Looking back over the last month, Amethyst and Sapphire realize what a busy, exciting and interesting month it has been since their last blog update.
From planning a 4 day sight seeing itinerary and welcoming their friend Jean and her son Skye to their home in Siem Reap, to advertising and finding new tenants for the empty apartments in their building, to researching and finding online work and finally to planning for the upcoming Christmas holidays. Whew, what a month!
The most memorable definitely being the 4 fun filled days with Jean and Skye. An absolutely amazing whirlwind of experiences and sights from cocktails and party fun at the pool to a magnificent sunrise at the Angkor Wat Temple, visiting and exploring various famous temples within the Archeological Park, a boat trip through a floating village ending with a spectacular sunset on Tonle Sap Lake, a day visit to the the Cultural Village, cocktails and foot massages at the Night Market and dinner and drinks in Pub Street, visiting the Kulen National Park and Kulen Mountain, the reclining Buddha, the River of 1000 Linga’s and the breath taking Kulen Mountain Waterfall. 4 unforgettable days!
Showing their friends the sites gave Amethyst and Sapphire an opportunity to also visit various temples, tourist sites and parts of Siem Reap they themselves had not yet explored.
Enjoy the overview below of places they visited in Siem Reap with their visitors that have not yet been covered in their blog.
Angkor Wat Archeological Park
Baphuon
While their visitors were exploring Bayon, (covered in an earlier blog), Amethyst and Sapphire went to explore Baphuon, the state temple of King Udayadityavarman II. This sandstone monument was dedicated to Shiva and is in the shape of a stepped pyramid.
They walked along the sandstone walkway, (which is a little above ground level), and were fascinated by a troop of monkeys (who were obviously cooling off under the walkway) and had decided to come out and explore. Halfway down the walkway, between the temple and the entrance gate is a pavilion from where Amethyst was able to capture a scenic photograph of a fisherman who was also enjoying the company of the monkeys.
After exploring Baphuon, they took a scenic walk towards the Terrace of Elephants and the Leper King Terrace.
The Terrace of Elephants
The Terrace of the Elephants is part of the walled city of Angkor Thom. The 350 M long terrace was apparently used for public ceremonies and served as a platform for King Jayavarman VII, from which he could view his army returning victoriously from battle. Most of the original structure was made of organic material and what remains are the foundation platforms of the complex. The terrace is named for the carvings of elephants on its eastern face.
Leper King Terrace
Located immediately north to the Terrace of Elephants, this terrace wall walkway is absolutely magnificent. Entering this narrow walkway with 6 meter carved walls on either side is confining and almost claustrophobic and one is left feeling breathless yet unsure if the breathlessness is from the confined space or from being up close to these intricate, magnificently carved nagas, demons and other mythological figures. Walking through this narrow pathway and seeing these deeply detailed wall carvings was definitely a highlight and an unforgettable experience.
The Terrace is named after a seated statue which once occupied the platform and which has since been moved to a National Museum.
Tonle Sap Lake
There are several so-called floating villages located on and around the Tonle Sap Lake and they are all somewhat different.
Unfortunately Amethyst and Sapphire are are unsure of which village their boat traveled through on their way to the open waters of the Lake to watch the sunset.
The floating village was absolutely picturesque and not what they expected. The stilted houses with quaintly decorated and flowered balconies leading down to the waterway were modest but clean and brightly coloured. There was an almost tranquil air about the village, a far cry from a bustling floating fishing village of their expected imaginings.
The Sunset on Tonle Sap Lake
While sitting in the boat they watched the sun slowly set in the horizon. It was hard to believe that they were bobbing around on a lake and not on the vast ocean as they could not see any sign of a shore in the distance. It felt like being on the open sea. AND the sunset was absolutely colorfully spectacular. A sunset like no other they had ever seen and a beautiful ending to what had been a magnificent day.
Kulen National Park
The Reclining Buddha
The reclining Buddha is found on the top of Kulen Mountain which is considered to be the most sacred mountain in Cambodia. The reclining Buddha is an 8 meter long Buddha statue in a reclining position. The face depicting a state of bliss as Buddha passes on and reaches Nirvana. Nirvana (in Buddhism) is a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism.
The Buddha is carved directly into the sandstone rock on top of Kulen Mountain. The carving has a structure built around it and a roof over it to protect the carving from the elements. There are numerous notes left by local worshipers asking for blessings and also gifts and offerings left for Buddha.
The 1000 Linga’s
Kbal Spean is known as the Valley of a 1000 lingas and is set deep in the jungle. As it was too hot and humid to undertake the 45- minute uphill walk through the woods, a short walk along the riverbank to view the stone phalluses which are carved on the riverbed, was all our hot and bothered waterfall seekers were willing to undertake.
The stone phalluses (according to the dictionary) – “A phallus is a penis, especially when erect, an object that resembles a penis, or a mimetic image of an erect penis”.
These stone phalluses are carved on the river bed and are apparently fertility symbols designed to bless the water. The flow of the river over them sanctifies the water. This water, thus sanctified, continues down the Kbal Spean River through Angkor Wat and eventually becomes a tributary feeding into Tonle Sap Lake, apparently fertilizing as it winds its way along.
A hike up the ‘River of a Thousand Lingas’, to the natural rock bridge would be an outing Amethyst and Sapphire would leave for another day, although Amethyst has been warned by Sapphire to stay far away from the river water and its fertility properties.
The Kulen Mountain Waterfall
A playground for locals, Phnom Kulen (literally Mountain of the Lychees) is a great picnic spot with an absolutely spectacular and breath taking waterfall.
Phnom Kulen is within the Kulen National Park and requires a separate ticket to the Angkor Archaeological Park.
The waterfalls itself has two levels. The first level is 4 to 6 meters high and 10 to 15 meters wide, depending on whether it is the dry or rainy season. The second level is 15 to 20 meters high and 6 to 8 meters wide, depending on the season. As you can see from the photos and video of the second level after the rainy season, the views of the waterfalls are absolutely breath taking.
After 4 magnificent days it was time to say goodbye to their visitors from South Africa. Although the Ouma rusks, aromat, chicken and braai spices, and Mrs Balls Chutney would be enjoyed during the weeks that followed.
Amethyst starts with her online training next week with “HelloKid”, with a possible 2nd contract to teach on line students from Madrid.
And of course the excitement of planning their Christmas week end away in Aranyaprathet (Thailand), just across the Cambodian border, where they will be spending Christmas Day with friends and their Cambodian family in a little village near Aranyaprathet.
More interesting and exciting times that Amethyst and Sapphire cannot wait to share with their readers.