Gill Oriental: Ancient City and other Temples

Somebody told me on this trip, that the very best photographs are taken with the eyes and with the heart...and that sometimes its best to put your camera down and really absorb everything as apposed to seeing everything through a camera lens. I have done a lot of absorbing over the last 2 days!

Me, walking across the bridge to the Ancient City. See the people are holding a huge Naga.

These hectic warriors line the bridge.

Bayon - One of the most enigmatic and powerful religious constructions in the world. The temple is extremely complex both in terms of it's structure and meaning, having passed through different religious phases from Pantheon of the Gods, Hindu worship and Buddhism.

Apparently there originally 49 towers, today there only 37 standing. Most are carved with 4 faces on each cardinal point but sometimes there are 3 or only 2.

This Temple was the highlight for me. It was the most incredible thing I think I have ever seen. I was in awe...

HUGE towers with faces all over them...some say there are about 216 faces throughout the temple...

The symbolism behind the faces on the peaks are apparently the actual faces of King Jayavarman VII who had the temple built in his honour.

They are massive! You won't believe the detail on these peaks.

There are countless views of these faces - some in profile, others framed by doorways, yet others juxtaposed in series and the aspect changes throughout the day as the sunlight falls on and off different parts of the temple.

Kyle at one of the peaks!

Closer up of 2 faces. Its incredible the colour the stone has gone over the years.

Lighting incense for Buddha. Bow three times with the incense in hand and ask Buddha to protect all the special people in my life. Rub his foot and then touch your forehead and you and your family will have good luck.

Absolutely incredible. Bayon is the temple in the Ancient Angkor City.

Walking into Bayon. The Ancient City is covers an area of nearly 9km.

The Royal Palace.

Looking down from the top of the Royal Palace.

Preah Pithu within the ancient city.

Walking along the ruins of the ancient city. There are lots of different ruins throughout the area.

Climbing steps...I have climbed more steps in the last 3 months than I have in the last 20 years.

Looking down from a window at the top of one of the ruins.

Looking back...

The Elephant Terrace. This Bridge is lined with elephant engravings.

See the elephants???

Kyle on the elephant terrace!

Close up of the elephants!

View of the whole terrace.

Prasat Preah Khan - This was more than a temple. With over 1000 teachers, Preah Khan appears to have been some type of a Buddhist University as well as a considerable city.

The Stupa in the centre of the temple.

This temple was so cool, It has one main corridor running down the entire middle of the temple and rooms that come off the main corridor.

Looking through the corridor.

Last stop, Phnom Bakheng. OMG, more steps.

Phnom Bakheng - A Pyramid of ascending square terraces. It became the state temple. The old name of the temple was was Yasodharesvara, " The Lord of the One Who Bears Glory".