Cambodia 2015

Saturday14November

To start this last "Angkorian" day, we get up early to be at 5:30 AM for the sunrise in front of the Cambodian "Taj Mahal": the Angkor Wat temple.

The bright spot in the sky is the planet Venus.

The temple is reflected in the moats surrounding the enclosure.

The five emblematic towers of the country. They are represented on the Cambodian flag.

The Nagas on the East bridge spanning the moats.

Passage through the ramparts of the first enclosure and its lintel.

Angkor Wat temple was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1992.

A basin to try photos with the Sun just peeking out...

It is possible to get an aerial view of the site with this balloon gondola.

Angkor Wat consists of a raised central sanctuary, and four large galleries, each 200 meters long, which surround the sanctuary. All walls of the 4 galleries are covered with large bas-reliefs.

We start with the South part of the West gallery... (what, isn't it clear???  )

Scenes of wars between Pandava and Kaurava.

Multitude of details in these 200 meters of "historical" frieze.

This part of the South gallery measures 90 meters and is also called the Historical Gallery. It illustrates Sûryavarman II, king of the Khmer Empire from 1113 to 1150, under whom the temple was built.

The East gallery, for its part, tells the story of the "Churning of the Sea of Milk", which recounts the birth of the universe in the Hindu religion. Let us remember that the temple was dedicated to the god Vishnu.

Vishnu, aided by the Asuras, alternately pulls with the Suras the body of Vasuki to turn the mountain.

On the other side, the Suras also pull on Vasuki's tail.

The Asuras and Suras are aided by gods and demons.

Exterior view of the South gallery.

The frieze tells the story of Vishnu's victory over Bana.

West, South, East, North, and presto, here we are back in the West gallery from where we see the alley we arrived by.

Here, it's the story of Rama and Ravana fighting over a woman...

A little further away, a superb Apsara.

We enter the interior of the enclosure.

Other Apsaras, the celestial dancers, polished by nine centuries of caresses...

Apsaras before restoration and after restoration...

This third and last gallery is the enclosure surrounding the sanctuary.

The sanctuary

Only one entrance via the wooden staircase added on top, to secure the very steep ascent.

View of the third gallery.

Several towers in the sanctuary.

You can even make your own honey...

View of the Angkor forest.

And view of my feet!  

The gallery of a thousand Buddhas... There are far fewer left...

All dressed in white, the faithful in full ceremony facing the red Buddha..

Reclining Buddha, rarer here.

The descent from the sanctuary...

The Apsaras on the exterior walls of the third gallery.

After a small incense salute to Buddha, we leave Angkor Wat.

Between the walls, the "libraries", these eccentric and elevated buildings.

Monks also live within the enclosure in this pagoda.

The statue of Vishnu.

In the middle of the alley, according to legend, protected by grilles, are the extraordinary footprints of the site's builders...

And a last little look at the 5 towers of Angkor Wat...