Feb 04 2007

The Ta Prohm Temple

Published by Toe at 8:54 am under Cambodia, Travel

Enter the world of Lara Croft… or at least I think it’s the world of Lara Croft… during the movie I was either 1) asleep, or 2) too engrossed on my corndog. Note: when Honey and I used too date, sometimes I was more interested in the food we ate inside the theater than in the movie itself. :) Maybe, Verns who dreams of joining beauty pageants in Lara Croft outfits would know. ;)

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Anyway, check out this stunning twelfth-century temple in the Angkor Archaeological park in Siem Reap. This is the magical and mysterious Ta Prohm which is preserved in the state it was in when Europeans first set eyes on it in the nineteenth century. Rather than clearing the ravages brought on by the jungle, roots and trunks of big banyan trees are allowed to intermingle with the stones and seem almost part of the structure.

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For some historical information… the great builder-king Jayavarman VII originally built Ta Prohm as a Buddhist monastery. An inscription found at the site testifies to the importance of the temple: it records that there were over 12,000 people at the monastery maintained by almost 80,000 people in the surrounding villages. Now, could any christian church boast that in Europe at the same period of time? That was only the Dark Ages then. (Actually, I’m not sure about the answer… hehe!)

apsaras

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More about Angkorian temples can be found at the following posts:

Cultural Performance at Angkor Wat
ASEAN-China Joint Cultural Performance
The Septos in Cambodia
Angkor Wat on My Blog
The Bayon Temple

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39 responses so far

39 Responses to “The Ta Prohm Temple”

  1. # vernson 04 Feb 2007 at 9:18 am

    hayyyy alam mo naman ang mg wishful thinking ng mga “big-boned” na tulad ko…magkaroon ng katawan na kagaya ni Angelina (o di ba first name basis)…hrhrhr

    Anyway seriously, Toe do you have an OPM copy of the Pirates of the Carribean Dead Man’s Chest? The roots of the Banyan Tree look like the tentacles of the octopus in that movie but I prefer to just think of Ursula in the Little Mermaid para medyo pantasya ang dating hehehe

    The temple must be really really strong or sturdy kasi hindi pa sha nag collapse. I bet those trunks/roots are really heavy.

  2. # ipanemaon 04 Feb 2007 at 11:18 am

    Woooow! New home! Ganda…may dot.com ka na! Good for you! Maganda siya Toe!

    Hey, I really loooooveee to visit Angkor Wat, Cambodia for that matter! Lovely photos. Di ba yan ang ancient capital ng Cambodia Toe? Am not sure about my Asian history.

    Hey, lovely home you have here! Ok, I’ll fix your address in my blog. Have a nice Sunday!

    **By the way, I love your about page. I think with that, your readers know a bit about the author. Nice!

  3. # Toeon 04 Feb 2007 at 2:39 pm

    Vernaloo, as usual, alert, alive and enthusiastic ka talaga! :) Ooooh, now I’ll always think of the roots of those trees as arms and would try to strangle me whenever I would pose under them. Yes, those roots are really heavy and they’re hundreds of years old. It’s really amazing if you get to see that temple. That’s one of my favorites here.

    Hey Ipanema! Thanks the journey to dotcom was really painful. Will blog about it one of these days. It took me a loooong time to find the theme I wanted. :) Yes, the ancient capital is Angkor. Angkor Wat (wat means temple) is the greatest temple of the thousands of temples built during the Angkorian era from the 9th to the 13th centuries. The temple above, the Ta Prohm is one of my favorites. Thanks for reading my about page. :)

  4. # Prabon 04 Feb 2007 at 2:42 pm

    The roots thing is kinda eerie in a way. But perfect nga, for a Tomb Raider kind of thing. Is the tree still alive, Toe? I can’t quite see from your pictures.

  5. # KDon 04 Feb 2007 at 3:12 pm

    Sa palagay ko ito yung inasabi na “templo na tinubuan ng puno” hehehe.
    Those were nice shots, pwedeng pang NatGeo magazine.

