Ruins Second Day

Postcards from:

Big Bear Lake California
Bangkok Thailand
Calcutta India
Angkor Wat Cambodia
Aranyaprathet border
Angkor Wat First Day
Angkor Wat Second Day
Angkor Wat Third Day
Bangkok Thailand
Big Bear Lake California

ANGKOR WAT: Direction sign at the entrance to the archaeological park. We go right to the start of the "Grand Tour.

ANGKOR WAT: Sculptures along the sides of the walkway leading into the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: One of the main temple towers at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex: typical of the architectural design throughout the archeological park.

ANGKOR WAT: Bas relief sculpture on a wall in one of the structures at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: This unusual construction seems to include a drainage spout: at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Another gate into the Bayon Temple complex..

ANGKOR WAT: Entrance to the Bayon Temple complex..

ANGKOR WAT: Monks rest next to the entrance to the Bayon Temple complex..

ANGKOR WAT: One of the main temple towers at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex: typical of the architectural design throughout the archeological park.

ANGKOR WAT: Entrance to the Bayon Temple complex..

ANGKOR WAT: A vendor plays with her baby along the entrance path at the Bayon Temple complex..

ANGKOR WAT: Bas relief sculpture on a wall in one of the structures at the Bayon Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Vendors hound tourists as they leave the only inside seating cafe near the main entrance to the Angkor Wat Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Children selling postcards hound tourists as they leave the only inside seating cafe near the main entrance to the Angkor Wat Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Vendors hound tourists as they leave the only inside seating cafe near the main entrance to the Angkor Wat Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Entrance to Bayon Temple guarded by two giant serpents.

ANGKOR WAT: Iconic view of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Close up view of Bayon Temple sculpture.

ANGKOR WAT: Inside the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Details of structures seen at the top of the stairs up Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: View of warning sign at Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Garuda guard the entrance to Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: One of the many sculptures of elephants around the grounds of the Bayon Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Iconic view of Bayon Temple from outside the grounds.

ANGKOR WAT: View of Bayon Temple from inside the structure.

ANGKOR WAT: One of the towers at Bayon Temple as seen from inside the structure.

ANGKOR WAT: View of Bayon Temple from outside the structure.

ANGKOR WAT: Structural techniques used in the construction of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Artist sketching one of the sculptures of elephants around the grounds of the Bayon Temple complex.

See all five photo albums for Angkor Wat:

Siem Reap - Ruins First day - Ruins Second Day
Ruins Third day - Aranyaprathet border town

24 December 2006

Holiday Greetings from Angkor Wat,

SECOND DAY PHOTOS PAGE

Siam Reap is the gateway to the fabulous ruins of Angkor Wat. This is my second visit, the first being back in 2002. I took so many photographs this time I've decided to break up the presentation into several web pages... as well as providing access to my Kodakgallery albums which display the photos as a full screen slide show.

After leaving Kolkata India, Bangkok provided a three week refuge from the Indian misadventure. Eventually, the new 30 day Thailand visa again approached expiration and I jumped over to Cambodia for a return visit to the fabulous Angkor Wat archaeological park previously visited some four years earlier. I love ruins.

Today is Christmas and despite the presence of very few Christians in the country, music and decorations insure American visitors will not be deprived of the holiday spirit. My hotel has an elaborately decorated ten foot tall tree in the lobby and traditional Christmas music is piped into all public areas of the hotel every morning and evening. I think they only have one XMas CD as the selections often repeat... though I suspect few of the indigenous folk notice - most speak only Khmer. Around the hotels one hears plenty of English, however. Parents must teach newborns "hello papa" as their first words. Tiny tots commonly stare and pronounce the greeting, awkwardly managing feeble hand gestures resembling a "wave bye-bye." On the streets I am never far from someone yelling: "Sir! Want Tuktuk?" This is the high season, but there must be at least ten times as many of these motorcycle pulled carts as are needed by tourists and drivers are anxious to find someone willing to pay $10 for a full day of their services. Most foreign visitors arrive with a package tour which provides deluxe air conditioned buses. It is only the young backpackers and other intrepid solo travelers like me that must make independent arrangements. The manager of my four star $70 Somadevi Angkor Hotel, Ms. Revira says she rarely sees independent travelers in her hotel. So unusual is my presence she invited me to be her guest at the lavish Christmas eve party around the pool last night. So much for my lackadaisical efforts to stay on a diet!

