Prasat Ta Som, Neak Pean Water Feature, and Preah Khan Temple 10/29/09

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October 31st 2009

Published: November 1st 2009

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Strickfaden

Ta Som Temple

And yet another King Jay face entry gate (narcissistic?)

Sorry for the late blog but finally finishing up the Cambodian temple descriptions and pics.
By the way, Prasat is Cambodian for "temple" ...go figure.

Prasat Ta Som Temple is also in a fantastic ruined condition. It is still unrestored. At both the entrance and waaay at the back are those great King Jay gates with his face at the top. The one in the back, on the outside face, has a magnificent tree embracing it. Tammy is dwarfed by both the size of the gate and the tree in the pic. There wasn't so much climbing this one as navigating your way through the rubble. I know that after all these temples, and a couple more to go, they all sort of seem the same just looking at the few pics we are posting. But believe me, each is very different in person and have their own distinct feel. Pity we didn't have a few more days to see more. The Khmer Rouge used to use this place as a hideout for awhile. The surrounding jungle has since been cleared back (and de-mined) a bit for tourists to find the place.

Neak Pean water feature. This next stop

Ta Som & Ta mmy

Hey, this is the smallest I've looked in years.

was a bit unusual. We had to walk down a very long dirt causeway across a swamp and then across a plank bridge over a very shallow river to get to this site. Unlike the usual temples, this was a public fountain. There is a central pool with a statue in the middle and its surrounded by four smaller pools. In each smaller pool a small shrine that can only entered by getting in the water or by small boat. There were gold offerings (or very well painted golden objects) and things in each one of them. Apparently, a still active site.

And finally....last but not least, Preah Khan Temple. Preah Khan is one of the larger temples in Angkor. Not in height. but in area covered. Also a great ruin, it has a lot of character. Originally Buddhist, it then converted to Hindu and then back to Buddhist eventually. The opposite of most temples here that were Hindu first and then became Buddhist. This site was also a monastery and a university. Due to that, there are a lot of side halls and passageways other temples do not possess. Another easy to get lost in place. Very nice

Ta Som & Ta mmy II

Bacon in the sun

ending to our days in Angkor. We hope you have enjoyed our tour through Angkor and its ancient temples. Now onto Thailand and more (but newer and active) temples.........

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