Banteay Samre, Preah Khan and Neak Pean Temple, Ankor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Travis

Banteay Samre Temple

From Banteay Srey, we headed to Banteay Samre temple, a small, quiet temple with lots of doors and windows which allowed for good photo opportunities.

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Sonya standing inside one of many arches

Intricate Kala deity carved in the stone

Sonya reclining in one of the doorways of the temple

The central spire of Banteay Samre Temple

Travis at the corner of the inner wall of the temple

thydzikgooglemap(http://sonyaandtravis.com/maps/banteay-samre-temple-ankor-siem-reap-cambodia.xml,s)

Preah Khan Temple

One of the temples we missed when cycling the short leg, Preah Khan has been left unrestored, overgrown by jungle similar to Ta Prohm.

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Intricate stone carving of battle above doorway

Sitting praying statues with small kala monsters in-between

Travis resting on one of money door ways

Tree overgrowing one of the small external buildings

Scattered stone blocks of the ruined temple

Green moss around the entrance with the jungle in the background

Sonya sitting underneath the roots of a large overgrown tree

Tree growing from the roof of the outer wall

Neak Poan Temple

Neak Pean is interesting in that the small temple is situated on an artificial island surrounded by water. Neak Pean was originally constructed for medical purposes, a form of a hospital, the water believed to have healing properties.

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Looking over the four pools at Neak Pean

Statue of a horse, one of the four sacred animals

thydzikgooglemap(http://sonyaandtravis.com/maps/neak-pean-ankor-siem-reap-cambodia.xml,s)

Banteay Srei, Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia – the jewel of Khmer art

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Travis

On the third day of exploring the Angkor region, we decided to rest from the cycling and hired an auto rickshaw to explore some of the further out temples. The first temple was Banteay Srei which was twenty-five kilometres from the main Angkor region. Banteay Srei is unique due to it red colour, a result of being contrasted from red sandstone. The red sandstone also allowed for intricate carvings, which can be seen throughout the temple.

One of the interesting things we stumbled on was meeting Ted Brattstrom who was taking a giga-pixel photo of the inner portion of Banteay Srey using an automatic robotic mount. You can view the GigaPan here.

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Triangular pediment over the main complex entrance

Pediment on the entrance to inner temple

The Pediment of the entrance of the inner temple

The intricate reliefs carving of red coloured stone

Guarded by two kneeling statues of human figures with animal heads

The combat between Vāli and Sugrīva is depicted on the western gopura

Carving of a kala, a mythical creature representative of time and of the god Siva

Looking towards Banteay Srey from the western entrance

Sonya at the western entrance of Banteay Srey

Carved column windows mimicking lathed wood

Śiva seated on the summit of Mount Kailāsa, his mythological abode

Looking towards Banteay Srey from the east

Mythical creatures flanking the entrances of the inner sanctums

Ted Brattstrom producing a GigaPan with automated camera

thydzikgooglemap(http://sonyaandtravis.com/maps/banteay-srei-angkor-siem-reap-cambodia-jewel-khmer-art.xml,s)

Ta Prohm, Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia – Tomb Raider Temple

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Travis

Ta Prohm was one of the most impressive temples of Angkor, we visited this temple while cycling the shorter router between Angkor Thom and Banteay Kdei. Ta Prohm has been left overgrown with jungle and this can be seen through the numerous giant silk-cotton trees and strangler fig trees intertwined with the stone architecture.

Ta Prohm was also featured in the move Tomb Raider, we overheard a tour operator point out the iconic spot where Lara Croft emerges from the temple.

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Tree roots embedded into the temple walls

Temple walls with tree roots growing down the side

Sonya standing next to the roots of a large tree

Green moss on the walls of the covered halls

Looking across collapsed wall towards the trees

Roots of the strangler fig draped over the temple

Huge tree root growing over the temple stone roof

Travis standing in the roots of a Silk-cotton tree

Strangler fig roots draped over a stone entrance

Stegosaurus carving, one of the more unusual stone carvings we have seen

Tree growing from the corner of temple structure

Looking from the East over the wall towards Ta Prohm

thydzikgooglemap(http://sonyaandtravis.com/maps/ta-prohm-angkor-siem-reap-cambodia-tomb-raider-temple.xml)

Angkor Wat sunset, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Travis

We were cycling back from the temples and out of chance we cycled past the Angkor Wat moat which presented an amazing sunset reflected on the surface, much better than our experience on Phnom Bakheng.

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Sonya and Travis

tales of travel and adventure

Banteay Samre, Preah Khan and Neak Pean Temple, Ankor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Banteay Samre Temple

Preah Khan Temple

Neak Poan Temple

Banteay Srei, Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia – the jewel of Khmer art

Ta Prohm, Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia – Tomb Raider Temple

Angkor Wat sunset, Siem Reap, Cambodia