Today I again walked-climbed the extensively restored ruins of the vast Angkor Wat archaeological park. Hindus built the temples during a period spanning four centuries. Starting around 800CE a series of powerful rulers undertook massive building campaigns rivaling those of the Egyptians or the First Emperor of China. The dominant religion of the region shifted back and forth between Hinduism and Buddhism. Originally created as Hindu temples, the Buddhists co-opted the structures and added their own statues of revered monks and the Buddha... only to have most of them destroyed or defaced by later Hindu conquerors. Today, broken relics of grander times are protected by orange robed Buddhist monks and white clad nuns. Here and there throughout the monument statues are draped in orange, yellow and gold cloth, burning incense nearby adds to the exotic atmosphere and is a reminder that this is first and foremost a spiritual place for many. Spending a major Christian holiday walking Hindu temples in a predominantly Buddhist country is a heady experience.

The ancient architects liked steep inclines and tall structures so some of the stairs to the top of the tallest temples have steps ascending at a 70 degree angle. Many of the steps are less than six inches deep and rise 18 inches each step. On my last climb and descent I suffered a lactic acid attack and my leg muscles threatened to collapse. Needless to say, I slowed the pace down the steep incline and steadied myself with precarious handholds along the occasional wall edges. It is now 36 hours later and it still hurts to stand up! The tuktuk wagon bounced along the uneven roads between temples spanking me all the while. Last night crawling into bed became a test of my ability to tolerate pain as I must surely have badly bruised the tailbone judging by the tenderness.

I trust that your holidays are full of joy and that you can look forward to a happy and eventful new year.

Peace,

Fred Bellomy

Photos taken during December 2006 at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

ANGKOR WAT: Main structures at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Tourist shops at the entrance to the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Spider webs of an unusual design cover the walls around the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Victims of land mine explosions form a traditional musical group along the entrance to the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: One of the structures at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: One of the main temple towers at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex: typical of the architectural design throughout the archeological park.

ANGKOR WAT: Around the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Bas-relief sculptures on the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Entrance to Bayon Temple guarded by two giant serpents.

ANGKOR WAT: Iconic view of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Close up view of Bayon Temple sculpture.

ANGKOR WAT: Inside the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Another view of the towers on the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Wandering the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Another view of the steep stairs I struggled up on the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: A view from the top of the stairs up Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Some of the sculptures which may be seen at the top of the stairs up Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Another view from the top of the stairs up Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Another view from the top of the stairs of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: View of Bayon Temple from outside the grounds.

ANGKOR WAT: View of Bayon Temple from inside the structure.

ANGKOR WAT: A pair of Garuda demons guard the entrance to Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Details of decorations over a door into Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Sections of the ruins at Bayon Temple are in pretty bad shape.

ANGKOR WAT: One of the many sculptures of elephants around the grounds of the Bayon Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Close up photo of the weathered stone blocks used to construct the walls around the Bayon Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Sections of the ruins at Bayon Temple are in pretty bad shape.

ANGKOR WAT: One of the many sculptures of elephants around the grounds of the Bayon Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: My Tuktuk driver stands next to a sign announcing the entrance to the archaeological park.

ANGKOR WAT: Seven headed serpent at the entrance to the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: One of the structures at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Restoration work is underway at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: A Buddhist shrine inside one of the structures at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Bas relief sculpture on a wall in one of the structures at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: My Tuktuk driver's back as we enter the archeological park.

ANGKOR WAT: Sign marking the entrance to the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Swimming pool at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: One of the structures at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: A Buddhist shrine inside one of the structures at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Looking down one of the aligned doorways at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex is typical of the architectural design.

ANGKOR WAT: Looking into one of the aligned doorways at the Banteay Kdei Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Vendors hound tourists as they leave the only inside seating cafe near the main entrance to the Angkor Wat Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: Around on the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Garuda creatures guard the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Iconic view of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Shrine outside the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Towers on the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: I climbed these stairs on the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: One of the numerous children helping their parents sell stuff to the tourists on the grounds of Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Details of structures seen at the top of the stairs up Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: More details of structures seen at the top of the stairs up Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: Notice the broken section of the sculpture in the upper right hand corner of the photo. The mating part fell to the floor in the next photo: the Bayon Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: This is the mating part of the incomplete sculpture in the previous photo. Notice the matching dowel holes: the Bayon Temple complex.

ANGKOR WAT: More details of structures seen at the top of the stairs up Bayon Temple.

ANGKOR WAT: View of Bayon Temple from inside the structure.

ANGKOR WAT: View of Bayon Temple from outside the structure.

ANGKOR WAT: View of Bayon Temple sculptures.

ANGKOR WAT: View of Bayon Temple from outside the structure.

See all five photo albums for Angkor Wat:

Siem Reap - Ruins First day - Ruins Second Day
Ruins Third day - Aranyaprathet border town

Reference photo: author
August 2002

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