| February 19, 2007 |
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Arrive in Cambodia
at 11:00, depart Kansai International Airport
at 14:35, arrive in Ho Chi Minh City
at 15:40, depart Ho Chi Minh City
at 16:40, arrive at Siem Reap International Airport. |
| February 19, 2007 |
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The Angkor archaeological
site consists of Angkor Thom, which measures approximately 3 km on each side, and Angkor Wat, which measures approximately 1.4 km on each side. The distance between Umeda and Namba in Tokyo is 4 km, which gives you a sense of the scale of the site. |
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February 20, 2007 (Tuesday)
Panteay Srei - "Fortress of Women"
On the first day, in the morning, instead of heading straight to Angkor Wat as one might expect, we first visited Panteay Srei, located 40km north of Angkor Thom. It was like a warm-up for the tour. Apparently, there is a sculpture called the "Mona Lisa of the East," but unfortunately, we were unable to see it.
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In the afternoon, we finally arrived at Angkor
Wat, walking along the long, long approach road surrounding the moat. The only word that comes to mind is "magnificent." It was majestic and incredibly linear, and I couldn't help but take countless photos. I truly felt that it was worth coming.
Angkor Wat is a "temple town" built in the first half of the 12th century.
The atmosphere is completely different from Horyu-ji Temple, one of Japan's representative World Heritage Sites. It's hard to explain, but at Horyu-ji I felt the static beauty of the "space" between the buildings, but at Angkor Wat I felt a more dynamic power. Of course, I went up to the highest point I could.
In the evening, we had dinner while watching a folk dance performance for tourists.
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Wednesday, February 21, 2007 |
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I went on an Angkor
Wat sunrise tour. According to the local guide, the sunrise tour was originally started for Japanese tourists, but now almost all tourists, not just Japanese, participate. The way the temples gradually come into view is exactly what Japanese people love. It was truly a beautiful sight.
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The Tonle Sap Lake
travel brochure mentioned a morning cruise on the lake. Tonle Sap Lake is located about 20km southeast of Angkor Wat, and is said to become as large as the sea during the rainy season. I went there with a beautiful image in mind, but in reality, it was a foul-smelling lake where the poor lived on boats. I wondered if it was really necessary to include this in the tour itinerary. Apparently, not only the poor of Cambodia live on Tonle Sap Lake, but also Vietnamese refugees. The local guide also told me that there is a school on the boats for Cambodians, and that there are clear disparities in living conditions even among those living on the boats.
I got the feeling from the guide that he wanted us to see both the beautiful and the not-so-beautiful parts of the lake, and to know the reality.
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This is Ta Prohm Temple,
the setting for the movie "Tomb Raider." I recently watched a rerun of the movie, and it was a strange feeling to be in the same place. The large tree entwined around the ruins is apparently a type of banyan tree, and they won't restore the ruins until this tree dies. It's a long-term plan.
By the way, the round-faced person in the red shirt is me.
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Thursday, February 22, 2007 |
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Angkor Thom, South Gate:
A city that reached the end of the Angkorian Empire's glory at the end of the 12th century . It is said to have been a city that reflected the religious world of the deeply devout Khmer people. Angkor Wat is awe-inspiring just by its presence, but my honest feeling upon seeing the four-faced stupa of Angkor Thom is that I am not sure what to feel. The local guide explained that it was "so that compassion may reach the world." Is this what happens when the Khmer people wish for world peace?
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The group of Asura statues
, each holding the body of a Naga (serpent god), line the right side of the approach to the South Gate. It was the fourth day of my inspection trip and I was feeling quite tired. However,
perhaps because they are not seen on the approaches to Japanese temples , I couldn't help but gaze at these statues. Incidentally, the figures lined up on the left side are apparently Hindu gods.
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I spotted the lion in the photo near the Terrace of the Elephants in Angkor Thom. I was amazed by the seductive rear end and the aesthetic sense of the Khmer people at the end of the 12th century. Doesn't it have a similar allure to a Porsche? After a truly moving trip, I headed to the airport that night. I am so grateful to the local guide who took care of me throughout the trip.
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This time, the sister of one of our office staff members accompanied me.
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