Ta Prohm: The Jungle Temple

One common observation about the multitude of tourists I saw when touring Siem Reap in Cambodia is that 98% of all of them regardless of their race are very young.  They are the able-bodied, in shape and high spirited types of mortals.   Well I guess possessing these attributes would be an advantage to any tourist who would explore the wondrous sights in Siem Reap.

This is especially true when I and my sister went to the magical temple called Ta Prohm.  After being dropped by our hired driver at the eastern gate who told us that he will be waiting at the western side of the complex, I knew that exploring The Jungle Temple would require a considerable amount of strength.

Upon entering the gate and a 15-minute walk of a dirt road penetrating though the Cambodian jungle, we witnessed our first glimpse of a breathtaking out of this world sight.  Just when we thought we’d seen the best along came Ta Phrom and it blew us away!

a lot of the temple is covered with bright green moss making it look even more beautiful

a lot of the temple is covered with bright green moss
making it look even more beautiful

nature taking over...

nature taking over…

Seeing those massive trees, I knew that this spot has got to be my favorite temple among all the temples I saw in Khmer Empire’s Capital City of Angkor.

i think i want this tree in my office... :)

i think i want this tree in my office… 🙂

picture perfect sight...

picture perfect sight…

my sister taking a short break... (di halatang gutom. hihihi)

my sister taking a short break…

It seemed like the gigantic unrelenting jungle trees married themselves to the stone buildings by hugging and caressing them which results to bizarre breathtaking form.

look at the lower right corner and see how massive those roots are...

look at the lower right corner and see
how massive those roots are…

contrasting green moss and my red ensemble...

contrasting green moss and my red ensemble…

It gives you the feeling that after being left to nature for hundreds of years, the jungle decided to take over the temple and make its presence felt by outgrowing the numerous parts of the temple complex with very huge stems, branches and roots gripping and embracing the walls.

amazing!!!

amazing!!!

clap, clap, clap!!!

clap, clap, clap!!!

Words definitely do not do justice for Ta Phrom.

Mapapamura ka sa ganda!!!

Visita Buddha

Don’t get me wrong, I am a Catholic but Visita Iglesia is one Filipino custom that I have yet to do.  It is a Catholic tradition of visiting at least seven churches in one day to ernestly pray- usually done on a Maundy Thursday.  Maybe it is because being based in the Philippines I know that I will at one point in my life will have the chance to do it.  The opportunity is always present and possible.

This made me so guilty when I recently had my second opportunity to visit Bangkok, Thailand.  Because stepping into Bangkok is a rare chance, I again find myself visiting the various Buddhist Wat-s (temples).  These are the counterparts of the Catholic churches in Manila.

I am especially at awe with the very Asian culture, aesthetic designs and architecture of Bangkok.  Entering each of the glittering Buddhist temples of Bangkok basically made the same impression when I enter the Catholic churches here in Pinas.  It is serene, it is spiritual, it is pious and it is heavenly.  I am very impressed though by the Thai Buddhist people praying with much focus and deep contemplation because unlike the churches in the Philippines their temples in Bangkok are tourist-flooded!

Here’s the proof of my guilt, my Vista Buddha encounters…

 

 

 

 Ayun na pa sayn op da kros ako pagka-dasal ko sa isa sa mga templo!