Vivian barely survived the first day of temple trekking and opted out of Day Two of our itinerary. Kids today. No stamina. I bravely carried on alone with our intrepid guide who met me at the hotel at 8:30am. Grooooan...
We drove for about one and a half hours north of Siem Reap to Phnom Kulen, the mountain you see in the distance. Kulen means lychees and Phnom, mountain. Phnom Kulen provides Siem Reap with its water and gives its name to Kulen National Park. The Cambodian people regard the mountain as the birthplace of the Khmer Empire.
Trees marked to prevent them from being logged.
The road up the mountain was deceptively narrow and steep.
How steep? No A/C steep!
In the morning, cars can only come up. Then, you have to wait until
noon before you can come down again.
We arrived at the River of One Thousand Lingas.
999 to go...
Lingas are the phallic pillars of various heights meant to represent the Hindu god Shiva.
The river is the female counterpart, Vishnu.
Can you make out the submerged mini lingas?
I bet you can!
(Mr. Rogers' voice for those of you old enough to get the reference.)
982 to go...
These should help bring down the count.
The river, more a stream, really, was packed with these puppies!
Apparently, these lingas were carved in 802 AD.
Some body was busy!
The locals consider this stream as part of the Ganges.
The path along the river/stream
Dirt AND worm!
You know who you are...
Photo opp for local native tourists
(sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it?)
I trekked onwards through the woods.
Shrine
A sacred spring
Why is it sacred? It is unusual.
Okay...
That woman is a Buddhist nun and her shaved head demonstrates her
renunciation of worldly things.
Another random little roadside shrine.
The countryside was littered with them.
This was the road leading up to the temple with the Reclining Buddha.
Say...these tropical flowers look familiar...
One of the numerous stalls that lined the road.
This one caught my eye though because of the swaying baby in the hammock.
Food stall
The snake of the Underworld, Naga, at the end of this railing.
Stairway up the hill to the Reclining Buddha
View back down the hill
More stairs to go
Jackfruit tree, she writes with authority.
Even more stairs!
With this heat and humidity, climbing up counted as exercise.
I think steep is the only grade Cambodia knows for stairs.
Souvenir stand on the landing
Smaller outbuildings.
You'll see these again from a different angle.
Fountain with a linga
Yes, that rounded protuberance is it.
The fountain's statue
A monk tying on a bracelet that he had blessed.
Love this shot and their expressions.
Shrine
Buddhas under the huge rock that makes the base for the Reclining Buddha
continued...
So I climbed the steep stairs (we've already determined this is the only type in Cambodia) to see the Reclining Buddha. The Buddha is carved into the top of a huge boulder and sheltered from the elements by a basic roof and walls.
This temple top was peaking out of the trees. Yes, don't worry, you'll see more of it, more than you ever thought you could stand. Yeah, it'll be that much!
This temple top was peaking out of the trees. Yes, don't worry, you'll see more of it, more than you ever thought you could stand. Yeah, it'll be that much!
Still, a nice shot.
The bottom half of the Reclining Buddha.
Can you make out the hand on top the clasped knees?
The eyes look mischievous to me.
Notice little figurines under the edge of the Buddha.
Boobies, belly and baubles for blessings
Looking out over the jungle and the stairs going down
A monk telling fortunes
Looking down again on that little temple.
The building that houses the Reclining Buddha.
Another angle
See how massive that rock is?
Stairs going down with the local kids.
When I asked about the girl's hair colour, I was told her mum thought it was pretty.
Hmmm...okay then...
Looking up
Back on terra firma
Shrine
Temple whose roof I had seen poking through the tree tops.
So quaint and pretty! Wouldn't you love to have it in your back yard as a decorative element?
I know I'd sure like this!
Donations offered in what is claimed to be Buddha's footprint.
Railing around the footprint
Tourist monks around the railing
Active monk
I couldn't pick just one as my favourite picture.
Entrance to the house where he lives.
Locals picking lychees...
yeah, that's what I'm going to go with.
Cambodian cutie giving Chinese babies a run for their money in the Elizabeth Patel unofficial "Most Adorable Children in Asia" contest.
My tour guide and I left this part of the Kulen mountain to go see a truly beautiful waterfall.
On our way, of course, we passed more food stalls and picnic areas.
Such cool lettering!
Can you make out the river in the background?
Waffles made over an open flame.
Possible photo ops dressed up in old-timey native costumes.
The first waterfall and it was easily accessible.
Everybody was rolicking and fromping.
A picturesque hut used for souvenir photos.
You'll see it put to use later on.
You got it, more shrines.
The steep (what a surprise!) path down to the next waterfall.
Missing boards only add to the adventure.
Ah, yeah, even more adventure.
The risk was worth it.
So pretty and dramatic.
Everyone was having a ball.
Wet footprints helped me make my way back up.
Swing awaiting tourists and their photo op.
It didn't have to wait long.
Fruits, fruits and fruits
A different view of Phnom Kulen
Lunch at a restaurant off the mountain
Off to another historical spot! Vivian had no idea what she missed. Actually, she didn't mind hanging around the hotel pool at all. She said somebody had to do it. While she was lounging, I was exploring Banteay Srei temple. Its red sandstone walls are decorated with, you guessed it, elaborate, detailed carvings in an amazing state of preservation. Unfortunately, there is the odd bullet hole here and there, but that didn't detract from the overall gorgeous impression.
Stunning
Note the bullet holes
Different angles and distances
Musicians
Every temple needs its moat.
Some weapons that didn't wreck destruction and misery.
A collection of mines
Yes, my eyeballs grew a little sweaty (and it wasn't the humidity) when I saw the important role that Canada was playing in the elimination of landmines. Yay Canada!
A display made by the students who live at the Relief Centre.
The landmines are defused. The heads are papier mache.
Grim reminders
Make art not war
This is an artificial minefield. Finding the mines can be a deadly game.
Unfortunately, Cambodians still discover live bombs and mines in their countryside.
How blessed we are to live in Canada and not have to worry about losing a limb when we go for a walk in the woods. On to happier topics...
Typical Cambodian countryside house
See how it's raised?
When the family accumulates more wealth, the houses are higher and made of wood instead of thatch. The well-to-do ones use cement and decorate their houses more.
Back in "bustling" downtown Siem Reap.
This hotel front is for you, SD.
Illuminated picture of the king.
Yes, Cambodia became a monarchy again.
Fancy hotel mimicking the Angkor Wat.
Finally, I arrived back at our hotel. Vivian had spent an exhausting day "working" on her tan. We treated ourselves out to a special dinner at a former French colonial house turned restaurant, "Madame Butterfly".
Beautiful setting
Wonderful fusion food
A great way to finish our stay in Siem Reap. Next day we were headed for Vietnam.
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