An Orgy of Temples

There are almost too many temples in Siem Reap, an orgy of sorts, with over 50 in the Angkor alone. With only a few days visit we could hardly visit them all. The ones we did visit each had its own unique charm. More importantly, each of these had its own photographic charm. Ale’ made sure we visited these temples at the right time of day (you will see why it matters in a moment) and got us to the right spot to capture this charm. Once there, we were on our own to capture the beauty of each temple. There were seven we visited. Please come along and see each temple’s charm.

Ta Prohm Temple

This is the temple that drew me back to Siem Reap (I wrote about this a few days ago in: A Bad Habit). Either it cast a spell over me or has some mystical presence, but its beauty is unmistakable. I had to experience it again. Seemingly large trees grow out of the ancient temple buildings providing a jungle feel unlike anything I have experienced before. If you read my previous blog on my favorite photo from here, you now understand. If not, you should go read it now. Here is another image that gives you that jungle feeling. I’ve got that jungle feeling!

There are so many roots, all shapes and sizes, that it was hard to pick one over another. I picked this one for you.

Bayon Temple

The temple of many faces. That’s not what it’s called. I made it up. At the top of the temple, which we ascended, there are over 50 spires. Each spire has four large faces, each about 30 feet in height. That’s over 200 faces and 6,000 feet. Ale’ likes to get as many faces as possible into one photo. I chose the contrast between the two types, dark and light.

There are many ways to photograph the many faces of Bayon. Fooling around with this, I tried to line up a nose and a mouth.

Angkor Wat Temple

Angkor Wat is the largest temple in Angkor and also the most popular. Tourists arise early in the morning to watch the sun appear over the temple. We, however, were looking for the time just prior to sunrise, with the temple’s silhouette providing an unmistakable image. If you travel to Siem Reap, you will most assuredly be asked if you visited Angkor Wat for sunrise. On our last morning we arose very early and tried to correct last year’s photographic failure (the sun rose but the elements did not cooperate). We were aiming for a better result. At 5:44 AM the clouds, lake, and temple did their best to offer this shot. Not as dramatic as we hoped, but much improved.

This time we had some clouds and very still water. The Angkor Wat silhouette is unmistakable.

Pre Rup Temple

We hadn’t seen this temple before so I was looking forward to what it has to offer. At first look, this temple seemed similar to all the rest, a lot of big rocks piled high. What is so different about this temple, I asked? Just wait and you will see. As we climbed the many rock steps to the top, Ale’ asked if I like lions. Sure do. I photographed a bunch in Kenya, I said. Well we are here to photograph some more. There are many sculptures of lions all over the temple top, just waiting to be photographed in silhouette. The clouds were miraculous, obeying the king of animals’ command.

The lion roared moving some of the clouds away.

Ta Nei Temple

We visited this temple last year just to see a tree. It was a nice tree. A silver tree. When we arrived, I was disappointed. Ale’ could see that in my face. So much for my poker face. Are we here to shoot that same silver tree? We’ve done that, I said. We can do better. I think I’ve heard that before.

Using a wide angle lens lets the root gain more prominence in this photo.

Ta Som Temple

By the time we visited Ta Som, I was almost overdosed on temples. They are all beautiful but how many do I need to visit? I guess the answer was two more. Ta Som was quite ordinary, at least as ordinary as a thousand year old temple would be. We walked through and around with only a interesting carving to shoot. I won’t show you it as it was not why we came here. We finally reached the backside of the temple area and went through its backside gate. Then I saw why we came here, a really nice tree that frames a well-preserved face.

The sunlight was kissing the face. I couldn’t let the go unphotographed.

Preah Khan Temple

Our final temple. And it was a good one. It had the feel of Ta Prohm (the one with all the cool roots) but far less visited, making our walk around quite peaceful. As Ale’ was often heard to say, it is quiet and I like quiet. We, too, have the same feelings. We run from crowds. There was a really nice looking root growing out of the temple wall that I shot over and over.

I’m done, what’s next on our Cambodian tour? Ale responds, come with me to the backside of the temple and I will show you the most beautiful tree in all of Siem Reap. OK, Ale’, let’s go. I didn’t think it’s the most beautiful but I certainly didn’t divulge this to Ale’. He is now reading about this at the same time you are. But, it is very interesting. There are two trees intertwined to make it look quite unique. Click.

Doesn’t the root of this tree look like a leg in a running motion?

Ale’ claims this is the “most beautiful tree” in Angkor. What do you think?

We were finished with our temple tour and all I could think of was one more temple wouldn’t be so bad, would it?

Bonus – Gates

Although not a temple, these photos look like they could have been taken at one. We stopped at the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom (contains 53 temples including all those listed here) where we climbed up the side to photograph another well preserved face. The North Gate had another amazing tree (how many of them are there?) . In some respects the gates are just as interesting as the temples.