Bangkok - Visiting the Temples

These posts on Bangkok are long overdue, but I guess better late than never, right?

Over Spring Break 2013, Mike and I visited the beautiful city of Bangkok, Thailand.  All throughout the city, there are numerous temples and gardens.  Most of the temples are centrally located and many can be seen from the water taxis along the Chao Phraya River.  We used the water taxis to move between several the the temples on both sides of the river.

The Grand Palace is a complex of temples and gardens that wind and weave around each other with courtyards and walking paths connecting them all together.  The temples within this complex are some of the oldest in all of Thailand.  There are over a thousand images and statues of Buddha at this location.  Shrines honoring those who lived before us are found all throughout the complex.  Some temples you are allowed to photograph inside but many you cannot.  From a distances, these temples are absolutely gorgeous with their spires reaching up towards the beautiful, blue sky.  Up close, I am even more impressed with the detail that has gone into the hand-carved stone statues and mosaic tiled temple walls.  My photos in no way do these temples justice.  Simply stunning!

The complex from a distance.

Getting closer...

 

Entrance garden

Beautiful hand-carved stone shrines and statues.

 

Statues of Buddha

The following pictures are of the different temples and statues throughout the complex.  I apologize that I do not know the names of the individual temples.  I am posting the photos pretty much in the order in which I encountered them.  (This complex was built rather organically, so the temples and connecting courtyards wind around and overlap each other.  You will see some of the temples in the background of the other pictures because they are all so close to each other.)

Beautiful detailed mosaic work

 

Even the shrubs are pieces of art!

Do you see the black cat walking around the temples?  Look closely!

The famous Reclining Buddha - measuring over 15 meters high and over 43 meters long, it's a bit of a challenge to fit all in one picture frame.

This is one of the guards in the museum.  Zzzzzz...teeheehee

Mike chillin' in the shade.

Wat Arun - this was taken from the water taxi on our way to some of the other temples.  Unfortunately we did not get a chance to go back and visit this temple.  Maybe one day we will return...

Angkor Wat







Hands down this is one of my favorite places in all of Cambodia is the Angkor Wat Archaeological Park.  Over the course of my year in Cambodia, I visited the park on six different occasions.  Most of my visits were to explore the temples with my husband and brother-in-law, but I also took my first grade students there on a field trip and a group of middle and high school students for the annual race that is held in the park every December. 

Taking photographs is a hobby of mine and I never went to the temples without my camera and extra batteries in tow.  After visiting most of the temples in the park, my picture count ran into the thousands, so I apologize now (but not really) for the obnoxious number of photos in this particular post.  Unfortunately, the pictures do not to the temples justice but I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed visiting and photographing the them.

Angkor Wat
The most famous of all the temples is Angkor Wat.  Featured on the country's flag and money, Angkor Wat is a national symbol and the pride of Cambodia.  It is estimated that nearly 2 million people visit Angkor Wat each year.  This is a huge increase in tourist, given that just 10 years ago about 200,000 people visited the temples each year.  With Angkor Wat growing in popularity, many restoration projects have begun to help preserve the temples and make this a place for people to visit for years to come.  Most people who visit Cambodia come to see the temples.  I felt quite fortunate that for about a year, these temples were practically in my backyard.

A view of Angkor Wat from across the moat.

 

 A view from inside looking out.

 A view of the backside of the temple.

To see more pictures of Angkor Wat, check out this slideshow.

Bakheng Temple
Just down the road from Angkor Wat is a temple that sits on top of a small mountain.  At first glance, Bakheng Temple might not seem like much.  You have to walk up a long path that winds along the side of the mountain to reach the temple at the top.  The temple is not very big but has much to offer.  Since this temple sits at the top of a mountain, many visitors go here to see the sunset over Angkor Wat.  From the top of the temple, you can see the peaks of Angkor Wat sticking out from the tropical jungle that surrounds all the temples.  A group of landmine victims set up a stand along the path and play traditional Khmer music on handmade instruments.  You can hear the music through the trees as you walk along the path, making the hike up not so bad.  This is also one of the few places within the park where you can ride an elephant...and I did! 

Bakheng Temple



You can see Angkor Wat from the top of Bakheng Temple.

 Looking out from the top of Bakheng Temple across the rice fields.

 Along the path towards the temple is this group of landmine victims

who play traditional instruments and perform for donations.

They also have cds for sale.

For more pictures of Bakheng Temple, check out this slideshow.

South Gate
In order to get to the temples called Angkor Thom, the largest group of temples in the park, you must enter through one of four gates.  These gates located north, south, east and west of the complex have the faces similar to Bayon Temple, one of the temples within the Angkor Thom complex.  Some of the gates have rows of guards on either side of the road leading up to the gate.  Here are some pictures from the South Gate.





Bayon Temple
One of my favorite temples in the entire park is Bayon Temple, located within the Angkor Thom complex.  Unlike many of the other temples that are covered in beautifully detailed carvings of epic battle scenes and apsara dancers, the walls of this temple are made up of large faces.  Using several large blocks of stone to make one face, these faces raise up above you and overlook the park.  There is something very peaceful about the expressions on the faces and I can't help but feel safe within the walls of this temple. 

