Wat,Siem Reap,Cambodia

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Angkor Wat at dawn, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Location: Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia (13� 26' 31? N, 103� 51' 35?E)
Date: 12 November 2002; 6.15am
Camera: Canon G1

To many people, the only reason to go to Cambodia is to visit the magnificent Angkor Wat complex- and I can�t blame them. Angkor Wat is indeed an incredible piece of architecture. Recent studies have postulated that the might of Angkor was due to its advance engineering technology in storing rain water in the various reservoirs (barays) for agricultural use in the drought; and its demise was due to losing this edge as a result of loose maintenance. I visited the place about 8 years ago when transport was not very developed and was quite an effort for a budget traveller like myself. Things are different now in terms of Siem Reap�s connectivity. Perhaps it is time to revisit the monument and to go further afield to places such as Kbal Spean in the Kulen Hills where Hindu deities were carved in stones in the river.

Technorati Tags: Angkor Wat,Siem Reap,baray

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Sunrise over the reservoir of Srah Srang, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Location: Srah Srang, Siem Reap, Cambodia (13� 25' 51.6? N, 103� 54' 24.15? E)
Date: 12 November 2002; 6.40am
Camera: Canon G1

Srah Srang is a baray or man-made lake within the Angkor compound. The lake is a 900 year-old reservoir, which according to recent research forms part of the reservoir complex engineered to provide irrigation to the rice fields in the Greater Angkor area. This place is now a popular site for viewing sunrise. On the west end of Srah Srang, there is a multi-tiered sandstone terrace. The terrace is gorgeously adorned with lion carvings, naga balustrades, and other Khmer carvings. The sunrise is best viewed from atop this terrace.

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The trees engulf the temple! Ta Prohm, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Location: Ta Prohm Temple, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia (13� 26' 6? N, 103� 53' 21? E)
Date: 15 November 2002; 11.40am
Camera: Canon G1

One of the most atmospheric temples within the Angkor Wat complex is the Ta Prohm temple. The temple was totally swallowed by the jungle, literally, being covered by trees and their roots twinning all over the structures after centuries of abandonment and neglect. It more or less remains the same as the conservationists decided to leave the temple in the same state as it was found after it had been stabilised. Apart from the Buddha heads that adorned most of the temples of the Angkor, the winding roots of the trees around and engulfing the temple architecture is the next most recognisable icon of the Angkor Wat temple complex. Ta Prohm also gained fame as the location of the Tomb Raiders movie.

Technorati Tags: Angkor Wat,Ta Prohm,Siem Reap

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Devatas on the walls of Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Location: Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia (13� 24' 45? N, 103� 52' 0? E)
Date: 10 November 2002; 10.40am
Camera: Canon G1

The temples of the Angkor complex are replete with over a thousand images of apsaras and devatas. Both are supposedly minor female deities; whilst the apsaras are normally in dancing pose, the devatas are more demure and in welcoming pose. These carvings can be found all over the temple complex- on base reliefs, walls, pillars and doors. Devatas are supposedly guardian spirits, custodian of the religious shrines.

Technorati Tags: apsaras,devatas

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A storm is coming, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Location: Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia (13� 26' 31? N, 103� 51' 35?E)
Date: 12 November 2002; 5.40pm
Camera: Canon G1

Together with the other tourists, I was in a hurry to leave the Angkor Wat complex as the sky is dark with threatening rain clouds. However as I came out of the temple I could see that the sun was still shining bright not too far ahead of us. Freaky weather.

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Buddha head, Bayon, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Location:Bayon Temple, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia (13� 26' 31? N, 103� 51' 35?E)
Date: 13 November 2002; 8.40am
Camera: Canon G1

Bayon is one of the most popular temple in the Angkor Wat complex. It is well-known for its series of serene, peaceful Buddha faces that most travellers associate Angkor Wat with. When I visited Angkor Wat back in 2002, there were not many airlines that fly direct to Siem Reap; the ones that flew were charging fairly high fares. So we took the overland route from Bangkok to the border at Poipet, followed by a bone-shaking, bumpy 4 hours ride on a bare-earth road to Siem Reap. Despite its fame and popularity I found Angkor Wat to be very enjoyable and very photogenic.

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