Cambodia

Another beautiful card from Cambodia, at this rate I think I'd have to visit this

country just to send myself a stamped and written postcard (aside from visiting

the lovely historical temples) as I have 5 cards from this country all sent from Mongolia,

Philippines and Russia, and two cards given to me personally >.>

Sent: 7 January 2015   Received: 28 January 2015   Travelled: 21 days

Angkor Thom

Built in the latter part of the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, Bayon is one of the most widely recognised temples in Siem Reap because of the giant stone faces that adorn the towers of Bayon. There are 54 towers of four faces each, totaling 216 faces. There is still a debate as to who is being depicted in the faces. It could be Avalokiteshvara, Mahayana Buddhism's compassionate Bodhisattva, or perhaps a combination of King Jayavarman VII and Buddha.

Thank you Marina for this beautiful card!

Angkor Wat

The temples of Angkor are highly symbolic structures. The foremost Hindu concept is the temple-mountain, where the temple is built as a representation of the mythical Mount Meru: this is why so many temples, including Angkor Wat itself, are surrounded by moats, built in a mountain-like pyramidal shape and topped by precisely five towers, representing the five peaks of Mount Meru. The linga (phallus), representing the god Shiva, was also critical and while the lingas themselves have largely gone, linga stands (carved, table-like blocks of stone) can be found in many if not most rooms in the temples. There was also a political element to it all: most kings wanted to build their own state temples to symbolize their kingdom and their rule.

 Thank you Jaja for the sunset view of Angkor Wat!

Sent: 8 January 2014

Received: 22 January 2014

Travelled: 14 days 

Cambodia

Angkor Thom Gate

On the road to the Preah Khan Temple

 Preah Khan is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII. It is located northeast of Angkor Thom and just west of the Jayatataka baray,with which it was associated. It was the centre of a substantial organization,with almost 100,000 officials and servants. The temple is flat in design,with a basic plan of successive rectangular galleries around a Buddhist sanctuary complicated by Hindu satellite temples and numerous later additions. Like the nearby Ta Prohm, Preah Khan has been left largely unrestored,with numerous trees and other vegetation growing among the ruins.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Khan

Thank you Nathan!

Sent: ??
Received: 9 April 2013