A view of Bayon Temple

 A close up of the faces of Bayon

 

From the top of the temple.

For more pictures of Bayon Temple, check out this slideshow.

Baphuon Temple
Also within the Angkor Thom complex is the Baphuon Temple.  This temple has a large pond in front of it and a long foot bridge that you have to cross in order to reach the temple.  There is also a smaller temple that sits in front of the Baphuon temple and it once served as a library.  Baphuon is one of the few temples that you can still climb to the top.  The original stairs are very steep and much of the stone has worn away.  Through the restoration project, a new set of stairs has been installed, making it easier to ascend and descend this temple.  The view from the top is completely worth the climb!

A view of Baphuon Temple from the foot bridge.

 The steep flight of steps to get to the top of the temple.

 A view from the top of the temple.

 And now back down, watch your step!

To see more photos from Baphuon Temple, check out this slideshow.

Preah Khan
Just north of the Angkor Thom complex is Preah Khan.  One of the larger temple projects, this temple is more like a series of smaller temples instead of one big temple like Ankgor Wat.  At one point, this temple served as a Buddhist university with over a thousand teachers.  Walking around this temple, I can't even imagine going to school in something so beautiful...ok, maybe I could...and I would love it!

One of the statue guards on the bridge leading to Preah Khan Temple.

 

The first in a series of temples in this area, making Preah Khan seem to go on forever.

Most of  the walls and ceilings of the temples are covered in detailed hand carvings.  

     

An artist using the temples as inspiration for his paintings.

 

 To see more pictures of Preah Khan Temple, check out this slideshow.

 

Ta Promh Temple
I found this temple to be a great example of man versus nature.  Like many of the other temples, Ta Promh is crumbling and falling apart.  This is partly due to age, weather, and tourist climbing all over them; unfortunately this temple also has several large trees growing along its walls and roof.  At times these trees offer additional support but often they are the ones destroying the temples.  I found the trees gave the temple a unique look and found beauty in the destruction.  A major Hollywood movie (Tomb Raider starring Angelita Jolie) was partly filmed here some years ago, making this temple a popular destination among tourist.  Major restoration projects are currently underway to help restore and preserve this amazing temple.

A huge tree takes over Ta Promh.

During our first visit to the temple I was able to get this picture of Mike sitting on the window ledge.  A few months later, we returned to this temple and it was blocked off.  Due to the overgrown trees and thousands of tourist, you can no longer get close enough to this temple to take this picture.  

More trees taking over the temples.

Many of the temples are in the process of being restored.  Here is an example of one of the galleries of Ta Promh that was just a pile of rubble.
I call this the worlds largest puzzle!

The restored gallery...amazing!

Much of the area around Ta Promh looks like this,

piles of stones waiting to be revived into the beautiful temples of long ago.

To see more photos about Ta Phomh, check out this slideshow.

Banteay Kdei Temple
Just down the road from Ta Promh is Banteay Kdei.  Another crumbling temple, this one felt similar to Ta Promh and was built around the same time.

A crumbling foot bridge leading to the temple.
Notice the support beams around the temple.

This is another temple that is undergoing restorations.

Another gallery that looks like it is about ready to collapse.

More hand carvings

Another section of the temple.

For more pictures of Banteay Kdei, please view this slideshow.

 

East Mebon
In the eastern part of the park stands several temples, including East Mebon.  Climbing to the top of this temple was fun and most of the original steps are used.  I particularly enjoyed the large elephant and foo dog statues found throughout this temple.   

Approaching East Mebon

Beautiful elephant statues stand at each of the corners of this temple.

     

 Climbing the temple stairs we find this doorway about halfway up.

 The very top of East Mebon

For more pictures of East Mebon, check out these photos.



Banteay Srey Temple
Located north of the park sits another one of my favorite temples, Banteay Srey.  Known as "the women's temple", this temple is tiny compared to the others and consists of some of the most detailed hand carvings I have ever seen.  Although this temple is a bit far out from the rest of the park, it was most certainly worth the drive!

One of the smaller temples within Banteay Srey.

Another view of one of the smaller temples.

And another part of this beautiful temple.

Gorgeous statues and stone carvings adorn every inch of this temple.

     

To see more images from Banteay Srey Temple, please view this slideshow.

Roluos Group
In the far southeast corner of the park (actually southeast of Siem Reap town) is a group of temples called the Roluos Group.  We visited the three largest temples in this area, Lolei, Bakong and Preah Ko.  I was especially interested in visiting the Lolei Temple.  I thought the plants growing along the top ledges of this temple gave the temple "hair" and was something that I didn't see at any other temple.  Bakong Temple is an active pagoda and you can see monks praying and working along with children playing games.  These temples are a bit off the beaten path, away from the rest of the park.  I found them to be a quiet, peaceful place to spend the afternoon.

Lolei Temple

     

     

Bakong Temple

 Preah Ko Temple

For more pictures of the Roluos Group of temples, check out this slideshow.

 



My first grade students and I in front of Angkor Wat.

My running club after the 3K run along the road between Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.