Angkor Thom (Big Angkor) is a 3km squared walled and
moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian empire.
Bayon was the center of the city. There are five etrances (gates) to
the city. Each gate is crowned with 4 giant faces.
|
|
|
|
|
|
We were entering
Angkor Thom |
 |
 |
|
The other
gates looked exactly the same. |
|
| |
|
| BAPHUON |
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
| The South Gate
is often the first stop of any tour in this area. |
 |
|
The Baphuon is
huge temple-mountain the heart of Angkor Thom. The main temple
area is undergoing extensive restoration. |
|
 |
|
Baphuon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Phimeanakas is an impressive laterite and sandstohne pyramid. The lack
of carvings leaves it uninteresting, but it is tallest scalable temple
in Angkor Thom, providing a nice view from the top. The phimeanakas
served as the king's temple. Legend has it that the golden tower
crowned the temple and was inhabited by a serpant, which would
transform into a woman. The kings of Angkor required to make love with
the serpent every night, lest disaster befall him or the kingdom. |
 |
|
scaling up was
tedious. I bang my head as I reached the entrance. DUH! |
 |
|
We then found
out that they had a stair case built behind the temple. ARGH!!!....
DUH!!!
|
|
 |
|
Not much of a
view on top.... sigh...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From the sides you
could see the elephant carvings... |
|
|
 |
|
I was a bit sun burnt
by then, but the scenary was not to be missed. From here, you can see
the Prasats Suor Prat,
which was a series of temples build in a line . |
 |
|
The entire terrace
walls were filled with carvings. |
 |
|
The small walk
way beside the Terrace was even filled with carvings |
 |
|
Michael |
|
 |
|
We took a
stroll in it. |
| |
 |
|
Osman |
| |
 |
|
It was shady
too... :D |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We then walked in the
hot son, had 2 coconuts at USD1and headed back to our tut tut. The sun
was setting. so we headed to Phnom Bakheng. |
| |
|
| PHNOM
BAKHENG |
|
| |
|
| The
construction of this temple mountain on Phnom Bakheng(Bakheng
Hill), the first major temple to be constructed in the Angkor
area. 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. Always overcrowded at sunset
and quiet the rest of the day. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Elephant rides
up the hill |
 |
|
It was a 15
min hike up the hill and then another gruesome task of
climbing the temple. |
 |
|
Huge clouds
covered the sun on top of Tonle Sap lake.
|
 |
|
Osman |
 |
|
At times u can
see the sun... :) |
|
 |
|
But hey.. this
was the easiest after Angkor Wat & Phimeanakas |
 |
|
Angkor Wat
from a distant |
 |
|
Michael |
 |
|
At times u
dont... :( |
|
| |
|
 |
|
Looking
thru this doorway, u can see a place where sat a statue of Buddha
and behind it Tonle sap lake,
so be immerse on its actual design and be marvelled by it :D |
|
| |
 |
|
Due to the clouds
there wasn't much of a sunset. it started to drizzled and everyone
rushed down the temple and down the hill and headed home.
|
|
