Kompompluk

Kompompluk is a small "floating" village about 30km from Siem Reap. Andrew and I rode out there early one morning and while I was a little hesitant at first, it did not disappoint. I have been to floating markets in Thailand, but this actually was a village on stilts. Most of the houses, further out into the lake, had stilts about 10m high. It was pretty incredible. As December is approaching the dry season, the water was still pretty high but not as high as it can get. Kompompluk is on the edge of Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.

Siem Reap Night Market

Phnom Bakheng

Across the moat from Angkor Wat is Phnom Bakheng - a Hindu hill temple popular with tourists for watching the sunset over all of Angkor. I was more entertained by the massive number of people trying to take a picture (and millions of Koreans with their tripods) than the actual sunset, but in hindsight, it was pretty beautiful.



looking north - out there, that's Thailand




A lady fell down these rather treacherous steps and broke her leg...an ambulance had to get up a hill that is generally only frequented by humans and elephants.

Angkor Wat

The most famous of all the temples in Angkor, and the one that gave it it's name is Angkor Wat (which translates to "City Temple"). As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation — first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. It is the world's largest religious building. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors. Nearly 750,000 people visit Angkor Wat each year.


crossing the moat...



reflecting pond




preggo

Pre Rup

Going back in time a bit Pre Rup was built and dedicated in 961 or 962AD. It is a temple mountain of brick, laterite and sandstone. The temple’s name is a comparatively modern one meaning "turn the body" which reflects the common belief among Cambodians that funerals were conducted at the temple, with the ashes of the body being ritually rotated in different directions as the service progressed.

Ta Som

Ta Som is a small temple with only one shrime built by Jayavarman VII for his father. Left mostly unrestored but a different type of tree was growing on this one...I met a pretty cute little girl here...

Neak Pean

Neak Pean is an artificial island built on the baray (man-made lake/reservoir) at Preah Khan by Jayavarman VII in the 12th Century. According to Wikipedia...

Some historians believe that Neak Pean represents Anavatapta, a mythical lake in the Himalayas whose waters are thought to cure all illness. Neak Pean was originally designed for medical purposes, as it is one of the many hospitals that Jayavarman VII built. It is based on the ancient Hindu belief of balance. Four connected pools represent Water, Earth, Fire and Wind. The ancients believed that going into these pools would balance the elements in the bather, thus curing disease. In the middle of the four healing ponds is the central water source. There is a statue of Bahala (Bodhisattva Guan Yin transformed into a horse), as a symbol of drowning prevention.

 

Preah Khan

Preah Khan was built on the site of Jayavarman VII's victory over the invading Chams in 1191. The name translates in modern Khmer to "holy sword", but is derived from the meaning of the original — Nagara Jayasri (holy city of victory). The temple was dedicated to Jayavarman's father, and was commemorated with carvings of over 30 deities. Its wealth included gold, silver, gems and pearls - it also served as a Buddhist university with almost 100,000 attendants and servants (with 1000 teachers).

I personally was getting a little tired of temples at this point and only took a few pictures...this temple (like Ta Prohm) has also be left mostly unrestored and the trees here were phenomenal.

Monks Outside Angkor Wat + Road to Siem Reap

these motorbike drive-by shots didn't turn out half bad.

Bayon and Angkor Thom (Part 1)

Angkor Thom, built in the late 12th Century, literally means "Great City" and was the last enduring capital city of the Khmer Empire. Angkor Thom is actually a complex consisting of several Buddhist temples - my favorite of which (and without a doubt my favorite of all the temples I went to in Cambodia) is Bayon. Bayon, at the center of this city, was Jayavarman VII's state temple, with the several other major sites clustered around the Victory Square immediately to the north. I liked it so much I made David take me back a second time a few days later. These are shots from my first visit.

Motorbike + Mango Pit Stop

Being Blessed

At several of the Buddhist temples in the Angkor complex there are little old ladies or men who sit near a massive statue of Buddha and bless visitors with red bracelets and a prayer. Andrew and I were blessed and told me their prayer was all about good luck and good future.

Ta Keo

One of the tallest temples at Angkor Ta Keo is thought to be the first built entirely of sandstone around 1000AD.