As we got out of Angkor Thom, it is about time to lunch. However on the way to the Khmer Family Restaurant, we passed by Takeo. So obviously I wouldn't passed out the chance to take a look at it.
According to the guide book, this temple is unfinished, which we wouldn’t be able to identify anyway since the finished temples are in worsen condition. Apparently Jayavarman V is the king who ordered to build this and died before it is completed. Yet another story is that a lightning strike the construction which means bad omen, hence they abandoned the temple.
But yes, I agree it would have been one of the finest of Angkor structure.
According to the guide book, this temple is unfinished, which we wouldn’t be able to identify anyway since the finished temples are in worsen condition. Apparently Jayavarman V is the king who ordered to build this and died before it is completed. Yet another story is that a lightning strike the construction which means bad omen, hence they abandoned the temple.
But yes, I agree it would have been one of the finest of Angkor structure.
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| Takeo, the unfinished temple |
Translates as ‘A Large Basin’, this is a man made lake 800x400 metres, excavated during the 10th century. What is it for? The king and his wives swam here hence this is the royal bathing pool. Hmmm, the king must be damn fit. This is like bigger than an olympic size pool, no?
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| Srah Srang, the royal bathing pool |
Alright, alright … my heart is beating very fast. This is the place I came for. Ta Phrom is a temple that has literally been swallowed by the jungle. This is where Angelina Jolie was filmed in Tomb Raider Part 1. She picked up a Jasmin flower and then falled into the tomb (well the tomb is of course unreal).
Anyway, a walk into Ta Phrom gives me so much thrills and goose bumps. We’re trekking inside the jungle (OK OK, there’s like a muddy walk way about 5 metres wide that has been cleared for tourist like us). But still, we are surrounded by trees like 20metres high and sound of the jungle like birds, crickets or some weird but beautiful sound from all directions.
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| This is where Angelina Jolie stands ... woohoo ... |
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| OK, there isn't any Jasmin flower in sight (yeah I know, just saying) |
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| Ta Phrom, the lost temple |
OK, about the temple, it is built in 1186. It is a Buddhist temple dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII. This is about the most raw temple you can find in Angkor. Most of the structure has either collapse as a lot of walkways are impassable or it has been eaten by the jungle. This is a perfect demonstration of nature taking over civilization.
I think this is the infamous Crocodile Tree
Simply out-of-the-world experience being able to walk in this once lost temple. Verdict: MUST COME!Location: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Next, Mother of all temples
