Indiana Jonesing in Angkor

We satisfied our Indiana Jones jones at Angkor. Angkor is essentially a 120 square mile site near Siam Reap, Cambodia containing hundreds of ancient Khmer temples, built between the 8th and 13th centuries. The ancient Khmers were very industrious; the sheer size and range of architectural styles of the temples is stunning.

It's hard to describe so grand a place, so I'll just give a few impressions.

Angkor Wat is considered the jewel in the crown; its defining features are massive pinecone-shaped towers that look almost four-dimensional with geometries pushing outward in unexpected ways.

 

They get angry if you wear red...

As we approached, our guide, Tea, told us an abbreviated version of the Ramayana, a Hindu epic whose scenes are carved on the walls of the temple Angkor Wat and many of the other temples. How can one resist a tale including five-headed cobras; a monkey army; a ten headed, twenty armed demon; churning a sea of milk; and a sacred goose?

The stunning view from atop Angkor... camera doesn't do it justice.

 

The Naga, five-headed symbol of protection. I really enjoyed learning about all the fantastic beings and beasts.

Worshippers still come here. Many of the temples were originally Hindu, and are now Buddhist. So sometimes Buddha has many arms.

Three-headed elephants sport rakish caps.

Some temples have been restored. Others are given back to the jungle. Walking through certain temples, when the light is just right, you feel like a 19th century Idochina explorer, hacking your way through the jungle. Then a Korean tour group comes in to take photos of eachother making the peace sign.

River of a thousand lingas. The original on-site sculpture; the lingas are discs carved from the rock under the river.

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