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Travel Pictures - CAMBODIA - 2001 |
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| All images © Ron Miller |
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The
travels begin in Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia where tourists flock
to
visit the plethora of ruins
that includes Angkor
Wat. From northwest Cambodia we
traveled across the country by
hydrofoil
to
the capital city of Phnom Penh and,
finally, to the mountainous and verdant southern coast. |
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Siem Reap is the travel hub for
visitors exploring the amazing array of ruins that include Angkor Wat.
There are a variety of hotels catering to all travel budgets and, since the area is in the
heart of southeast
Asia,
you are assured of finding delicious fresh fruit (and, as always, the
travelers' staple - banana pancakes!) -
Siem Reap, Cambodia |
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The first rays of sunlight add
color to the main temple at Angkor Wat, which is perhaps the world's
largest religious structure -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Angkor Wat, which means “city
temple,” was built for king Suryavarman II in
the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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After crossing an enormous moat,
visitors enter the temple grounds through this portico (structure in the
background)
and then stroll the sandstone causeway to reach the main temple -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Window view of the main temple
from the west portico -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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At
the center of the temple stands a quincunx of towers (oriented like the
five dots on a dice) with the tallest rising 210 feet -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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These two young boys pause for a
photo while they diligently attempt to peddle souvenirs and avoid
the security guards whose main objective is to stifle the business
practices of the illicit entrepreneurs -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Angkor Wat is only one of many
temple complexes that are spread out over an area the size of a large city
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Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Access to the central temple is
via a dangerously steep stairway -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Tourists negotiating the top of
the flight of stairs -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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As I said, dangerously steep!
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Most women wisely remove their
high-heeled shoes before attempting the climb -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Getting down is even more
difficult and could happen much more quickly -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Uh oh!
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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One of the young vendors on the
temple grounds -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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This grand structure is one of
several libraries within the temple complex -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Although the temple ruins are
rather devoid of color, the surrounding jungle flora exudes more shades of
green than I knew existed -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Looking back toward the west
entrance -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Looking to the west northwest and
the temple/hill of Phnom Bakheng -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Young Cambodians enjoying the
dark and cool interior of the temple -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Another photo of Cambodian visitors enjoying
the temple's dark interior -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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And yet another -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Adding to the color of the
surrounding flora are the thousands of Cambodians walking the grounds -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Contemplating the descent of that precarious stairway -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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The temple walls are decorated
with a plethora of carvings -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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These feminine carvings (Devatas) are
referred to as guardian spirits or guardian angels -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Close-up of the Devatas -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Another close-up of the carvings
that adorn the temple's exterior -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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A group photo on a lofty balcony
of the main temple -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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A lovely Cambodian tourist -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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The local police would not permit
tourists to enter the complex of ruins on rented motorbikes; therefore,
visitors had to travel
by taxi (expensive) or on the back of tiny motorbikes driven by a personal
guide/driver (as is often said, follow the money!) -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Me posing with both of our guides/drivers
as well as a lovely restaurant hostess -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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The Cambodians were extremely
helpful and appreciative of the tourists -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Preparations a goin' on in the
kitchen -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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Many Cambodians sleep each
night in a hammock which provides some ventilation during
the hot, humid nights as well as protection from creepy crawlies on the
ground -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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A busy parking lot for some of the
temple concessionaires -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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A rather creative form of
transport -
Angkor Wat, Cambodia |
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One of several massive gates
fortifying
the complex of temples in the area. In Cambodia, the gates often have eyes (and faces) -
Angkor Thom, Cambodia |
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A total of 108 statues (54 on
each side) line this entrance gate to the former capital city -
Angkor Thom, Cambodia |
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The statues on the left side (gods)
are holding the head of the snake while those on the right side (demons) are
holding the tail -
Angkor Thom, Cambodia |
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The carvings represent an aspect
of the Hindu Myth of Creation called "The Churning of the Sea of Milk" -
Angkor Thom, Cambodia |
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The two columns of statues are
tugging on opposite
ends of the snake thus creating a whipping motion, churning the seas, and
creating life -
Angkor Thom, Cambodia |
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My favorite ruin in the entire
complex is
Ta Prohm, which is still swallowed-up by the jungle -
Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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All of the ruins (except perhaps
Angkor Wat) looked like this before restoration -
Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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Nowhere in the world can you feel
more like Indiana Jones about to stumble on the Holy Grail ...
well, at
least until the next group of tourists come strolling by! -
Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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The vegetation at Ta Prohm provides
much-welcomed shade for visitors -
Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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The lush vegetation and elaborate
root systems give a haunting feeling of isolation and abandonment -
Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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Vegetation along one of the
perimeter walls -
Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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How do these trees establish
themselves on top of
a ruin? -
Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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The current policy at Ta Prohm,
which leaves the vegetation's muscular
root systems intact,
is somewhat controversial as it may lead to further
structural damage -
Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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Which door leads to the treasure?
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Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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Although the growing root systems
may cause further damage, they reveal in a stunning manner the constant
struggle between man and nature -
Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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The smooth and serpentine tree
roots adorn the ruins like giant anacondas -
Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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Another view of the muscular root
system -
Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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The Cambodians really seem to enjoy
themselves while visiting the ruins -
Ta Prohm, Cambodia |
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This ruin, which might appear as nothing more
than a pile of rocks, is actually an organized collection of towers with
bas-reliefs incorporating
more than 11,000 figures including 200 gargantuan faces of the Buddha,
Avalokiteshvara, who embodies the compassion of all Buddha's -
The Bayon; Angkor Thom, Cambodia |
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Five of those 200
gargantuan faces -
The Bayon; Angkor Thom, Cambodia |
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Sitting atop a towering temple complex
that is made
entirely of sandstone -
Ta Keo, Cambodia |
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I am easily mistaken for Hercules
while standing within the summit tower
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Ta Keo, Cambodia |
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The temple complex of Pre Rup is
a brick construction that was once covered with plaster -
Pre Rup, Cambodia |
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The temple's summit affords a
wonderful panorama of the region -
Pre Rup, Cambodia |
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The entrance to the hilltop
temple
of Phnom Bakheng becomes a circus in the evening since it is a popular location to view the
sunset -
Phnom Bakheng, Cambodia |
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A group of young entertainers
outside one of the temples -
Phnom Bakheng, Cambodia |
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Visitors can climb to the summit
of the hilltop temple by foot or hire this pachyderm shuttle -
Phnom Bakheng, Cambodia |
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It costs only ten dollars (U.S.
dollars) to come down from the summit, but a bit more to go up -
Phnom Bakheng, Cambodia |
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This hilltop temple has a
wonderful view of the ruins of Angkor Wat (just right of center)
Phnom Bakheng, Cambodia |
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Brian climbs the last few stairs
with all of his camera gear - no easy task in the heat and humidity; note
the elephant just entering the grounds -
Phnom Bakheng, Cambodia |
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Not only is this hilltop temple popular for
the view of Angkor Wat, but also the sunset -
Phnom Bakheng, Cambodia |
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Close-up of Angkor Wat
Phnom Bakheng, Cambodia |
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Hilltop view of the verdant rice paddies and palm
trees typical of Cambodia -
Phnom Bakheng, Cambodia |
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Tourists eagerly awaiting the pending
sunset -
Phnom Bakheng, Cambodia |
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All images © Ron Miller
For authorized use of these photos, please contact Ron Miller at TheHappyCannibal@gmail.com |
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