Angkor At Its Best

We tread far and long on our second day in Angkor, building up to the grand finale in day three… visiting crumbling Buddhist monastic complex Banteay Kdei and progressing through seven others.

Top: Pre Rup; Bottom from left: Banteay Kdei, Ta Som, and Ta Prohn (Indian Jones)

My favourite temple on day two was Preah Khan, a huge complex, really quite a fusion in nature – Buddhism and Hindu with a door honouring each: Buddha, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, successively smaller.

Bottom left: Neak Pean; other shots: Preah Khan

Finally, on the sixth day in Siem Reap we were ready for the big ones: Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom and Bayon.

Angkor Wat is a massive temple pyramid built by Suryavarman II in early/mid 12th century and was dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishu. It is breathtaking.

Above: Angkor Wat showing three of its five lotus shaped towers, a Greek-like library, and bas-reliefs.

How many daily life activities can you figure out? (answer at the end of post :).

 Leaders in battle in the Hindu epic, the Mahahharata, that takes place in northern India.

Ankor Thom was one of the largest of all Khmer cities and was built in the late 12th century/early 13th century, remaining the capital until the 17th century according to our guide book, Ancient Angkor. Bayon was the state-temple situated in its center.

South gate entrance to Angkor Thom.

The south entrance way is lined on the left side of a moat by a row of gods and on the right by asuras (demons).Each side is carrying a seven headed naga (giant serpent). As in the Churning of the Sea of Milk, seen at Angkor Wat and elsewhere, the good guys are always on the left and the bad on the right.

Above: Bayon, some of its 37 standing tower.

Bayon’s giant stone faces are more than impressive.

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Daily activities: cockfighting, lice picking, massage, hunting, cooking, and playing chess. Easy peasy.