I arrived, showed my pass (you have to do this every time you visit a temple) and started walking through. As I didn't have a guide, it was a case of keep your eyes and ears open!
As I walked along the causeway, I could see dancers (Aspara) in beautiful coloured costumes. I asked could I please take a photo. Yes, madam, but it'll cost you! Two dollars to take photos with my own camera, but still it was very worth it - I'd have paid $10 if I had to. (I probably would have grumbled to myself about you even have to pay for that! but I'd still have paid up!)☺☺
The figure in the middle in white is the monkey god, Hanuman; the figures in green are Garuda (large mythical birds or bird-like creatures). With the female costumes, Apsara characters often wear Plumeria obtusa flowers tied along the back of their hair and this can be seen on both the dancer on the left and the figure on the far right. The female dancers are also wearing a phuŏng (a flower tassel made from Jasminum sambac and Michelia alba or Michelia champaca blossoms) on the left side of the crown.
North library of the outer enclosure - Angkor Wat One of two 'libraries' situated inside the outer wall of Angkor Wat.
This white horse with its gaily coloured saddle hadn't been there when I was there earlier in the day, I took it to have something to do with the Aspara.
This was one of the few dogs I saw during my time in Cambodia. He was sitting in the shade and didn't even move away when I approached to take this photo.
The temple and towers had this lovely golden hue with the afternoon sun in the west shining upon them - a far cry from my sunrise visit that morning.
2 comments:
Used your horse at Angkor Wat to illustrate Khmer vocabulary lesson: http://methinx.tumblr.com/post/16721242343/khmer-horse
Super image!
Rgr
Hi Roger,
Glad to hear it was of use. Thank you for the compliment.
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