Indiana Beamish and the Temples of Angkor

Day two of the temple hopping and have seen more sandstone and bas-reliefs than i thought humanly possible! Today's temples were; East Mebon, Banteay Srei, Ta Som, Neak Pean, Preah Khan and Phnom Bakeng. I know those are going to mean absolutely nothing to you all, but they help to remind me which ones i have seen so i can tick them off my "eye-spy book of Angkorian temples".

Banteay Srei is a good hour away from Siem Reap, and Mr. Son was waiting for me nice and early to make our way out there. This temple is one of the most complete, and unaffected-by-the-elements temples in Angkor. Some of the detail on the stones was really special (taken lots of photos of this!)

A shot of Banteay Srei's central tower, there are more towers like this, all surrounded by a moat. Chatting to a tour guide later in the day he told me that this was more intact than the other temples because they used a different type of stone. It's red tinge is

East Mebon, Ta Som and Neak Pean are all much of a muchness although i did enjoy the elephants that were standing guard at the corners of the temple at East Mebon.

Preah Khan was quite special because it was massive. Similar to Ta Prohm that i visited yesterday, this Temple was also surrounded by jungle. There was tonnes of rubble everywhere, indicating that the place had fallen into ruin, but it really reminded me of monkey city in the Jungle Book. A lot of these temples have now be granted World Heritage site status (understandably so) and so there is a steady move on to restore the temples to something like how they used to be. Lots of pieces of rubble have been numbered and, like a massive jigsaw, they are slowly putting things back together again.

More roots taking over the temple at Preah Khan (aka Monkey city). In this one i have purposely included a chap in it, so you can get a sense of scale on those roots! that is one seriously big tree!!

The final temple of the day was Phnom Bakeng, which is a temple set on top of a mountain. Similar to the Baphoun it is a stepped pyramid temple, but one thing it does do is afford spectacular views of Angkor Wat at sunset. Unfortunately, as it was closing on on sunset, i was greeted by half of Tokyo waiting to get up the mountain! Also, after an intensive day of walking again, i was really shattered, and for the first time wondered whether Mr Son was actually a fitness trainer in disguise, and was trying to spur me to lose a bot of this excess baggage i am carrying!
Fortune was with me though, as at the base of the mountain was a sign saying 'Elephant ride to the top $15', and I was on that elephant's back quicker than you could say "exploiting animals". I have never ridden an elephant before (there just is not the demand for it in the Fens) and so it was quite interesting being buffeted around in the seat by the 2 ton monster. He made the journey to the top look easy, and i have to admit i was quite glad of the rest!

Elephants pose for a picture after carrying me up the mountain - and before you ask, it did not take two of them to carry me!!

At the top there was the other half of the population of Tokyo all snapping away at the various vistas that being perched on top of the temple afforded. A glimpse to the west showed me the reason for coming up here; Angkor Wat in all its splendour with the sun setting behind it. I took some pics of this, but i don't think my camera could do justice to just how splendid a view that was, so you will have to take my word for it!

Angkor Wat through the trees from the summit of Prohm Bakeng. You might have to enlarge this to see it properly.

Tomorrow is my final day of temple visits. After that i will be tying up loose ends and flying back to Malaysia, as the tour is coming to an end. Speaking of which, i need to book a flight.....