  6. # Major Tomon 04 Feb 2007 at 4:57 pm

    12,000 is just too gargantous a number. The monastery should be so much larger than the remains we see today. I could just imagine it’s size in my mind.

  7. # hazeon 04 Feb 2007 at 5:09 pm

    Oh so this is it! The tree they featured the last time about exploring Cambodia ! This is quite impressing Toe ;) ! I hope to visit Cambodia one of these days ! Have a nice Sunday!

  8. # snglguyon 04 Feb 2007 at 5:39 pm

    Yes, that’s the temple they used as background for that first Lara Croft movie. I wonder if the producers of that rip-off “Asian Treasures” used the same background, I heard that they shot some episodes in different SE Asian countries…

  9. # Toeon 04 Feb 2007 at 7:41 pm

    Prab, yes those trees are very much alive, very tall, and still growing after hundreds of years.

    Thanks KD. Literally ngang templong tinubuan ng tao. :)

    Major Tom, oh the monastery is sprawling. But of course only a part of it is open to the public because a lot of the places in the are are just too dangerous. The rocks may not be strong or the foundation in the ground may give because of the roots. In fact, the part is open to the public is already quite scary to walk in… lampa pa naman ako. :)

  10. # Toeon 04 Feb 2007 at 7:44 pm

    Haze, I do hope that you get to visit Cambodia too. :)

    Snglguy, oh thanks for confirming my suspicions. :) I wasn’t able to watch Asian Treasures. The Tomb Raiders movie was enough torture for me. :)

  11. # Ferdzon 04 Feb 2007 at 8:10 pm

    Wow! You’re making me really excited to see that with my bare eyes. o touch those walls. Counting down the days….

    Thank you for the links you gave there. That would be very helpful

  12. # Monon 04 Feb 2007 at 8:13 pm

    Wow! naman, ang ganda ng mga picture post mo Toe. Sa picture pa lang naisip ko na agad kung papaano ako mag papatambling-tambling at patago-tago pa sa mga haligi ng temple using it’s shadow to hide my presence habang pinagmamasdan ko ang isang babaeng tinatawag nilang … Lara Croft. i-totodo ko na pantasya ko ha. Naka ninja attire ako with matching samurai sword at pa-tip toe pang sinusundan ang bidand babae. Sa dahilang nakatutok ang aking mga mata sa alindog ni Lara, hindi ko napansin ang lumang arinola na nakaharang. Natisod ko ito at nag ingay. Nag back Flip si Lara habang hinuhugot nya ang baril, kinasa at pinaputok sa ere. Dahil meron akong ninja powers, sinalag ko ang bala ng aking samurai … plink! plank! poink! (meron pa yan sound effect ha) at sabay kong pinasabog ang aking smoke bomb … poooof!

    gising mon gising … hahaha tapos na po :P

    Magandang araw po sa lahat …

  13. # Angeloon 04 Feb 2007 at 8:37 pm

    Wow!! That is such a cool place. I most definitely have to go to Cambodia! I must admit though, I’ve never seen that movie. Have a great week Toe!

  14. # Noypeteson 05 Feb 2007 at 1:47 am

    Wowoweewah! Nice photos! Kinda surreal with all those tree roots wraped around the majestic structures. The photos just gave me an idea of how the facade of my next house would look like! I will add a few mutant canine breed roaming the premises as well. With my dirty karsunsilyo on, a cup of coffee while reading the paper on a quiet early morning weekend by the porch,unnoticed random flatulence noise(and aroma), nosey neighbors and religious solicitors will no doubt even go near my property anymore!

  15. # Caion 05 Feb 2007 at 2:19 am

    Wow… I didn’t know trees could grow that big! Would love to visit someday.

