APAD 097: Mother and child
This statue can be found inside the huge Prasat Vihear Sour complex.
APAD 093: Temple guardians
Saw this at the pond inside Prasat Vihear Sour two weeks ago.
If I am not mistaken these are temple guardians called “dvarapalas” or the mythical monsters called “kala”.
Either a “dvarapala” or a “kala”, they are the guardians of the temple and are decorative elements in Khmer architectures and structures.
APAD 092: Prasat Vihear Sour
I don’t exactly know what it means in English but this particular wat attracts numerous local and foreign tourists because its architectural style is based on that of the Angkor Wat. It is constructed using a mix of cement and cement between 1996 to 1998 to a whopping amount of — wait for it – about one million dollars. WHEW!
Prasat Vihear Sour does look like Angkor Wat, isn’t it? Which is why it has earned the nickname “the new Angkor Wat”.
The money used is said to have been raised from local and foreign sources.
We went there during the Chinese New Year and it was located inside a sprawling compound with lots of trees and shade. There are also other new but smaller structures, still bearing the same architectural style. It has also an amazing archway decorated with giant-faces just like the faces that are found in the temples of Bayon.
APAD 014: Entrance
I like the elaborate design of this entrance. This pagoda is located in Prek Phnov, Russei Keo district, just a few kilometers away from the public market.
At the entrance, an archway carved with giant images facing the four directions greet visitors to this temple.
The design is a replica of the images found at Bayon Temple in Siem Reap while the arch features mythical creatures atop elephants. The beautiful kbach design that is characteristically Khmer is also carved on the arch.
APAD 013: Preparing for Pchum Ben
It is Pchum Ben once again Cambodia. It’s the time of the year when chaotic Phnom Penh empties out as most residents go back to their homelands to celebrate this religious celebration.
Pchum Ben is the festival for commemorating the spirits of the dead. The faithful Buddhists go to different wats (temples) in their hometowns to offer prayer and food to their ancestors. It is somewhat similar to the Catholic’s celebration of All Soul’s Day, but the celebration of Pchum Ben lasts longer, for 15 days.
Anyway, since Pchum Ben is two weeks away, there are now activities at the wats. Achars (layman) and elder women start decorating the wats, putting up banners and such, like what you see in this picture:
The statues have been scrubbed washed and are now immaculately clean.
Did you know that the Cambodian Catholic community celebrate All Soul’s Day during the Pchum Ben? Traditionally, the Catholics celebrate All Soul’s Day every 2nd of November but here the date was “adjusted” to coincide with the country’s traditional holding of Pchum Ben.
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