Angkor Wat, Spring 2008

 

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A Naga and Lion near the entrance to Angkor Wat.
Bridge and moat surrounding Angkor Wat.
A small library off to the side at Angkor Wat. They call any small building that is alone on the side of a main complex a "library."
A covered walkway at the library.

Apsaras
A corner tower at the library that is partially supported with wood while it is reconstructed and preserved.
A stone window with Apsaras on both sides.
This is the walkway approaching the main city. Angkor Wat was built in the early 12th century.

This angle includes a view of the balustrade that runs along the walkway.
Dancing figures and cows.
Another library off to the side as you approach Angkor Wat.
A closer view of the main part of the city.

Another view taken from off the walkway.
Angled view of the main entrance taken from below.
Lions
An Apsara next to a doorway with floral carvings.

A view down a hallway.
A floral motif.
A covered walkway, taken from down in a courtyard area.
Another angle from the same area.

Multpile levels of stone make up the walkways in Angkor Wat.
Even the roofs are carved with Nagas and other designs.
Another picture showing the levels of stone ascending.
Looking up at stone supports inside a covered walkway. At one time many of the decorations at Angkor Wat would have been painted.

More stone levels.
Apsaras with elaborate headdresses.
Since Apsaras are fertility figures, it is not uncommon to see certain parts of their anatomy worn smooth as pilgrims come to pray for good luck and offspring.
A high tower with stairs rising up.

This is known as the Preah Poan Thousand Buddhas Gallery. Many temples in Cambodia seem to be a mixture of both Buddhism and Hinduism.
A view looking outward from a window. You can see how bright the tropical sun is, which is why it is so important to carry lots of water.
Another library.
A view looking up into the highest towers in Angkor Wat. Unfortunately they had the stairs roped off when I visited as they build new wood stairs on top for tourists. You can't tell from the picture but those stairs are almost straight up like a ladder rather than a staircase. The steps are not very wide, only a few inches, which would make climing up (and especially down) very scary.

Looking across at many stone buildings.
More Apsaras and floral carvings.
An Apsara with unusual hair.
A slightly closer look at the same Apsara.

Many worn carvings over a doorway.
Looking upward from the interior at Angkor Wat near the highest towers.
Looking around the corner of one of the central towers.
A group of three Apsaras. Eventhough the temples of Cambodia are covered with Apsaras every single one is different.

Looking straight up at a main tower. Again, it's hard to tell how high and steep that really is unless you are there.
A cluster of Apsaras. Over the years some carvings have been worn away by weather, others have been damaged by people stealing parts of motifs and statues.
Another view of the walkay that winds around the central towers. This view has a few people in it so that you can get a small idea of how high those buildings are.
Here I am sitting in a doorway.

Me looking out of a window.
A Khmer boy and a monkey. This was taken right before things went bad. The boy and his mother were feeding this monkey. At one point, the monkey got upset and made a small swipe at the boy. That's when the mother of the boy got into a slap fight with the monkey. Which seemed a bit ridiculous to me seeing as how I wouldn't let my kids feed wild monkeys in the first place. :p
Looking up at a tall tower with a small plant growing out of it.
A tower that looks like it may be missing part of its lotus shaped capstone.

Another photo of me looking out of a window surrounded by Apsaras.
A close up of me in the same window.
Reassembled carvings on the ground with stones stacked on top by visitors who wish to have prayers answered.
A closeup of the stons.

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