CAM: The Bayon

Angkor Archaelogical Park, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Daily: 5.00am - 6.00pm

The Bayon, known for the multitude of smiling and serene stone faces adorning its structure, was built in the late 12th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII. With beads of perspiration trickling down my forehead, thanks to the weather, I was ready to explore the last temple ruins for the day.

The last temple to be built at Angkor is surrounded by two outer walls with roads leading to it directly from the gates at each of the city's four cardinal points.

Straight to the gate!

I wonder if those are the remnants of the former library?

The Japanese Government Team for the Safeguarding of Angkor (JSA), being the current main conservatory body for The Bayon, has described the temple as "the most striking expression of the baroque style" of Khmer architecture, as contrasted with the classical style of Angkor Wat.

Tomb raider wannabe~ xD

My BFF and I spent about an hour there.

Stones here, there, everywhere...

This somehow reminds me of Janus, the two-faced Roman god.

Whose smile is nicer? :P

 

I doubt that carving is the original version.

Feeling accomplished at the end of it all, we hopped onto the tuk-tuk to head back to the hotel.

Our tuk-tuk driver stopped for us to take some pictures before leaving the area.

Hi, elephants! :)

It's been an enlightening experience indeed at the Angkor Archaeological Park.