exploring eating capturing
My last day in Bangkok was mostly spent wandering around. So far I had been to specific places but I think you really get a feel for a place when you just wander and get a little lost. You never know what you might stumble …
After four weeks of travelling I finally ended up back in Bangkok where it all started. Do you know that feeling when it seems like you were only here yesterday and at the same time you feel like you’ve been away for months? That was …
About twenty five miles away from the main concentration of temples in Siem Reap is Being Mealea. This temple has been even more enveloped by the jungle and has had no restoration whatsoever or any of the vegetation cut back (which apparently does happen at Ta Prohm). At this temple there is even more of a sense of being an explorer. Getting around the site is not for the faint hearted quite a bit of climbing is involved over piles of stone or through windows and along roof tops. It is very easy to get lost especially as the route is not obvious so it is very helpful to have a guide, on this occasion I didn’t go off on my own which I think was the right choice as I probably would still be trying to find my way out now.
One of the fascinating things both here and at Ta Prohm is the amazing root structures that have formed over many years around and over the ruins. There is this real sense of time passing and nature claiming the area back. It gives you an insight into the power of nature and the inevitable circle of life as well as the temporality of human life.
It is great fun exploring and being quite so free to roam around. I suspect in time this will change as health and safety issues creep in so maybe a visit sooner rather than later should be recommended if you want the true sense of exploring ruins in the jungle.
I’ve been back for four days and I am already missing asian food. So tonight I decided to concoct something inspired by much of the food I have eaten over the last two months. I had to pop out to buy eggs but other than …
Less than a mile away from Angkor Thom is Ta Prohm or ‘the tomb raider temple’ as it is more commonly known since featuring the likes of Lara Croft running through it. It was constructed in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries as a monastery …
Once you have had your fill at Angkor Wat you could move on to Angkor Thom only about a mile away. If you are approaching from the general Angkor Wat direction you will enter by the South Gate which is one of four gates into this walled city. Angkor Thom means ‘great city’ as this was indeed a magnificent metropolis back in the twelfth century and was the last capital city of the Khmer Empire spanning nearly six square miles. The road leading through the gate is lined with an incredible selection of stone figures. On the left side are 54 figures of gods and on the right 54 figures of demons.
There has been a good job of restoration done on the faces of the stone figures and it is very clear to see which ones are new they will get better with a bit of weathering over the years to come. The restoration has been done well with clear evidence of great skill in the stone carving.
The gate itself has faces carved into the stone at the top all the way round and three headed elephants to guard the bottom. If you close your eyes its not difficult to imagine this as a busy entrance to a magnificent city with people and animals coming and going from all directions.
Standing perfectly at the centre of Angkor Thom is the Bayon which was the state temple back in the twelfth century when this city was thriving. It is quite a quirky temple with fifty four gothic towers with huge smiling faces carved into the stone. There is also a huge area of bas-reliefs (figures carved into the stone to such a degree that they almost could be sculptures in their own right).
A few extra images from Angkor Wat that didn’t fit into the other categories but deserve a viewing. Much of the building of Angkor Wat is muted earthy and grey tones with some areas of olive green mould and moss. So every now and then …
Morning everyone! Well I am back home after the most wonderful adventure over the last couple of months around South East Asia. Coming from 30 degrees to minus one is a little bit of a shock, especially as I only had flip-flops to wear on …
I thought it might be time for a little interlude from temples before temple fatigue sets in as there are plenty more to come!
So today let me take you back to Laos to the Kuang Si Falls. If you are anywhere near to Lauang Prabang then this is a must for a visit. You can make a day of it as there are places to eat, a bear rescue sanctuary, plenty of market stalls, somewhere to change so you can swim and lots of natural beauty to walk through.
It is a very lush green area due to the water and maybe because I went towards the end of the rainy season but I suspect due to the moisture it would always be very green. There is all sorts of wildlife around as you follow the river up to the biggest of the falls. Keep your eyes open for beautiful fungi and interesting plants. There are plenty of birds and insects to discover too.
The trees are fascinating some of them seem to be really very old with twisted trunks and covered in a mass of growth towering above your head. The air is full of moisture from the falls which makes for a little mini atmosphere all of its own.
There are various sections to the falls starting small and meandering up to the largest one at the end of your walk. There are two areas that you are able to swim the second area is the best as you can swim under falls and perch on a rock to catch your breath! It is hard work swimming against the current of the waterfall torrent in front of you…not for the faint hearted or weak swimmer! But very worth the effort. The water is very cold but a lovely refreshing change in the sticky heat. Be very careful of jumping in as there are a number of large jagged rocks just under the surface so check the area carefully first so you know what you are jumping on.
I found this to be a stunningly beautiful place made even more magical by the water droplets and the sunlight coming through the foliage of the trees. The rescue bears are also worth walking around. They have all been saved from a range of things and some have clear scars from their previous lives. They are however now very happy by all accounts with plenty of space and company.
In this post I will share some of the detail of which there is a lot so bare with me! Every inch of this place just about is carved with ancient stories and patterns. I can imagine when this was built literally hundreds of people …