  16. # bwon 05 Feb 2007 at 2:47 am

    I used to work with the Banyan networks in the old days, circa the Novell days and never had any idea how monstrous these Banyan trees can be :) Banyan’s networking protocol in those days was called “Banyan Vines” and when I look at the vines in the photo, heck they could topple the wall of a house :) No wonder why Banyan networks was so powerful.. LOL :)

  17. # mmy-leion 05 Feb 2007 at 2:55 am

    hmmm, now you give mo more info about cambodia but im still looking forward on your promise regarding extreme sports there… hehehe

    still awaiting on that! :D

  18. # piningon 05 Feb 2007 at 3:04 am

    Good god! Amazing what nature can do.. I reckon that one got lost from the fangor forest in LOTR, he he.
    Remarkable trees. Lovely photos, Toe :-)

  19. # rhodoraon 05 Feb 2007 at 6:20 am

    Wow! That top photo – looks like multi-legged creature to me. This is magical!

    Thanks for leaving a comment on my site, Toe. I noticed you posted it twice. Akala mo siguro, kinain ng spam. Well, that’s how my spam eater reacts sometimes, though I recover all comments anyway when I log on.

    Thanks again! And keep ‘em Cambodia pics and posts coming!:)

  20. # Toeon 05 Feb 2007 at 7:30 am

    Ferdz, check out these posts as well… so that you could see a little about Phnom Penh :The Royal Palace at Night and Francophone Week. ;)

    Mon, naku isa ka rin palang baliw. :) Mwahahahahaha! :) Nakakatawa yung panaginip mo… wag lang kayo magkita ni Verns sa panaginip kc sa panaginip niya naka Lara Croft outfit naman siya. :)

    Angelo… must do – go to Cambodia; not necessary – watch Lara Croft movie. :)

  21. # Toeon 05 Feb 2007 at 7:41 am

    Noypetes, naku you don’t need trees to get rid of the vendors… I think the flatulence would be enough. Hrhrhr! :)

    Cai, oh yeah… forgot to publish the photos with the tops of the trees. Yes, they’re definitely a sight to behold. :)

    BW, yes these banyans are enormous and the roots are really scary. They would have to destroy the entire temple I guess if they remove them. Ooh… interesting job you had. What are Novell days?

  22. # vernson 05 Feb 2007 at 8:28 am

    hahahahaha loka-loka ka talaga! Ano kaya costume ni mon pag nagkita kami sa panaginip hehehe

  23. # Toeon 05 Feb 2007 at 8:54 am

    Mmy-Lei, naku I can’t blog about that because I’m the biggest klutz ever… could never do extreme sports. :)

    Pining, oo nga… baka gumalaw yung mga puno… parang ents. :)

    Rhodora, yes the trees look like they’re eating up the temple and you’re next. :) I don’t know what’s wrong with me nga… not only your blog but there are others where the spam filter always gets me. :(

  24. # Toeon 05 Feb 2007 at 8:56 am

    Verns, samurai si Mon tapos Lara Croft ka naman. Kung marunong kayo magteleport, pwede kayo pumunta sa watch tower at sumali sa Justice League. :)

  25. # Monon 05 Feb 2007 at 12:06 pm

    hahaha pati ako natawa dun sa comment ko. ano ba yan. :P

    Sa totoo lang tuwing makakakita ako ng mga ganyang pictures talagang naglalaro ang isip ko at nawawala ako sa sarili.

    At naalala ko din si Verns nga pala ay Lara Croft sa panaginip. Oi bakit naman minsan ko lang mapapanaginipan yang si Verns eh nag ba back flip pa siya at ako’y pinagbabaril eh hangang hanga pa naman ako sa kanya.

  26. # tutubion 05 Feb 2007 at 1:19 pm

    lalo lang ako nasasabik pumnta dyan…I love the ancient world.

    but i don’t want to to live in their time hehe

  27. # nicehearton 05 Feb 2007 at 1:49 pm

    Wow! They’re humongous. If these are just the roots, I wonder what the trees look like.

