Ancient Khmer ruins in Northeast Thailand - Series

[robonrome]

This is a favourite place of mine whenever I go to Thailand.

Most of these were taken between sunrise and mid morning.

C&C welcome

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/573/135hf.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4736/093hf.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2609/096hf.jpg

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/9065/115hf.jpg

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/5900/116hfv.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8374/128hf.jpg

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/8738/160hf.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9115/148hf.jpg

[sparker1]

Good series, Rob. That would be a great place to see.

[robonrome]

Thanks Stan, if you're evr in Thailand it's just a few hours out of Bangkok - early morning is best otherwise you have tourists all over it :-) cheers, rob

[jimz66]

It makes you wonder how they built those temples "Back in the Day." great series Rob. I have a late Aunt who hails from Thailand.

[robonrome]

It makes you wonder how they built those temples "Back in the Day." great series Rob. I have a late Aunt who hails from Thailand.

They had BIG whips ;)

Most of the construction here dates back 800-1000 years ago.

If you look at 3 and 4 you'll see holes in the stone - all the stones had them. They inserted bamboo into these to function as handles for multiple people to carry and manouvre the stone

cheers,

Rob

[joodiespost]

great shots! i've lived there for a number of years but failed to take pictures as I never was in to photography back then. How unfortunate :)

[robonrome]

great shots! i've lived there for a number of years but failed to take pictures as I never was in to photography back then. How unfortunate :)

thanks:D, a shame indeed - it's a very photogenic place!

[robonrome]

Oh and one more, this one taken around sunrise with my trusty G10

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/9420/bannonwat09262hf.jpg

[yogestee]

Smacks like a combination of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Wat Phou in southern Laos..

I'm really enjoying your work Rob..

[robonrome]

Smacks like a combination of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Wat Phou in southern Laos..

I'm really enjoying your work Rob..

Thanks Jurgen:D,

Not surpising the similarity. Both Phimai and Wat Phou (haven't been there yet) were outlying centres of the Angkor Khmer civilisation centred on Angkor Wat from the 11th - 13th century. The path I've photographed leading to the temple in the above is actually a road that leads straight to Angkor Wat, constructed in the 10-11th century.

[yogestee]

I've been to the Angkor complex twice.. It's probably the most spine chilling place I've ever been to.. The last time I went was in 2007 with a friend who is also an archaeologist.. He gave me the entire run down and history..

Wat Phou in Laos is much smaller but predates Angkor by around 200 years.. Still a fascinating place..

[robonrome]

I've been to the Angkor complex twice.. It's probably the most spine chilling place I've ever been to.. The last time I went was in 2007 with a friend who is also an archaeologist.. He gave me the entire run down and history..

Wat Phou in Laos is much smaller but predates Angkor by around 200 years.. Still a fascinating place..

Thanks Jurgen, you prompted me to dig out my old book on the ancient khmer empire - this stuff is a bit later than my specialty which is Iron/Bronze age so I'm a little "rusty".

You're of course right about Wat Prou predating the main complex at Angkor (and Phimai). Wat Phou (or Vat Phu), or at least the area of the later temple, first appears in inscriptions in the 6th century - originally the heartland of the Chams, and later when the Khmer annexed the Chams as the Chenla who went on to control most of what is modern cambodia, southern laos and eastern Thailand by the 8-9th century eventually leading to Angkor Wat.:D

BTW -who's your archaeologist friend?