Angkor Archeological Park tour 11-9-07

We set off at 6am local time for the sunrise in Angkor Wat. Heard that it's marvellous.
It's pitch dark. But we saw many tourist were heading towards Angkor Park. Some was on the foot jogging for the 15 KM. Not easy, i can say

The sunrise is awesome. However the building attracted us more. We keep taking pictures of different posture.
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Angkor Archaeological Park/Siem Reap Province - The following temple ruins are located in Siem Reap Province, most within the boundaries of the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap City. The temple sites with the Angkor Archaeological Park represent the ruins of the ancient Angkorian capital cities and include most of the most famous Khmer temples including Angkor Wat and Bayon
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The following is our itinenaray of visitation to various temple following the small tour circuit (the red line in the Angkor Archeological Park map below)

Angkor Wat (Early-Mid 12th century AD)
Angkor Wat is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. It is a massive three-tiered pyramid crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65 meters from ground level. This is the Landmark of the whole Angkorian Park. Thumb UP!!


Prasat Kravan (Early 10th century AD)
East-facing brick towers containing unique bas-reliefs of Vishnu and Lakshmi rendered in brick - the only example of brick bas-reliefs in the Angkor area.

Bantey Kdei (Late 12th - Early 13th century AD)
Sprawling, largely unrestored, monastic complex in much the same style as Ta Prohm. It was originally constructed over the site of an earlier temple, and functioned as a Buddhist monastery under Jayavarman VII.The 13th century vandalism of Buddha images that is seen on many Jayavarman VII temples is quite apparent on Banteay Kdei

Ta Prohm (Mid 12th - Early 13th century AD )
Jayavarman VII temples , this quiet, sprawling monastic complex is only partially cleared of jungle overgrowth. Intentionally left partially unrestored, massive fig and silk-cotton trees grow from the towers and corridors offering some of the best ‘tree-in-temple’ photo opportunities at Angkor. Ta Prohm was dedicated to his mother. Ta Prohm was originally constructed as a Buddhist monastery and was enormously wealthy in its time, boasting of control over 3000 villages, thousands of support staff and vast stores of jewels and gold.

Boo keep saying that he is very tired, and we are not in mood to take more pictures in this fantastic temple.

Srah Srang (Mid 10th and Late 12th century AD )

Picturesque baray opposite the east entrance of Banteay Kdei. Remodeled in the 12th century as part of Jayavarman VII's massive building campaign. A multi-tiered landing platform on the west edge of the baray is adorned with naga balustrades and guardian lions. The very sparse remains of an island temple can be seen poking out of the middle of the lake during the dry season when the water is low. Srah Srang offers a pleasant, much less touristed sunrise alternative to Angkor Wat.

Ta Keo (Late 10th - Early 11th century AD)

Towering but plainly decorated temple-mountain dedicated to Shiva. Known in its time as ‘the mountain with golden peaks.’ The first to be constructed wholly of sandstone, this temple employing huge sandstone blocks. Constructed under three kings, begun by Jayavarman V as his state-temple and continued under Jayaviravarman and Suryavarman I. When Jayavarman V first constructed Ta Keo, he part ways with previous kings, constructing his state temple outside of his main capital area. Construction on Ta Keo seems to have stopped particularly early in the decoration phase as evidenced by the lack of carvings.

The local young girl TRY to sell the postcard to the tourist.

This guy agree to buy her postcard after he reached the top of the temple which is around 15m high.

The poor girl followed....

BUT

she should be in SCHOOL now!!

Chau Say Thevoda

Chau Say Tevoda is now undergoing an extensive restoration project, for the moment allowing the visitor a close up look at the restoration process.

Phnom Bakheng (Late 9th - Early 10th century AD)

The construction of this temple mountain on Phnom Bakheng (Bakheng Hill), the first major temple to be constructed in the Angkor area, marked the move of the capital of the Khmer empire from Roluos to Angkor in the late 9th century AD. It served as King Yasovarman I's state-temple at the center of his new capital city Yasodharapura. The foundation of Bakheng is carved from the existing rock edifice rather than the laterite and earthfill of most other temples. Bakheng's hilltop location makes it the most popular sunset location in the area, offering a view of the Tonle Sap Lake and a distant Angkor Wat in the jungle. (A good photo of Angkor Wat in the distance requires at least a 400mm lens.) The temple is usually overcrowded at sunset, sometimes even completely overrun by tourists. Due to overuse and damage, the main stairway up the mountain has been closed and an alternate path to the top has been opened.

Buddist Bath Ceremony

Here we joined the manthly local Buddhist ritual. The bath is said to be bringing great fortune and prosperity. The locals guy are very friendly to both of us.

GREAT EXPERIENCE!!