Journeys
JUL/AUG 2006
Features:
A Dream of Africa:
Trekking Up One of
the Tallest Mountains
in the World
The Sights and Sounds
of Southeast Asia's
Best-Kept Secret
Cycling the Coast of
Viet Nam with an
Open Heart
The Mystery
and
Majesty of Angkor
Exploring the Ruins
of an Ancient
Civilization
Departments:
Back Issues
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stop was Angkor Wat—“The City that is a Temple”—the largest and most
famous temple. Hence the name is often confused with the complex
of Angkor. Angkor Wat is an architectural masterpiece. This temple
is an expression of classical Khmer art at its highest point of development.
The complexity and beauty of the massive temple both attract and
distract one’s attention. From a distance, Angkor Wat appears to
be a colossal mass of stone on one level, with a long causeway leading
to the centre. But close-up, it is a series of elevated towers, covered
galleries, chambers, porches and courtyards on different levels linked
by stairways. Halfway down the long and wide causeway, the five impressive
towers shaped like lotuses are aligned in perfect harmony. The most
striking feature at Angkor Wat is the bas-relief carvings depicting
scenes and rituals from the Ramayana which decorate the entire front
walls. The massive arch openings leading into the courtyard are as
impressive as they are intricate. The labyrinthine structure made
of huge sandstones stacked in perfect symmetry left me bewildered.
I spent almost the entire day visiting Angkor Wat enraptured by the
overwhelming beauty of this place. But with the glaring sun high
above me bearing down with unrelenting heat, I opted for a lemongrass
martini back at the Raffles.
The
next day I visited Angkor Thom, Bayon, and Ta Prohm. Each temple
has its own unique style and beauty. At Bayon, giant tree roots grow
into the structure of the temple, evidence of how this ancient ruin
was once overtaken by the jungle. A group of saffron-robed monks
meditating in one of the shrines exuded the tranquility of the complex.
Immediately outside the entrance of Ta Prohm, a team of geologists
from India and Singapore began work on a preservation project. Down
the road a handicapped folk band performed Cambodian wedding music.
I took in the beautiful sunset at Ta Prohm, a major draw for visitors,
and called it a day.
My visit to Cambodia was short and sweet. I’ve taken tour groups to visit Angkor every year, but each time it still takes my breath away. Readings on Cambodia and Angkor history are a must to truly appreciate the beauty of these magnificent wonders.
Haley Nguyen is a Chef Instructor at the Art Institute of California. She leads culinary tours to Southeast Asia and to Little Saigon in Southern California. She hosts a cooking show, Tu Bep Lua Hong, which airs Fridays at 6:30 p.m. on Saigon TV.