Beth and Michael in siem reap, march 2007

 

Text about the temples copied from the APSARA website (Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap) if you want to know more...

On the first afternoon, we took a jeep out to see some of the ruins to the East of Angkor Wat

Our first stop, the temple of Lolei: a temple  composed of four tower sanctuaries, the remains an original ensemble that was without doubt more complex. The King Yasovarman consecrated Lolei to the memory of his ancestors, particularly his father, in 893 AD.

  • Lolei: A statue, not sure why... think it maght be a version of the buddha. Note among the offerings in front of him is a bottle of water, it's hot and thirsty out...
  • Lolei: a crumbling brink tower (one of 4)
  • Lolei: a surprisingly well preserved inset statue
  • Lolei: Wooden braces holding up one of the towers
  • Lolei:The back of one of the towers, with a false door
  • Lolei: there used to be statues here, they've probably been looted and sold on the black market...
  • Lolei: Beth in a carved doorway held up by heavy wooden braces
  • Lolei: Khmer inscription on the inside of the doorframe.
  • Lolei: detail of carving on a false doorway
  • Lolei: headless lion standing guard
  • Lolei: rubble piled to one side of a tower
  • Lolei:Beth and Michael in a tower's doorway
  • Lolei: detail of carving over doorway
  • Lolei: Kmner inscription on the inside of the doorframe, partially obscurred by bracing
  • Lolei: detail, carving alongside doorway
  • Lolei: Two of the towers
  • Lolei: there is an active Buddhist monastary surrounding the ruins, here a monk is moving between buildings
  • Lolei: another of the towers
  • Lolei: Decorative naga with pigeon on the eave of the modern temple
  • Lolei: a monk entering the modern temple
  • Lolei: ruined tower
  • Lolei: modern tower
  • Lolei: crumbling bricks around a doorway
  • Lolei: Beth and michael in front of the most intact tower
  • Lolei: Close up of carvings in the modern tower
  • Lolei: Buddha in the modern temple... notice the difference in the quality of carvings between the ancient and modern...
  • Lolei: Beth lighting insence in the modern temple
  • Lolei: another example of modern carving
  • Lolei: another modern shrine, with a more artistic buddha
  • Lolei: 3 of the 4 towers are visible here