Sand and Sanskrit (4)

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By Rebecca Lo (China Daily) 10:14, November 18, 2013

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The Baphuon mountain temple reopened earlier this year and has become one of Siem Reap's most popular sites. Photo by Rebecca Lo / For China Daily

The grand dame is one of the oldest and most respected colonial properties in southeast Asia, and it was bustling with activity during cocktail hour. The rooms were recently given a gentle renovation by Ho Chi Minh City-based design firm Noor - so gentle that I hardly noticed a difference between now and when I was there last in 2011.

We then assembled for a special temple dinner at Vat Preah Einkosei. I had heard about these traditional Cambodian meals set within the grounds of ancient ruins, but it was my first time experiencing one.

The highly ritualized meal started with drummers and musicians welcoming us. We were led by human monkeys to the temple grounds itself, where we saw graceful ladies dressed like ethereal Apsara nymphs guarding the structure.

Along with a multi-course meal that included amok fish and chicken with cashews - two local delicacies - we saw a variety of stylized dance performances depicting court rituals and cardamom picking.

The next day was spent visiting Siem Reap's famous temples, organized by Chemins d'Angkor and led by our guide Phourng Phalkun. Along with Angkor Wat and Bayon Temple, we visited Baphuon mountain temple.

After a quarter of the complex collapsed, Baphuon was closed for 15 years as it underwent reconstruction by French architects from Ecole Francaise d'Extreme-Orient. It reopened earlier this year and has become one of Siem Reap's most popular sites.

After attempting to spot the reclining Buddha hidden in one side of the temple, I climbed up the steep steps to the very top. A sea of green surrounded me, and the jungle's contrast against the 11th-century temple I was standing upon reaffirmed my admiration for the Khmer culture.

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