Angkor Wat Temple, Cambodia Angkor Wat Temple was built in the early 12th century by Suryavarman II as his state temple and capital city. It is the best preserved of the temples of Angkor. Angkor Wat Temple is the architectural masterpiece of the Khmer civilization, and has become the symbol of Cambodia, appearing on the national flag. Angkor Wat, the temple's modern name, means "city temple," Angkor from the Sanskrit word nokor meaning capital city and wat, the Khmer word for temple. The temple was first a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, then Buddhist. The music on is clip is from Freshmusic.com.
Delightful Negotiations with Cambodian Kids
I captured the audio on this clip by accident (I left my video camera on) and luckily a friend took one photo of the negotiations. While waiting in line for an elephant ride at Bayon Temple, I was suddenly surrounded by a bunch of little girls ranging in age from about 5 up to about 12. They started working me to buy their t-shirts and trinkets. The negotiations were delightful. The kids were quite successful. The music on the clip is from FreshMusic.com.
Bakong Temple, Angkor Temple Complex, Cambodia
Bakong is located about 13 kilometres south-west of Siem Reap. It is one of a group of three temples (Bakong, Preah Ko and Lolei) that predate the central temples of Angkor Thom. Bakong was completed in the late 9th century, during the reign of Indravarman I. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva. Bakong is the first temple mountain or step pyramid built by the Khmer kings. The temple is constructed of a laterite mound finished in sandstone. The music on the clip is from FreshMusic.com.
Bayon Temple, Angkor Wat Temple Complex, Cambodia
Standing in the exact center of the walled city of Angkor Thom is Bayon, a Buddhist temple with elements of Hindu cosmology. Bayon Temple was built around 1190 AD by Khmer King Jayavarman VII. It was modified and augmented by his successors in accordance with their own religious preferences. Bayon is known for its huge stone faces of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, with one facing outward and keeping watch at each compass point. The smiling image of the bodhisattva is thought by many to be a portrait of Jayavarman himself. As I looked into the faces of the bodhisattva, I thought about the Coldplay song "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face." I played it over and over on my iPod as I walked around Bayon. Purchase Coldplay music from Amazon
The Elephants of Bayon Temple, Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Bayon, one of the most impressive Ancient Angkor temples, is a Buddhist temple with elements of Hindu cosmology. Bayon is known for its huge stone faces of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, with one facing outward and keeping watch at each compass point. Elephants are a recurring theme around Bayon. Stone statues and bas-reliefs of elephants adorn the grounds and walls of many Angkor temples; and Bayon visitors can catch a ride around the temple grounds by elephant. The music on this clip is "Looking Up" by the Dave Holland Quintet. Purchase Dave Holland music from Amazon
Preah Ko Temple, Angkor, Cambodia
Preah Ko or Sacred Bull derives its name from the many bull statues located in front of the temple's towers. These statues are thought to represent Nandi, the bull who served as the mount for the Hindu god, Shiva. Preah Ko was built by the Khmer King Indravarman I in the 9th century to honor his family. The temple is located in the ancient city of Hariharalaya, approximately 15 kilometers south-east of the main temple complex at Angkor. The music on the clip is from FreshMusic.com. Looking for music for your YouTube videos? Check out Freshmusic.com's fanastic selection of royalty free tracks.
Ta Prohm Temple, Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Ta Prohm Temple was originally called Rajavihara. It was built in the later 12th and early 13th centuries by the Khmer King Jayavarman Vii as a Mahayana Buddhist monastary and university. Unlike most Angkor temples, Ta Prohm had been left in tis "natural state" as an example of how most of Angkor looked upon its discovery in the late 19th century. The music on the clip is Herbie Hancock playing "Canteloupe Island." Purchase Herbie Hancock music from Amazon
Banteay Srei Temple, Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Banteay Srei was built in the 10th century and dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva. It is the only major temple at Angkor not built by a king. It is credited to Yajnavaraha, a counselor to King Rajendravaman. Banteay Srei is built almost entirely of red sandstone. Its surfaces are covered with beautiful bas-relief carvings. Banteay Srei is considered by many to be the "Jewel of Khmer Art." Still photography was used for much of the imagery as it provided a higher resolution for the intricate stone carvings. The music on this clip is "Fanfare for the Common Man" composed by Aaron Copland. Purchase Aaron Copland music from Amazon
Tonle Sap Lake, Seam Reap, Cambodia
This clip includes great footage of the boat people living on Tonle Sap Lake. The lake is located in the center of Cambodia. For most of the year the Tonle Sap is about a meter deep with an area of 2,700 square km. During the monsoon season, however, the Tonle Sap river which connects the lake with the Mekong river reverses its flow. Water is pushed up from the Mekong into the lake, increasing its area to 16,000 square km and its depth to up to nine meters, flooding nearby fields and forests. I visited Tonle Sap as part of a tour of Siem Reap and Angkor Wat in February 2007. The music on the clip is from FreshMusic.com.
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