Knyom Soksabay Awkun

Day Two (late morning): Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom meaning "Big Angkor" is a wall and moated royal city. Within the walls of Angkor Thom are the following landmarks:

1) Bayon
2) Baphuon
3) Phimeanakas
4) Terrace of the Elephants
5) Terrace of the Leper King
6) Prasats Suor Prat
7) North & South Kleang

Bayon


The first landmark immediately after passing through the South Gates of Angkor Thom was Bayon. From afar it looked like a congregation of rubble. Upon standing being front of it, I realized it was much more magnificent than I initially gave it credit for. In fact, the Canby Guide gives this landmark a rating equal to that of Angkor Wat, the highest in a list of must-see temples.






















Baphuon

After exploring every nook of the Bayon for about an hour, I walked to the Baphuon next. Apparently, it is a temple-mountain (mountain???) which has largely collapsed and in ruins. At this time it was under extensive restoration and closed to the public. However, I managed to get past the entry gate onto the elevated walkway to catch a glimpse of the structure.



Phimeanakas

This is apparently the King's temple. We scaled up the structure via stairs facing the West (at the back). I heard a tour guide explaining to some Taiwanese tourists that legend has it, this temple was home to a dragon that would transform into a woman come nightfall and the kings of Angkor were required to engage in copulation with this woman so as to his kingdom safe from disasters.



Some of the tourist didn't want to go up this tall structure. I heard one man quipped that it would be pointless to go up during the day as he'd probably see a dragon and NOT a beautiful woman.


Terrace of the Elephants & Terrace of the Leper King

After leaving the Phimeanakas, we were walking on this "Great Wall of China" structure, we didn't realize that it was the Terrace of the Elephants until much later when we were resting on one of the Prasats Suor Prat.





At the edge of the Terrace of the Elephants, is the Terrace of the Leper King. It is so named as the statue of the Leper King sits on the terrace of this structure. Apparently, the maze within the walls below the terrace is where the Angkor Kings play hide-n-seek with his concubines.








Prasats Suor Prat

These are 12 identical towers that line opposite and parallel to the Terrace of the Elephants. According to the Canby Guide, these structures are "picturesque from a distance but uninteresting upon close inspection". In m opinion, that is an overstatement. They may look rather ordinary but the areas around Prasats Suor Prat make a nice place to rest and view the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King.






That's exactly what we did for about an hour... rest! And that's how we met a Jap fren whose name is Shi-Ta-Ke San... sound familiar... he he he. There's a pix of him somewhere...

After the rest, we walked back to the Bayon where our tuk-tuk driver Luck was waiting for us near a congregation of stalls... and the moment we reached there, we were swarmed by loads of Cambodians saying "buy coconut from me", "buy water from me", "buy souvenir from me", so on so forth.


Kleangs (North & South)

These structures are apparently storerooms and are situated behind the Prasats Suor Prat. This and the Prasats Suor Prat are usually ignored by the mass tourist but is worth a look around if you have the time since they are not far away.

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posted by Hanson @ 6:22 PM