DAILY PHOTO: A Rare Burst of Color at Banteay Kdei

Prayer flags in the ruins

Prayer flags in the ruins

Traveling through the old earth-tone and mossy green temple building, one comes upon a festival of color.

Angkor Photos, Part 4

This is the fourth and final installment of pictures from my October 2012 visit to Angkor in Cambodia.

These are all from the Bayon, a large temple in Angkor Thom. Unlike many of the sites that were originally Hindu and were later modified to meet the needs of Buddhist successors, this was built as a Mahayana temple — though later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist leaders made changes.

The Bayon is sometimes called the temple of a thousand faces. The reason will be clear.

The site is circled by the road through Angkor Thom.

The site is circled by the road through Angkor Thom.

A three-tiered bas relief depicts battles with the Champa.

A three-tiered bas relief depicts battles with the Champa.

Northside facade

Northside facade

Wall carving

Wall carving

Janus-faced spire

Janus-faced spire

One can see what looks like old foundations that were built over.

One can see what looks like old foundations that were built over.

more faces

more faces

Water standing in the lower level of the temple.

Water standing in the lower level of the temple.

Another face, one can see the size of the blocks from which the sculptures were formed.

Another face, one can see the size of the blocks from which the sculptures were formed.

Looking down at the substructure from above

Looking down at the substructure from above

The south facade

The south facade

More bas relief.

More bas relief.

 

 

 

Angkor Photos, Part 3

This is the third installment of photos from Angkor that I took in October 2012. Unlike the previous two installments, each of which included photos from multiple sites, all of these photos come from the Angkor Wat. (While most people think of the entirety of the ancient city as Angkor Wat, in reality Angkor Wat is just a portion (granted a big and important portion) of what was the city of Angkor. “Wat” means temple, and this was the main (though by no means the only) temple in the ancient Khmeri capital.

This is part of a massive bas relief  battle scene

This is part of a massive bas relief battle scene

You can see where someone gouged out a cube of the wall (lower right.)

You can see where someone gouged out a cube of the wall (lower right.)

One of the courtyards of the main temple building

One of the courtyards of the main temple building

There are hundreds of these bodaciously ta-ta'd maidens on the site.

There are hundreds of these on the site.

 

Courtyard as seen through a window with a couple pillars remaining

Courtyard as seen through a window with a couple pillars remaining

Ornate wall carvings abound

Ornate wall carvings abound

Between theft from the French, vandals, and the Khmer Rouge, most Angkor Wat Buddhas lack heads

Between theft from the French, vandals, and the Khmer Rouge, most Angkor Wat Buddhas lack heads

 

Another wall carving

Another wall carving roughed out

The main walk. There is a bridge across this moat which is contiguous with this grand walk.

The main walk. There is a bridge across this moat which is contiguous with this grand walk.

These are symmetrically located to either side of the main walk.

These are symmetrically located to either side of the main walk.

Temple facade

Temple facade

 

Wet season was just ending when we visited. Standing water was ubiquitous.

Wet season was just ending when we visited. Standing water was ubiquitous.

Escargot like these may have been why the French colonized this country.

Escargot like these may have been why the French colonized this country.

 

 

Angkor Photos, Part 2

More photos from my October 2012 visit to Angkor in Cambodia.

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm

Thommanom

Thommanom

Ta Som

Ta Som

Ta Som? or perhaps Preah Khan

Ta Som? or perhaps Preah Khan

Neak Pean

Neak Pean

Ta Som (I think)

Ta Som (I think)

Ta Som (I'm not sure how this happened, it was a purely accidental effect.)

Ta Som (I’m not sure how this happened, it was a purely accidental effect.)

Ta Som

Ta Som

Rice paddies near the East Baray

Rice paddies near the East Baray

Buddha near Srah Srang

Buddha near Srah Srang

Pre Rup

Pre Rup

Angkor Photos, Part 1

Ta Keo window pillars

Ta Keo window pillars

Chau Say Tevoda

Chau Say Tevoda

Ankor Thom from the Elephant Terrace

Ankor Thom from the Elephant Terrace

Phimeanaka writings on the wall

Phimeanaka writings on the wall

Baphuon

Baphuon

Elephant on the trail up to Phnom Bakhang

Elephant on the trail up to Phnom Bakhang

Sunset from Phnom Bakhang

Sunset from Phnom Bakhang

Bantey Kdei

Bantey Kdei