Angkor Wat is only one temple in a vast temple complex in north east Cambodia close to the current Cambodian city of Siem Reap. The temples in the area were built by the Khmer Empire starting in the 9th century and extending into the 14th century. Angkor Wat, built in the 12th century, is the largest and the most famous of these temples. It was built as a funerary temple for King Suryavarman II to honor the Hindu god Vishu. Other temples in the area, and also marvels of Khmer Architecture and stoneworking, include Bantay Srei built in the 10th century and Preah Khan, Ta Prohm, and Bayon all built in the 12th century.
The following pictures were taken during two trips to Angkor Wat. The first was in September of 1997 and the second was in December of 2003. The difference between the two trips was amazing. On returning for the second time I was shocked by the amount of tourists. Gone were the beggers at the front entrance; the little girl with the missing leg who I so clearly remember has turned into workers repairing the buildings. The children swimming in the moat have been replaced by tourists clogging up the causeway vying for the best
camera angle. The stillness of the central tower at sunrise has been replaced by tourists screaming at each other in an attempt to help each other up the stairs.
On the second night of the second trip, we went to Angkor Wat to watch the sunset. Sitting on the steps leading up to the bas reliefs were two novice monks. I noticed the tattoo on the back of one of thier hands and asked if I could take pictures of it. After taking a few pictures, the two monks started to show me their other tattoos. First Khmer writing on the inner arm, a heart with an arrow through it, an American eagle on the shoulder of one monk, a rose on the shoulder of another, a stylized lion on another shoulder. Of course monks should not have tattoos, but in Cambodia, nothing is as expected.
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