20/03/2010 Earlier Ruins

20/03/2010 Earlier Ruins

Today we headed south to check out the Roulos Group of temples built in the 9th Century. While not as intricate as the temples around Angkor Wat, these ruins give an insight into the early days of Khmer architecture and mark the beginning of classical art. While also built of stone the use of sandstone was just being introduced and is mixed with brick at these temples. From Roulos we headed back to Angkor to take on the ‘Big Circuit’ which included Preah Khan – in the shape of a cross we found it spooky as we kept seeing images of ourselves heading towards us from the opposite side of the crucifix shaped building! There were hundreds of doors along the passageways that produced weird optical illusions and a library near the front that looks like the Parthenon (apparently it may once have been a Buddhist University).

After lunch with Wait our driver where we learnt a little about him and his family, we visited Preah Neak Pean which was not so much a temple as a massive series of ponds – a large one in the centre with four surrounding ponds fed by internal fountains – all set in a massive reservoir. Ta Som – one of our last stops was a tiny version of Ta Prohm where the trees have nearly taken over the temple and will continue to do so as the trust that manages the temples has decided that this is one temple that will be left to the forces of nature so that future generations can see the difference between natural forces and restoration works at nearby sites.

 While there are dozens of other sites we had had our fill and headed back to town in the late afternoon for a swim and dinner in town.



Tanei Guesthouse, #017, Steung Thmey Village, Svaydangkum Commune, Siem Reap Province, Kingdom of Cambodia Ph: 855-92-865-150/ 855-12-757-867/ 855-63-966-545

(USD15 Aircon, Hot Water, Wi-Fi, Pool and Very clean – excellent place to stay just a couple of streets back off the main road!)