Departing Bayon Temple, we look for the familiar green Tuktuk that serves as our chariot since the break of dawn. It takes a while to find Rattana’s tri-bike. We spot a pink Ice Cream van and head toward that direction. The ice cream cost USD 1.50 to 2, which is quite expensive for the ice cream pops we get in Manila for half the price.
A glimpse of a green tri-bike shows a relaxed Rattana reading a magazine. The three of us sneak up behind him and shout at the top of our lungs, “RATTANA!” to his surprise. We all share a good laugh.
10am calls for a brunch break. Unfortunately, there are no enclosed restaurants in the area and we have to dine in something that looks like the side street eatery we ate in before –only so much cleaner. The gagging part I endured during the travel to Cambodia is still very much present in my memory bank. The row of eateries is just behind the row of souvenir stalls. The dishes in the menu are quoted mostly at 4-5 dollars, which raised one eyebrow. After some bargaining and doing some cha-cha from one stall to the next, the prices are slashed to half the price. We pick our spot.
Being safe, all three of us eagerly point at the dish that says Fried Chicken on the menu. We treat Rattana to a lunch too. 5 minutes later, we are served something that doesn’t resemble a fried chicken at all. It tastes clean but bland so I improvise the taste with chili sauce.
The Elephant Terrace
Still exploring the walled city of the intricately detailed Angkor Thom, we see a platform on the left that stretches extensively to another end. The appearance seems to be a runway walk with obtruding figures reflecting what seems to me as a victory march embedded on it. This is the podium where Angkor’s king Jayavarman VII viewed his victorious returning army. The extensive 350m long-platform of the Elephant Terrace runs from the entrance of the Bayon to the Terrace of the Leper King.
The platform, acting as the royal pavilion to receive the returning army, was constructed with staircases on both ends and in the center. These staircases were designed with three heads of elephants with their trunks touching the ground.
The Terrace of the Leper King
The Terrace of the Leper King was aptly named after the sculpture that was discovered on the top. This construction stands quite off from the other buildings that surround the Royal Square of Angkor Thom. To see the reliefs, pass through the trench filled with laterite rocks and rubbles, by the narrow entrance and follow its zigzag course around the terrace.
The carvings are similar to those on the outside where seated male figures with drawn swords are lined with attendant devatas.
Phimeanakas
Phimeanakas is a Hindu temple built at the end of the 10th century that was later on rebuilt by Suryavarman II, the same King behind Angkor Wat. Phimeanakas is a laterite pyramid rising in three levels of 12m each. On four sides are staircases flanked with guardian lions with elephants on the corners. A tower used to stand at the top of the pyramid.
Old man’s tale says that during first watch, the king spent every night with a Naga girl at the tower. The Naga girl is believed to be the incarnation of a nine-headed serpent. It is only in the second watch that the king returned to his palace with the queen. If the Naga who was the supreme Khmer land owner did not show up for a night, the King’s day is said to be numbered. If the King does not show up on the second night, then calamity would strike his land.
We come across another large pond. The large pond, with sandstone around its circumference, is dominated by a paved terrace where the king probably sat to watch aquatic sports.
Albums
Cambodia Trip Set 1 DSLR Photos
Cambodia Trip Set 2 DLSR Photos
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