The temples of Angkor

It was at sunrise that our group of four (Chris, Laure, Marcin and Rose) set out on our bikes to go visit the temples of Angkor. Only 10 km from Siem Reap, the famous Angkor Wat sits as the jewel crowning a complex of smaller temples spread over several kilometers.

Angkor Wat is, predictably, a magnificient example of Architecture. It is grand, refined and, thanks to some restauration along the way, has certainly stood the test of time. The notion of stumbling accross it, lost into the deep jungle, is amazing and I suspect the lucky french explorer who did must have rubbed his eyes in shock for quite a while.

A few kilometers further is the complex of Angkor Tom which was actually a city housing a million people inside its walls. One of the temples we visited there is called Bayon and although it bears similarities to Angkor Wat, it is also very unique and different.

From a distance, the distinctive conical towers, meant to resemble closed lotus flowers, might give the false impression of trying to copy it's famous counterpart. On approach, the crude mounds of stacked rocks start to reveal carved faces of buddha on all four sides of each tower which there are many of in this small but somewhat complicated temple. The calm portraits symbolise Charity, Calm, Balance and Compassion. In an unusual situation, the temple is both dedicated to Buddhism and Hinduism.

Finally, on the edge of Angkor Tom is Ta Phrom which, mostly left in an untouched state, could be symbolic of the slow but possible symbiosis of architecture and nature. The enormous root systems of trees projecting straight into the skies drip like melted lava around and through the partially collapsed stone walls of the temple. the trees are supported by the walls and the walls by the trees.

There are many other temples to visit but, in one hot day, it was a pretty reasonnable effort. We rode back to Siem Reap in the sunset and enjoyed a delicious Khmer dinner in the company of friends.