Travels 239: Meeting Dvarapala and Devata at Ta Phrom, the Tomb Raider style

One of the few temples I have come to visit is made famous by the film of Angelina Jolie aptly titled Lara Croft: Tomb Raider which I have also seen back then and now, I am in the very same temple she went into and experiencing it firsthand. Ta Phrom is where the temples were made famous because of the gigantic tree roots overcoming the temple complex and temple walls. It is the very same temple that evoked teasure-hunting style of the film and one which also evoke in me the kind of journey that made me look for special figures like Dvarapala and Devata along its very walls and windows.

Built in the late 12^th to 13^th centuries, the style of the temple is characteristically of Bayon influence and was made during the reign of King Jayavarman VII and the temple complex was expanded by Indravarman II. Intended as a temple for his Queen Mother, the temple was installed in 1186 in honor of its most respected and famous goddess, Prajnaparamita otherwise known as the “Perfection of Wisdom”.

While inside the Ta Phrom temple, I met a cool and generous Cambodian gentleman who guided me to the Echo Tower where one leans on the wall inside the temple and beat his heart where the echo sounds like a bell. I beat my heart so heavily and strongly that it created an echo reverberating over the tower.

Afterwards, this fine Cambodian gentleman told me secretly that he will show me one of its hidden secrets that not all tourists and guides knew. It is the devata that was featured in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. I gamely followed him and he instructed me to silently and unassumingly walk pass many other tourists. We made counterflow moments of where mostly tourist comes our way from their sightseeing. He suddenly stop and asked me to stand in front of me and he was guiding me from behind asking me to point the camera to the gigantic roots inside the central towers of Ta Phrom.

Right across me was an image of a devata covered by gigantic roots and to my surprise; I was the only one inside its very location. I asked him if I can come near and he gave me permission. I took it off with my camera and this was perhaps, the most memorable journey I had been to in Angkor Wat.

Indeed Ta Phrom is one great temple of wisdom and ego echoing from the heart. I learned it by heart, I have known by heart. Ta Phrom is greatness inside the heart.

Travels 238: Visiting the enigmatic and powerful Bayon

One of the strongest points among the temples of Angkor Wat is the Bayon known for its face towers all over. The architectural design of the Bayon temple is one that characteristically that for God worship from Hinduism to Buddhism. This is built as the State temple for King Jayavarman VII and his ascendants, it brought to the fore the core beliefs and practices of the people during those times.

My visit to this great temple complex started with a short walk to the west gate from Angkor Wat. I came in and saw some figures holding on to the Naga as it guards the temple gates. Here I also saw the start of the elephant ride towards the interiors of the temple. Upon reaching the gate, I saw the famous Cambodian monkey milling around the gates as if I am transported to the movie of Angelina Jolie aptly shoot in Angkor Wat complexes.

The Bayon as I saw it is a great temple where many have offered worships and true, there I saw many face towers. Historically speaking, the Bayon was a result of a remodelling concept since Angkor Thom is a well-fortified city, the architects and managers during those times thought that it be best to just maintain the temple at Bayon where it was and remodel it of sort.

It is also here in this temple that I saw well-carved apsara dancers adorning the columns of the temple. I respected the Khmer architecture so much that I almost spent an hour trying to look for great carvings and stones that resembles excellence in craftsmanship and arts.

Bayon is one great visit if one winds down to the Angkor Complex. I saw I saw the reclining Buddha inside Bayon on my way to the interior complexes and felt at peace. It is the greatest among the great in Angkor Wat complexes.

Travel 236: Clearing the land for the future: The Story of Aki Ra and the Cambodia Landmines Museum

My stay in Cambodia will never be complete if I will not be able to see the Cambodian Landmines Museum near Banteay Srei and it happened when coming back from my quick visit at the Wat in Banteay Srei that I decided to drop by at the famous Cambodian Landmines Museum which is a hallmark of an effort of one man, a former Khmer child soldier by the name of Aki Ra.

I met Aki Ra at the Cambodian Landmines Museum albeit very quickly, shake his hands and just see him off towards a hectic day ahead for him and his team. We exchange pleasantries. Noting his hectic day, we forgo the photo ops but I absorbed the seriousness of his work for the people of Cambodia.

Awarded by the CNN as the Hero of the Year, Aki Ra battles to clear Cambodia of landmines brought about by the civil wars. His story is one that captures the attention of the world when he started off as a Khmer child soldier after his parents were murdered by Khmer rebels. He was trained as a child soldier and according to him, at that time; he never understood which right or wrong in his actions and that of his comrades. He showed to the world responsibility and accountability by clearing the mines he helped bury many years ago. In his efforts, he was able to remove 50,000 mines.

Upon seeing the museum, I felt honoured to have been able to see his efforts firsthand and personally. I entered the premises and seen so many kinds of mines as well as weapons. Many like these weapons have killed and ripped off lives of innocent children and women, farmers and schoolchildren. Cambodia then is totally different from what it is today when Aki Ra has shown them how his efforts at clearing the land for the future reaps them security and peace.

I am rather impressed of how the museum was well taken care of. An entrance fee of US $3.00 is sought to help finance children’s education and the upkeep of the museum. My short visit gave me the chance to also thank the American President of the Landmines Relief Fund, Dr. Bill Morse for his genuine support to these causes.

Aki Ra and the Cambodia Landmines Museum exemplify the modern Cambodia, one that secures the future with optimism and drive.