Siem Reap and Angkor WatFeb 3, 2012
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Heart to heart
Amazing bas-reliefs
Ta Prohm
| Third day in Siem Reap, the first two spent in the ancient temples around Angkor Wat. Absolutely amazing! Built in the 9th - 12th centuries, the understanding of architecture with cantelouvred ceilings, the bas-relief carvings into sandstone of intricate scenes of battles/day life/myths and the sculptures of buddhas and animal figures, all are mind-blowing. Lots of photos here. Perhaps too many, but for us, a memory of temples and Khmer history. The first day we had a guide, Dom - very knowledgeable but hard work to follow his English. He took us to Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and the complex of Angkor Thom. We were with the masses - tour buses galore and it was a challenge to feel the old spirits communing with us. We've put a few photos in but they don't do the temples justice. Second day, the alarm went off at 4 a.m. so that our tuk-tuk driver, Ouen (pronounced Ian) could take us (and our rented bikes) to see the sunrise at one of the remote temples, Pre Rup. At the largest temple, Angkor Wat, 1000 people gather to watch the sunrise. In fact, we could hear the drumming at Pre Rup, where we were the only people there. It was magical being there by ourselves, watching the dawn on top of a structure that's around 1000 years old, where you could feel the history and spirits of those who've come before. After the sunrise, we biked to Ta Nei, a remote, seldom visited, late 12th century temple. Today, we spent most of the day at cooking class, learning to cook a few Khmer specialties. Shrimp salad rolls, mango salad, seafood curry and a sambal curry (no coconut milk). Khmer dishes are usually less spicy and use less coconut cream. There were 7 of us in the class, the rest were all in their twenties, and we all enjoyed each others' company. We think we can get all of the ingredients in Vancouver so watch out! |
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