The Smile of Angkor (Part Eight)

Another sunny morning, our little TUTU leisurely crosses the jungle again, even more relaxed are the people riding on elephants, this ancient mode of transportation is more suitable for the tall jungle The light has just moved to the edge of the stone corridor, where Apsara fairies dance in various poses hidden in the darkness. A palm-sized spider, indifferent to everything, weaves a silver web in a corner of the stone gate. We walk into this tall tower mountain, where large murals exquisitely tempt us deeper Across the forest, the Zodiac Towers emerge. Walking down from the viewing platform, while admiring the countless war elephants carved on the walls, to the north is the famous Leper King Terrace. The layered and intertwined Buddha statues in various postures dazzle me, stars twinkle, and my head spins (why don't you try walking a few hundred meters under the midday sun with no shade?) In the evening, one cannot simply stay in the hotel. Once again at Angkor Wat, following the many tourists, we listen to the guide talk about the past. Ancient legends are carved on the walls, and the most beautiful is the soft light of the sunset filtering through the countless pillars in the cloister, dividing it into beams of light, with monks in robes passing by, flickering in and out of the light... Following the steep stairs, the children and I climb to the third floor, said to be the gateway to heaven. Corridors lead us round and round, directionless, occasionally a beam of light shines on a Buddha statue in a dark stone chamber, glittering with gold Palm trees cannot hide the grandeur and splendor of the temple, as the sunset gradually merges into the vast mist Night falls, and it's time to go to Pub Street for my beer