旅の思い出・番外編ーアンコールワットの旅(2) Memories of trips-extra edition-No.2. Trip to Angkor Wat-the remains in Cambodia
旅の思い出・番外編ーアンコールワットの旅(2) Memories of trips-extra edition-No.2. Trip to Angkor Wat-the Buddhist and Hinduism remains in Cambodia
Angkor ruins are one of most impressive and mysterious sightseeing spots where I have visited. The area of this ruins is said to be about 4 million hectare (about 9,884 thousand acres). There might be gigantic city where hundreds of thousands of people lived in the 12th century. Or the population might be over 1 million. We can imagine the absolute power of the ruler, rich rice harvest, and advanced technologies to construct many huge stone buildings and sensitivity of works of art. This area must have been one of the center of civilizations in the world in the past.
We always recollect the tragedy of Cambodia's Civil War caused by Pol Pot in 1970's. I hope this country keeps peace and prospers. And I want to visit here again!
the First Corridor
We walked on the floting bridge toward the center of the temples. Angkor means a town or castle and Wat means a temple.
a long corridor. Walls of the corridor were covered with elaborate reliefs which mythology was depicted .
Why and how had these huge stone buildings been constructed?
What was this? Very mysterious sculptures were everywhere.
a landscape from the Third Corridor. We went up very steep stairs.
folk dances of Khmer style performed by young women. It was called Dance of Apsara（アプサラの舞）which meant the dance of heavenly maidens. They were very graceful.
the morning sun of Angkor Wat. Many people came to see it in the early morning.
in Banteay Srei. This is the famous sclupture called Oriental Mona Lisa. There were many unbelievable sophisticated sculptures.
We were just like under the illusion that we strayed into the mysterious world.
There were large buildings made of stones and beautiful scluptures everywhere.
Ta Prohm ruins（タ・プローム遺跡）. These temples which was originally Buddhist temples but was later converted to Hinduism were eroded by Indian laurel trees. This spot became famous for the movie Tomb Raider performed by Angelina Jolie.
