Tomb Raiders (Not Really)

Biking with Buddha (see him in the stone above the arch?)

The tree is engulfing the stone building.

So one thing I learn today is that I have sweat glands on every inch of my skin (I was going to say body, but my eyeballs and fingernails didn't perspire - but that's it).  It's in the mid-90s with high humidity, and I spend the entire time drenched.  But what a wonderful day!  This is the primary reason we booked our trip - to see the Cambodian temple ruins. 

Our first temple ends up being my favorite of the day - Ta Phrom.  I think it's the trees and moss growing in and around the buildings.  It definitely has a special atmosphere around it.  Turns out a scene from the movie Tomb Raider was filmed here.  I saw the movie, but it was such a long time ago I don't remember it.

I feel like there should be majestic music playing in the background.  Maybe Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries?

The temple was built in the late 1100s, and was originally a Buddhist monastery and university.  However, much of the Buddhist artwork was destroyed or converted to represent Hinduism in the 1200s.

I expect to see Indiana Jones walk through the doorway any minute.

In the 1400s the Khmer Empire fell apart, and the temple was abandoned and neglected for centuries.  When it was rediscovered by the French in the late 1800s they decided not to do a restoration of the temple.  The buildings had merged with the jungle and formed into one entity.  Due to its increased popularity in the last 20 years, foreign archaeological groups have come in to make it more accessible to visitors (building wooden sidewalks and staircases) to save the buildings from damage.

Depending on the direction the walls face, there are still carvings that have not worn away.

Just the side of a wall...can you imagine
what it must have looked like 700 years ago?

Another pretty quilting design!

Doesn't this look incredible?

Can you find Steve?

After Ta Phrom we hop back on our bikes.  It's kind of like driving through the countryside in England, "Oh, look, there's another castle," except here it's "Oh, look, there's another temple."  I don't know the name of this one, but we stop and Steve decides to climb to the top (I determine I'm already sweaty enough, so I'll just stay on the ground and take the pictures).  

Steve is biking and taking pictures of Kimthet and me
at the same time.  He's a talented guy!

We then ride around the wall of Angkor Thom, bordered by the moat on one side and the jungle on the other.  (If I had fallen in maybe it would have helped me to cool off.  I would have felt just as wet.  Though seeing how I react to the tap water here, maybe the moat wouldn't have been too good for me.)  Hundreds of years ago when the moat was "in use," it would have 1000 crocodiles in it.  Though it's hot, it's nice to ride in the shade of the jungle for awhile.  We see lots of butterflies, and even some very large monkeys!  No pictures, though - we just keep riding.  I'm starting to regret not going to spin class lately.  I ride my bike around Tokyo, but it's usually not for more than 20 minutes at a time.  Certain muscles are feeling a little sore! 

Wow!

Our next stop is at Bayon Temple, located inside Angkor Thom.  We have a nice selfie outside it's own moat.









Here's a closer shot of the main buildings of Bayon Temple, though you're still not getting the sense of its size.  This was the last official temple to be built at Angkor, in the late 1100s.  It's known for it's hundreds of faces carved into the towers, usually one facing in each of the four directions. 

The temple rises up 150 feet, about the height of a 14-story building.

Brotherly love - Kimthet is on the right.

While we're wandering around the different terraces, our guide, Kimthet, runs into his brother.  He's giving a tour to a couple of French women.  Our guide speaks Khmer, English and Japanese, but he says he's currently taking classes for French and Korean.

Framed up!

I try to find fun pictures to take and our guide does a good job of telling us about amusing photo opportunities.   I see this window and I know it will make a nice photo frame!





Kimthet helps us get nose to nose with Buddha.

I hope Steve doesn't feel the need to burp at this point.

This Buddha face is almost smiling.

Very cool carvings here, too.

Our first view of Angkor Wat!

We take a break for lunch, then ride the bikes to Angkor Wat, the highlight of the day.  What a surprise - it has a moat, too!  It's the largest religious monument in the world and was built in the early 1100s. (It's interesting to think about what was going on in North America at that time.  The Indians pretty much had the continent to themselves.)  Originally it was built as a Hindu temple, but by the end of the century it was converted to Buddhism (the opposite of Ta Phrom).  It was neglected after the 1500s but apparently never completely abandoned, and the moat protected it from being reclaimed by the jungle.  

Kimthet helped direct us so we could get a perfect reflection of Angkor Wat in the water.

"Ohhmmmm..."

Kimthet helps us to have entertaining pictures here, too.  He knows to bring us to the far colonnade, which is empty of tourists, unlike the packed opposite side of the facility.  I'm "meditating." 



In case you're curious, here's part of the outside of the colonnade.  It really is very long (remember, biggest religious monument).

This photo only shows a small section of one side of the temple.

We wander around the facility for quite awhile, then make the trek up to the third (top) level.  This section is called "heaven," and due to the heavy traffic and limited space guides are not allowed up there.  It's not as busy right now, because it's the hottest part of the day and so most of the tourists are somewhere cooler.  I don't mind being out in the heat if it makes it easier to see everything and enjoy the experience.  We're glad we don't have to wait an hour to climb the staircase to the top.

A bird's eye view of the middle level and the countryside

This is also where they're strict regarding covered knees and shoulders.  But we discover your knees don't really need to be covered, they just want your shorts to go all the way down to them.  So Steve's shorts are okay, and this is why I've worn pants, anyway. 

Steve posing on one side of the plaza on the heaven level.

The stairway to heaven.  Is this where Led Zepplin got their inspiration?

It's late in the afternoon and we have the option of riding the bikes the five miles back to our hotel.  However, a few hours earlier as we entered Angkor Wat I make an "executive" decision and decided we're going to take the car back.  At the end of the day, Steve is glad I made the judgment call - we're tired after exploring and climbing Angkor Wat for hours in the heat.  Kimthet, who's in better shape than both of us, is also relieved.  It's been fun exploring antiquity, but modern conveniences are phenomenal!

We're here!  No, over here!  Wait - where are we??  (More Kimthet photo fun!)