Visiting temples

I have had a couple of days visiting temples recently. The first time Mr J and I dropped Paul the Dutch teacher off at Angkor Thom then went on through the countryside to a small temple called Banteay Samri which was very serene as few people get out there. Mr J is very good and will give instructions like "up the path then turn left and enter the temple from the East" this ensures the sun is in the right place for a photo

 

I stayed there about an hour then we made our way back towards the main temples, stopping off at Pre Rup a Hindu temple which had been on the journey to the orphanage when I first arrived (a month ago now).

We then visited an ancient bridge out of which were growing trees looking like pieces of cloth. I had planned to walk between some of the temples nearer to Angkor Thom but then realised that the map scale was a bit deceptive and it was actually a long way. While I waited for Paul, I met two Swedish brothers who invited me to share their lunch table. This is quite normal - I am meeting people from many parts of the world.

Paul and I then went to Ta Prohm, pictures of which I've already posted.

This Saturday I went to do the Grand Circuit picking up some temples I'd not visited before. The North Gate was less preserved than the more popular South but with its lichen covered statues was very atmospheric and evocative of the era.

Our first destination was Preah Khan which was a capital city before the main Angkor ones. It had many beautiful statues and a very fine cottonwood tree growing through the stones. Again Mr J dropped me at one point and picked me up an hour later on the opposite side of the complex.

 

Our next destination was Neak Pean a tiny temple sitting on a man made lake enclosed by another large lake - a baray. Lonely Planet describes it as what Las Vegas would design to fit into their hotel strip!

And finally to Ta Som

 

Then home for a swim!

 

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