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...

The Bakong is the first real pyramidal shaped temple built in Cambodia to take the form which researchers have come to call "temple mountain".  

Before entering an enclosure measuring 400 by 300 meters which is surrounded by an exterior wall and a moat somewhat wider than it is deep, we find ourselves in a larger enclosure measuring 900 by 700 meters. In this outer enclosure, ruins and remains of at least 22 sanctuaries are found. These sanctuaries can perhaps be considered satellites of the central complex in that some of them, instead of facing east, turn to face the central pyramid.

The naga (serpent) with seven heads found on the side of the entrance causeway appears here for the first time in the place which will be taken by future naga balustrades. The brick towers, located at the foot of the pyramid, still have their original wooden supporting beams despite the ravages of time.

  • Bakong: the moat
  • Bakong: the approach
  • Bakong: Boat on the moat
  • Bakong: central pyramid (or temple mountain) with towers
  • Bakong: Central pyramid with elephants on the corners
  • Bakong: a band plays for money for landmine victims
  • Bakong: There's a man in the Tamarind tree, shaking down the fruit which the woman is picking up while the child watches from the tower doorway...
  • Bakong: A little girl watches her mother pick up tamarind fruit
  • Bakong: Little girl watching tamarind being shaken out of tree
  • Bakong: Little girl watching tamarind being shaken out of tree
  • Bakong: Little girl watching tamarind being shaken out of tree
  • Bakong: Little girl watching tamarind being shaken out of tree
  • Bakong: Elephant in front of brick tower
  • Bakong: Elephant against the sky
  • Bakong: badly weatherd statue
  • Bakong: Tamarind collection is done
  • Bakong: steps and central tower visible through dorway
  • Bakong: Steps and central tower visible through dorway detail
  • Bakong:looking up the steps of the central pyramid
  • Bakong: looiking down on a tower off to one side
  • Bakong: Elephants all the way up
  • Bakong: Elephants on the corners, Beth in the background
  • Bakong: Crumbling tower watched over by a lion
  • Bakong: Beth on the top steps
  • Bakong: detail of a lion
  • Bakong: Looking down from the top
  • Bakong: Lions and the tower on top
  • Bakong: a lion held together with a large staple
  • Bakong: Offerings inside one of the towers
  • Bakong: Looking down, the remains of a lion, and elephants on the corner
  • Bakong: library
  • Bakong: doorway and steps
  • Bakong: guardian lion
  • Bakong: The modern temple next door
  • Bakong: wide view
  • Bakong: 7 headed naga along the walkway over the moat