Asterix goes to Angkor...

[asterixsg]

Kicked off my 2012 travels with a brief visit to the world renowned temples of Angkor, during the CNY holidays.

Angkor was never in my list of places to go, considering that it is extremely touristy and has also been photographed to death. But somehow, I booked my tickets to Siem Reap because the weather wasn't quite optimal in other parts of SEAsia at this time of the year and I only had 4 days to get away, so Angkor it was...

Didn't do many of the things that most people usually do - gave sunrise at Angkor a miss, gave sunset from Phnom Bakhaeng a miss, as I didn't want to fight with the hundreds (if not thousands) of camera and tripod wielding folks...

Here's a few of my takes that I have selected so far...

C&C most welcome.

Cheers.

1. Angkor at sunset

A clichéd shot of Angkor Wat at sunset. Couldn't stay more than 5 minutes, as the crowds were too much for me to tolerate and enjoy that moment...Can't imagine the circus it would be at sunrise...

2. Pre Rup at dawn

3. Ta Prohm

4. Apsara at Ta Prohm

5. Bayon

 

[asterixsg]

6. Bayon

7. Apsara at Bantaey Kdei

8. Abduction of Sita, Bantaey Srei

This is a classic carving on stone, depicting the adbuction of Sita by the demon Ravana in the Hindu epic Ramayana

9. Bantaey Srei

 

[asterixsg]

10. Ravana, the 10 headed demon king @ Bantaey Srei

In Angkor, I found a very unique representation of Ravana, the 10 headed (and with 20 hands) demon king, who kidnapped Sita and took her to Lanka.

Usually, Ravana is shown with his 10 heads in one line. In Angkor temples, I found the 10 heads to be in THREE levels - 4 heads on one level in 4 different directions, another 4 on the second level in 4 different directions and 2 on the third level - front and back

Obviously, in the carvings, we cannot see the head that's behind, but that was the artists' idea

Tried my hand at B&W conversion.

11. Taken over, Beng Mealea

12. Ruins

That's all for now.

Thanks for viewing.

 

[stevepow]

Being fascinated always with your thread in the way you present your shots which are unique in its own sense.

Thanks for sharing

 

[Daoyin]

Wow; another good series. Looks like mamma does fall from above.

 

[Janetleeyj]

Vry vry heautiful fotos, i enjoy and love evry single one

 

[asterixsg]

Being fascinated always with your thread in the way you present your shots which are unique in its own sense.

Thanks for sharing

Thanks for your comments.

Wow; another good series. Looks like mamma does fall from above.

Thanks. Didn't quite get what you meant by "mamma does fall from above". I am a bit slow lah...

Vry vry heautiful fotos, i enjoy and love evry single one

Thanks janet.

Cheers...

 

[Kiwira]

loving the ruins, thanks for sharing :>

 

[kuantoh]

5. Bayon

Interesting angle, lovely capture.

 

[asterixsg]

loving the ruins, thanks for sharing :>

Thanks.

Interesting angle, lovely capture.

Thanks for your comments...

 

[asterixsg]

13. Beheaded behind bars...

 

[asterixsg]

14. Angelina Jolie's tree

15. Jigsaw puzzle

This entire section was reconstructed from a heap of stone blocks that had collapsed years ago...Amazing patience to do so...I wouldn't have lasted an hour...

16. Apsara

17. Bayon

You can't see the stone faces even from here. But once you enter the temple, so many faces staring at you from all directions. eerie...

 

[asterixsg]

18. Wall mural

You can spend a week studying all the murals in Angkor Wat...

19. Trinity