  28. # Toeon 05 Feb 2007 at 3:57 pm

    Mon, ahahahaha! Kahit sa panaginip, nakakahilo talaga yang si Verns. :) Naku, kung pumunta ka sa Cambodia, talagang maglalaro imagination mo… this is really a magical and mysterious place. :)

    Tutubi, pareho tayo. Pano kung naging slave ako noong panahon na ‘yon? I have to carry all those heavy rocks. :)

    Niceheart, oo nga… forgot to post photo of entire tree. :)

  29. # vernson 05 Feb 2007 at 3:59 pm

    @ Toe- di ko alam yung watch tower hehe Eiffel Tower lang alam ko hehehe may mutants ba dun?

    @ Mon-hindi ako marunong mag back flip…backdive lang hehe at shempre noh babarilin kita..takot ako sa mga may samurai…baka unahan mo pa ko at tagain…ayoko ko nga!

  30. # kathyon 05 Feb 2007 at 7:29 pm

    Great pics! It must be awesome to see those roots with your very own eyes. I’ve seen your pics of Angkor wat – and with these additional pics, I’ve now set my eyes on visiting Cambodia as soon as time and resources permit. Di naman kailangan ng visa di ba? :)

  31. # Toeon 05 Feb 2007 at 7:48 pm

    Verns, the Watch Tower is the satellite where the Justice League watches over the earth. Don’t you watch cartoon channel? Hehe! :)

    Hi Kathy, visa free for 21 days for Filipinos as long as you have return ticket. :) Hey, I couldn’t post comments in your blog. Spam filter is always getting me. I think I’m dyslexic. I couldn’t seem to copy those string of letters and numbers. :(

  32. # vernson 06 Feb 2007 at 10:59 am

    ah ganun ba hehe di ko alam yun kasi di ako mahilig sa Justice League. Maka teenage mutant ninja turtles ako at x-men hehe

  33. # tin-tinon 06 Feb 2007 at 3:57 pm

    i saw that in tomb raider. in lara croft’s movie. hehehe.

    aaah.. another reason to go to cambodia :)

  34. # Toeon 06 Feb 2007 at 4:11 pm

    Verns, try watching it… chorva talaga… Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 pm, weekdays at 5:30 pm. :)

    Tin-Tin, yes definitely… this is one of my favorite temples in Cambodia. :)

  35. # bingskeeon 06 Feb 2007 at 8:54 pm

    wow, really magical. it’s almost unbelievable that there places like this. no doubt visitors will really enjoy the experience.

    congrats to your new home!

  36. # annamanilaon 06 Feb 2007 at 9:46 pm

    So those are banyan trees .. that i read only in literature .. and now in Toe’s blogs. You mean overhead there are stems and leaves? I wonder how tall they are — from what i remember reading, a whole village can live under the shade of a banyan tree. Reminds me of the Little Prince’s baobabs that occupy half of his little planet and that’s why he keeps plucking out new plant growth suspicious it will grow to be yet another monstrous tree that may displace his precious rose. Toe, ang ganda — in an awesome way. Hmmm the Cambodia travel authority should pay you commmissions ha.

  37. # Toeon 06 Feb 2007 at 10:18 pm

    Thanks Bingskee. :) It’s truly magical. This post doesn’t even do it justice. :)

    Annamanila, yes I remember the baobabs in the Little Prince… haha… so cute… occupying half his planet. Haha… hindi pa yata masyadong uso ang blogging dito. :)

  38. # sexy momon 07 Feb 2007 at 12:19 pm

    really, toe – the ministry of tourism should applaud you for the goodwill you bring to cambodia.

    i have a picture below that tree, i felt too small, like an ant, compared to its gigantic length.

  39. # Toeon 07 Feb 2007 at 7:26 pm

    Thanks Sexy Mom… funny, come to think of it, I think I don’t have a picture under that tree. :)

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