SIEM Reap: ANGKOR WAT

“At Ongcor, there are ...ruins of such grandeur... that, at the first view, one is filled with profound admiration, and cannot but ask what has become of this powerful race, so civilized, so enlightened, the authors of these gigantic works?”   

Henri Mouhot's drawing in 1800s

       

(Henri Mouhot, 1826-1861)

Henri Mouhot called Angkor – Ongcor. He didn’t discover Angkor Wat or the other temples even though many people think he did. The Khmer, Cambodians, always knew it was there.  BUT he did tell the Western world about it. He did drawings and described the spectacular temples to Europeans which seemed to them AMAZING.

It was first Hindu, then Buddhist. It is the LARGEST religious monument in the WORLD! It means Temple City.

There’s a moat around the temple, which I saw from the air when we were flying in. There has been a lot of restoration of the temple which has mostly been done by other countries.

There are APSARAS everywhere on the bas relief at Angkor Wat. There are Apsaras in the other temples but not as many as there are in Angkor Wat.

An Apsara is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.  Mum used to tell me the name Apsara meant “heavenly angel” but I know they are also celestial nymphs.

I got this from the internet:

Apsaras are beautiful, supernatural female beings. They are youthful and elegant, and superb in the art of dancing. As ethereal beings who inhabit the skies, and are often depicted taking flight, or at service of a god, they may be compared to angels.

There are beautiful bas-relief along the long walls - of Apsaras and of different scenes in Hindu mythology and daily life.

Khmer classical dance, the indigenous ballet-like performance art of Cambodia, is frequently called  "Apsara Dance".

Apsaras are also in Indonesia, especially in Java at Borobudur. Mum says she wants to take me there too!

This is one of my favorites - an Apsara emerging from a wall. [and Apsara braces!!!!!]

 

Apsara? Who? you? me? us?

 

 

 Apsara is "FAMOUS" in Cambodia. When the hotel staff and tuk tuk drivers knew my name, and that I am Cambodian, they made a big fuss over me.

There are lots of things named after me, like the Apsara Hotel, the Apsara Bakery, Apsara Computer school and I saw “Free Apsara Dancing Live” in neon lights! (Mum took a photo).