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Penh 16 Aug 06 - 21 Aug 06 Pg 3 |
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On 17 Aug 06, I found myself riding an electric bike (USD$4/day)
towards the temples of Angkor. After getting my picture
taken, I got my entrance
pass (for 3 days) at USD$40. It was not exactly the
kind of pricing I would have preferred, but I suppose for
Angkor Wat it was worth it.
The plan for the first day was pretty simple. As of all
visitors, the first stop is usually Angkor Wat
followed by Bayon. Explore the temple ruins north
of Bayon (i.e. Baphuon, Tep Pranam,
Temple of Leper King) and then the all-famous Ta
Prohm. I wasn't willing to do what the guidebook proposed,
but that is what I did (well, almost). After exploring Angkor
Wat, Bayon and the northern temples, I "drove"
to the northern gate of Angkor Thom and Preah
Khan.
Angkor Wat, being the first temple that I visited, earned
alot more attention than deserved. Perhaps the attention
can be better spent for other temples. I spent almost half
a day there, following the temple as detailed as the guidebooks
sought out to be. Being the trademark, it was filled with
tour groups and backpackers. Needless to say, the locals
will target to have a field day by making sales on postcards,
souvenirs and cold drinks. At least they were kept outside
of the temple compounds.
I
headed up north of Angkor Thom. As it was nearly
lunch when I reached Bayon, only a few souls were
(perhaps most went back to Siem Reap for lunch) hanging
around. Unlike Angkor Wat, Bayon looks
like a pile of ruins from far. However, upon entry, one
may feel uneasy at the cold smiling stares of Avalokiteshvara
(the Bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas),
freely available at every corner of Bayon. As of
most books on Angkor, the smiling stares remains on list
of the top 3 icons (Angkor Wat's sunrise and "nature-swallowed"
Ta Prohm are the rest). |
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My timer
function is at work again! Wyattwang doing his signature
shot in Baphuon. It was not the best snap, as there
were people waiting for me to get done with. |
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My
first lunch in the Temples of Angkor (opposite of Baphuon).
Stir fried beef (in dark soya sauce) with rice. It cost
me USD$1. Not too bad, espeically when you are hot and tired
from all that "walking". |
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I finally got my set of
postcards (10 pieces for USD1) from this boy in a quiet
corner beside Phimeanakas. There was only one
stall beside the path and I really wonder if the traffic
here can sustain enough sales.
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The faces
stared at me blankly, just like what they have been doing
for the past 800 years. How many more faces will they see
before the world self-destructs?
Memories from the Temple of Leper King, Angkor
Thom. |
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A group
of tourists (French?) walking past a lame man (playing a
flute) without realising he was asking for money. |
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Apparently,
people (in their bathing attire) were waiting to be cleasned
by the monk. Perhaps sins can be washed off like dirt in
this way. A naked boy was waiting patiently while I took
the picture beside Preah Palilay. |
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The afternoon
sun casts a shadow on the temple ruins of Preah Khan.
As the location was pretty out of the way (Grand Circuit),
it was the first time that I experienced tranquillity in
the ruins.
This is so unlike the previous temples where I have visited.
For those places, we all (yes!) have to queue up in order
to take pictures. |
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No matter
how grand a structure was, the forces of nature is always
one step ahead. Here we see a giant tree spreading its roots,
casting a shadow on the walls of Preah Khan. |
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Didn't
really know what was happening. A sense of serenity got
into my confused mind, as I lay on the stones of Preah
Khan. There was no one around, it was as seems I was
the king of the empire, the tree roots were my generals,
the ants were my subjects.
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Mind you,
I took this picture while I was on flat ground. The walls
of the Preah Khan are crumbling as time passes.
It waits for no one. |
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