Cambodia 2020 - 20. Banteay Srei Temple

20. Banteay Srei Temple

On the Way, Saw This Amazing Load

Banteay Srei is called the Women’s Temple. It is said to be the best preserved temple with carvings of the finest detail; dedicated to the god Shiva. Shiva the creator, protector and transformer of the Universe; she is usually represented by a statue with 2 or 4 arms. But really, gods have no gender. And sometimes Shiva is a he and sometimes he has 6 arms. Hinduism, there is a lot I have to learn.

East Gopura Opens Onto a 67 Meter Causeway Leading to the Inner Walls

 When we stepped out of the hotel there was no tuk-tuk. So Ana called Mr. Touch #2 who said he would be there in 20 minutes.   

Carvings Over the Gate

The agreed price for this 37 km trip (one way), waiting for us to see the temple and then 37 km back would be $23 dollars. 

67 Meter Causeway With Some of the 32 Boundary Stones (Foreground)

We gave him $ 30 because he suggested several stops on the way back so our tour became 5 hours instead of the anticipated 3 hours.

Next Gate

This temple we visited was much smaller but way more understandable than Angkor Wat. Of course this temple was, over time, destroyed like all the others, but it is still very detailed and the carvings everywhere are fairly clear and visible.

Finally Entering the Temple - Along With a Tour Group

Amazing that this temple is one of the oldest, built in 967 AD

More Stunning Stone Carvings

 



And it was not a King who built it, but a teacher of the young, future King Jayavarman V.

Door Frames

Amazing Carvings Over Every Doorway

2 Central Figures Show the Battle Between 2 Clans

But later in the Empire, this temple was ruled by other kings. The temple was even given to a high Priest with a long name: Divākarapaṇḍita

 

Inner Courtyard of the Temple - Almost Every Square Inch of Sandstone Is Carved

I just love history, especially the long names.

This ‘jewel’ temple, in the chain of many temples of the Angkor period of the Khmer Empire, was worth a trip way out of Siem Reap. We had a good day especially when we could enjoy the walk through the ruins. There was not much bending, ducking and watching your footing. It was a great place to visit.

Guardians of the Shrine

Having a Good Time

I like this picture of us in the doorway.

Banteay Srei Is So Small Compared to Angkor Wat

Cambodia 2020 - 18. Housekeeping and Anecdotes

18. Housekeeping and Anecdotes

Just a Bunch of Notes and Small Blips of Stories:

That's Better

We took a day of rest after our outing to the Chopstick Houses.

It took me a bit to clean myself, the red dust was literally everywhere. I undressed in the shower stall to not spread the dust all over.

All my stuff had to go to the laundry. We had 2.6 kg of laundry.The hotel would wash it but wanted $8. Ana told me about a laundry down the road where I dropped it off and their charge was $2.50. It was nice and clean, ironed and folded and ready the next day.

Guess Who Had the Margarita - Yum

Thank you, Ana.

We did our pool thing, just relaxed, tried the fresh coconut drink the hotel offered but were not enthused about it.

I also tried the hotel cappuccino…  Nope…I am a snob, nothing better than Italy for that.

We were given special fruits by the hotel staff. I believe they like us, they want to do something out of the ordinary for us. Ana has taken to giving us special fruits in the morning. Carol is an inspiration to the girls here, they can’t believe this grandma is still riding a motorcycle, so unlike their own grandmothers, if they have one.

Jack Fruit - Large Seeds Inside

So we get jack fruit, papaya, mango, pineapple and sweet cucumber, nicely diced and served almost each morning. Jack fruit is wonderful, not sure why we don’t sell it much in North America. Sweet cucumber is a bit like honeydew melon, just different. We all know papaya, pineapple and mango, right?

I found salak to buy in Cambodia, something like $5 kg… I buy 2 or 3 fruits at a time is enough for me; it will not shock my wallet. This salak is imported from Bali, where it is much cheaper.

Our hotel has a difficult time boiling eggs. I don’t know why, but I ask for a hard boiled egg and always get the white as being runny. The eggs are just beyond ‘raw’. Yuk!

Even Carol tried to order them for me, in case I don’t say it correctly, still… runny eggs. We tried telling them a 6 minute egg, still it gets to me… runny. It’s almost a joke… they don’t seem to understand hard-boiled.

One of the Large Signs for the Apsara Dancers

Boiled eggs are served with soy sauce, Carol loves it… me, not so much.

It was a day of writing notes, sending out postcards.

We arranged, with Ana’s help, for a visit to a dance school.

Stay tuned for a later Blog… Apsara Dancers…