Indiana Jones Meets Lara Croft – Beng Melea

Yesterday’s temple tour was fascinating, but I had already visited all those places during my 2007 trip to Cambodia. This morning, I looked forward to seeing something new. Kim San picked us up early for the drive to Beng Melea, a Hindu temple located about 37 miles outside of Siem Reap. It was absolutely worth the drive!

Although Mother Nature called “dibs” on these temples hundreds of years ago, the jungle was hacked back at most locations in the late 19th century to reveal the ruins, giving tourists and historians a detailed glimpse of life in the Khmer Empire.

Archaeologists intentionally left Beng Melea camouflaged by the forest foliage with tree roots wrapping around the hefty sandstone blocks and weaving a tapestry across the temple walls. Trees spread their canopy at the top of the towers, shading the rubble below. Dappled light plays off the lichen and moss, creating a feeling of tranquility despite the crumbling colonnade and signs that warn of landmines.

Scholars believe Beng Melea was built by King Suryavarman II, the same guy who built Angkor Wat, in the 12th century. They think his parents were buried there. We did see this shattered stone coffin, but researchers have never found any human remains.

Sitting on the temple’s library, which would have housed religious writings.

Meg and I paused for a few yoga poses in this setting of mystery. It’s my new favorite Angkor temple!

On the way back to Siem Reap, we stopped for a snack from a roadside stand – sticky rice with red beans and coconut milk were jammed into a piece of bamboo and grilled. Deee-lish!
Kim San translates – two for a dollar (they use American money here!).