Today we were collected at 7am and were taken to Angkor Thom to focus on the amazing temple of Bayon and then on to the world's largest religious building, Angkor Wat. Both built about the time that European cathedrals of the twelfth century.
We drove up a causeway, lined by stone statues of demons and gods, many of which were decapitated by the Khmer Rouge and sold to international buyers. Now being restored.
Angkor Thom was the last great capital of the Khmer Empire. It is set over 10 square kilometres. At the heart is the temple of Bayon. It has 54 towers with the face of Avalokiteshvara on each side. What most impressed us were the bas-reliefs of life at the time and contact with other neighbouring tribes, mainly through warfare.
Then a stone's throw to the Palace.
Then on to Angkor Wat, a fifteen minute drive away. Angkor Wat is surrounded by a man-made moat which is 190m wide. The temple was built by King Suryavarman 11 (1112-52) and dedicated it to the god Vishnu.
The entry pavilion.
8-armed Vishnu
The first sight of Angkor Wat.
Exquisitely carved bas-reliefs, featuring Hindu mythological stories, on the lower level.
There is access to three floors. The lower level features open galleries of sculptured murals, the second floor has meditation spaces and the top floor was solely for the king and his senior officials and spectacular views for us today.
Then lunch, included, in a scenic restaurant close to the site.
Back to the hotel to process all that we'd seen.
A tuk-tuk ride to a local market. We stopped at Soya's favourite stall, where they sold fried crickets, silkworms and water beetles.
M&M
29/9/2014
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