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Published: August 25th 2008
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The Temples of Angkor
By Tim
The spectacular castles of Scotland and the grand chateaus of France are dwarfed by the magnificent temples of Angkor in Cambodia’s north. These Hindu and Buddhist temples, some of them dating back to 800AD, are in varying states of reconstruction and ruin. The temple of Ta Prohm has been left for centuries to be swallowed up by the jungle. Enormous trees grow on top of the temple, their thick roots embracing the moss laden walls on their way down to the earth. Hann and I climbed the towers and crawled through narrow corridors leading to vast open courtyards. The surrounds were lush. Water trickled through the ruins, exotic birds sang overhead and bugs of all description scattered to avoid us. It was like something out of a Tolkien novel. We spent 3 days exploring the temples of Angkor, each temple unique in its structure, history and atmosphere. Bayon temple’s towering maze of smiling faces and the artwork of Angkor Wat’s stone walls were equally as impressive as Ta Prohm. I could waffle on about these majestic temples for pages, but I won’t. If you have the opportunity to see them, do it soon.
There’s a lot of foreign interest and investment in the site with rumours of an Angkor theme park in the pipeline.
By Hannah
Three days of exploring the vast Angkorian empire. I felt like Indiana Jones about to embark on a new adventure…Whilst we visited many temples there is really only so much I can say before you’ll all get bored, so I’ll try and keep it short on Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm.
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat was our first stop and revisited it a second time a couple of days later. An illegal guide gave us an initial brief tour, sharing with us some ancient stories as told through the intricate engravings on gallery walls. He also showed us some not so ancient history, pointing out bullet holes in walls complete with lead inside, a reminder of the Khmer Rouge days. We didn’t realise at first that he was an illegal guide and wondered why we were being shown areas that no other people were visiting. We later found out from Billy at the Floating Village, who you will meet later, that it costs US$2500 to get a licence to become a tour
guide. No wonder there is an illegal trade going on.
The library steps provided a great vantage point of the main temple and we spent quite some time just sitting there soaking up the surrounds. Children were taking pony rides. Other kids were playing bare bummed in the surrounding grass, some throwing sticks up into a tree in an attempt to knock down the fruit. The temples reflected in the ponds where water lilies floated and boys chased frogs around. In the shades of trees running down beside the temple grounds were some structures that acted as local shops serving up yummy noodle and rice dishes that we devoured. We got absolutely bombarded sitting at the tables waiting for our food with kids trying to sell everything and anything (even Australian coins). I must confess I gave in a bought a guide book off one young boy, although I have since been told on numerous occasions that this is not a good thing to do.
Children will often be sent out selling and begging to tourists because in doing so they earn more money than their parents do. This in turn means that the children do not get
an education or any other employment training. As they get older, they are no longer seen as being quite so vulnerable and cute by the tourists, who then stop buying things off them or giving them money. The people can often not get any other forms of employment because they don’t have any schooling. They can not marry because they do not have the money for the dowry. This creates a vicious poverty cycle that is difficult to break away from.
In the main temple area we found monks praying to many Buddha’s, their chanting echoing off the walls and giant pillars, aglow with the afternoon orange light. Angkor Wat is truly an amazing place.
Ta Prohm
Being swallowed up by the surrounding jungle, Ta Prohm was certainly a feast for the eyes. Trees grow on temple walls like they were always there. Their root systems cascading down towards the earth, twisting and turning as they go. Sandstone bricks once standing tall and proud are now scattered on the forest floor, covered in a blanket of moss. The canopy, lush and green, creates a blanket that leaves us shaded and much cooler than Angkor. Green parrots with
long feathered tails fly overhead landing in the treetops to feast on the berries. Occasionally we were pierced by a ray of sunshine as we explored the intricate maze of galleries, courtyards and towers, reminding us of the soaring heat outside. This was such a magical place and for all you faerie loving friends out there, this is the ultimate faerie world.
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Tadpole
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I loves the way you two tell completely different stories! Hann being a hell of lot more realistic and precise in her detailing of Nature and Wildlife of course. But Bilbo don't cry yours aint bad either...your vision is tinted with the awesome color of wonder and as always you tell stories with pictures breathtakingly beautiful and insightful personal impressions. I think u're in the right job. Keed on sending the dreams! May you enjoy lots more adventures!