For our second day (April 29th) touring the Angkor Temple Complex we visited Kbal Spean, Banteay Srei, and Ta Prohm.

Once again our guide met us at 8:30 and off we went, this time on a drive out of town into some hills. The mountain (hill) at Kbal Spean) was the source of the sandstone out of which Angkor Wat was made and it is now forbidden to take any more stones from the mountain. We hiked a 1.5 kilometers up the mountain to visit the River of a Thousand Lingas, stone carvings that are more naturally situated on the rocks along a stream that leads down to a waterfall. Linga (along with Yoni) are the sexual symbols of the Hindu God Shiva. The area is also a natural preserve, but the drought was evident. While we were able to see more of the stone carvings because the water was so low, there was no waterfall. First, some signage…

The following pix are of the flora and fauna. The jungle was quite dry, but the big trees and many vines were still beautiful. We saw several lizards and a doggie…

Here are the stone carvings and our guide Mr. Hoeut. The water has eroded some of the carvings considerably, but after almost 1000 years that is to be expected…

Some clips…

After Kpal Spean, we drove to Banteay Srei. Built as a Hindu Temple to the God Shiva, it is made of red sandstone which lends itself to more elaborate (and better preserved) carvings. It is in a different style from temples of Angkor Wat & Thom…

More pix of Banteay Srei, walking back to the car, and lunch…

Study Questions:

1. Research Kbal Spean. (links above) What is interesting or compelling to you?
2. Research Banteay Srei. (links above) What is interesting or compelling to you?
3. Research the South East Asian drought. Truths and consequences?