This was the day that Art had been looking forward to. He'd seen photos of Angkor Wat in an art history class in college back in the 60's and had always wanted to see it with his own eyes.
We started the day with a Cambodian version of pho.
Loved it!
We noticed that in all the bathrooms across southeast Asia we saw these hose and spray attachments next to the toilet.
It must be the southeast Asia version of a bidet.
I was hesitant to use it at first, but you know what? It's really rather a nifty idea.
The Sampeah is a Cambodian greeting or a way of showing respect. While performing the sampeah, the person places his palms together in a prayer-like fashion while bowing slightly. The higher the hands and the lower the bow, the more respect is shown. It is a sign of respect and politeness. -- Wikipedia
Souann demonstrated how to do the sampeah correctly. He laughingly said that when men greeted their wives, they needed to put their hands at their foreheads just as Cambodians do when they pray.
We saw this painting in the hotel which showed what Angkor Wat must have looked like centuries ago.
Angkor Wat was first a Hindu, then subsequently a Buddhist, temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world. The temple was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura, present-day Angkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. Breaking from the Shaivism tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation. --Wikipedia
We had to have our photos taken for the visitor's pass to enter Angkor Wat.
Souann:
Vishnu is the many armed Hindu god. More arms denoted more power.
Souann:
Angkor Wat is a world heritage site. The size of the temple complex was astonishing!
Symbolism
Angkor Wat is a miniature replica of the universe in stone and represents an earthly model of the cosmic world. The central tower rises from the center of the monument symbolizing the mythical mountain, Meru, situated at the center of the universe. Its five towers correspond to the peaks of Meru. The outer wall corresponds to the mountains at the edge of the world, and the surrounding moat the oceans beyond.
--Tourism of Cambodia
We were able to see some paint still clinging to the intricate designs on the pillars. I believe this was supposed to be a pond or pool area.
You'd think I'd learned not to climb up high temples after I froze on top of Chichen Itza in Mexico. But no... I did it again anyway and made it down safely.
The view from above was pretty darn spectacular!
Wat is the Khmer name for temple (the French spelling is "vat "), which was probably added to "Angkor "when it became a Theravada Buddhist monument, most likely in the sixteenth century.
After 1432 when the capital moved to Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat was cared for by Buddhist monks.
--Tourism of Cambodia
They are estimating that it took about 30 years to build this temple complex.
The statues on the right are definitely Buddhist.
Believe me; I was happy to have my solar umbrella!
We stopped at the Wat Thmey Killing Fields Memorial. Souann told us that his 13 year old brother was killed by Pol Pot's soldiers while his mother was made to watch and forced not to cry.
Souann said he was amazed at the stamina of our tour group. We were eager to see everything we could and to learn.
Seeing the skulls of Pol Pot's victims and photos of his evil brought home proof of man's continuing inhumanity.
We were feeling pretty somber when we went to lunch, but it was very delicious and looked more like French cuisine.
Much as I like watermelon, I did appreciate the strawberry ice cream.
Prasat Bayon
The Prasat Bayon is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambodia. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, the Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman's capital, Angkor Thom. Following Jayavarman's death, it was modified and augmented by later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences.
The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak.
-- Wikipedia
Ta Prohm
The Ta Prohm was what we were really looking forward to seeing. This is the temple that was hidden away in the jungle.
Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara.
Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor's most popular temples with visitors. UNESCO inscribed Ta Prohm on the World Heritage List in 1992. Today, it is one of the most visited complexes in Cambodia’s Angkor region. --Wikipedia
It seemed as though the huge roots were attempting to once more reclaim the temple.
The size of the trees was really awesome!
Souann showed us how tapping your chest within this chamber caused a loud echoing thumping sound that reverberated against the walls.
I was expecting Indiana Jones to jump out any minute and run through the complex.
Our dinner that evening was a western style outdoor buffet with a Cambodian dance program.
We enjoyed our day and our evening, but was feeling sad knowing we would be saying good-bye to two couples and our tour representative, Jane the following day. They would not be going on to Thailand with us.
Loved it!
We noticed that in all the bathrooms across southeast Asia we saw these hose and spray attachments next to the toilet.
It must be the southeast Asia version of a bidet.
I was hesitant to use it at first, but you know what? It's really rather a nifty idea.
The Sampeah is a Cambodian greeting or a way of showing respect. While performing the sampeah, the person places his palms together in a prayer-like fashion while bowing slightly. The higher the hands and the lower the bow, the more respect is shown. It is a sign of respect and politeness. -- Wikipedia
Souann demonstrated how to do the sampeah correctly. He laughingly said that when men greeted their wives, they needed to put their hands at their foreheads just as Cambodians do when they pray.
We saw this painting in the hotel which showed what Angkor Wat must have looked like centuries ago.
Angkor Wat was first a Hindu, then subsequently a Buddhist, temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world. The temple was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura, present-day Angkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. Breaking from the Shaivism tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation. --Wikipedia
We had to have our photos taken for the visitor's pass to enter Angkor Wat.
Souann:
- Angkor Wat has 5 towers and is surrounded by this 5.5 kilometer moat that has never dried out since the 12th century.
Vishnu is the many armed Hindu god. More arms denoted more power.
Souann:
- Elephants were used to help move the stone blocks for the temple.
- No concrete was used. The stones were carved as male and female to fuse them together.
Angkor Wat is a world heritage site. The size of the temple complex was astonishing!
Angkor Wat is a miniature replica of the universe in stone and represents an earthly model of the cosmic world. The central tower rises from the center of the monument symbolizing the mythical mountain, Meru, situated at the center of the universe. Its five towers correspond to the peaks of Meru. The outer wall corresponds to the mountains at the edge of the world, and the surrounding moat the oceans beyond.
--Tourism of Cambodia
The view from above was pretty darn spectacular!
Wat is the Khmer name for temple (the French spelling is "vat "), which was probably added to "Angkor "when it became a Theravada Buddhist monument, most likely in the sixteenth century.
After 1432 when the capital moved to Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat was cared for by Buddhist monks.
--Tourism of Cambodia
The statues on the right are definitely Buddhist.
Believe me; I was happy to have my solar umbrella!
Souann said he was amazed at the stamina of our tour group. We were eager to see everything we could and to learn.
Seeing the skulls of Pol Pot's victims and photos of his evil brought home proof of man's continuing inhumanity.
We were feeling pretty somber when we went to lunch, but it was very delicious and looked more like French cuisine.
Much as I like watermelon, I did appreciate the strawberry ice cream.
Prasat Bayon
The Prasat Bayon is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambodia. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, the Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman's capital, Angkor Thom. Following Jayavarman's death, it was modified and augmented by later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences.
The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak.
-- Wikipedia
The Ta Prohm was what we were really looking forward to seeing. This is the temple that was hidden away in the jungle.
Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara.
Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor's most popular temples with visitors. UNESCO inscribed Ta Prohm on the World Heritage List in 1992. Today, it is one of the most visited complexes in Cambodia’s Angkor region. --Wikipedia
It seemed as though the huge roots were attempting to once more reclaim the temple.
I was expecting Indiana Jones to jump out any minute and run through the complex.
We enjoyed our day and our evening, but was feeling sad knowing we would be saying good-bye to two couples and our tour representative, Jane the following day. They would not be going on to Thailand with us.
