Cambodia4Kids.Org

Flying Above Cambodia

Check out these photos taken above Angkor Wat

Angkor Cola

Some of the most breathtaking Cambodia photos I have seen lately were taken by Maciej Dakowicz.  You can view all her photos at her pbase gallery. She kindly granted me permission to publish some of her photos on my blog, but please take a few minutes to look through her Cambodia photo gallery.  It will be well worth the time. Many photos of children and everyday life, beautifully composed.

Interactive Temples Map

This page has a map links to photos of the temples at Angkor Wat or Interactive Temples Map.   What a great page to use for a Webquest about Angkor Wat.

Questions About Angkor Wat

I shared the presentation about Cambodian New Year's that I will use in Harry's classroom next week.  His questions about Angkor Wat had me searching for some answers.

Why is it called Angkor Wat? 

Angkor means central city or capital.  Wat means buddhist temple.  It translates to "Temple of the Capital City."

Why is it so long?

Angkor Wat is 2,800 by 3,300 feet and contains a number of walled courtyards that encircle a central, five-towered building.   The legend says that Indra, the Lord of Heavin, came down to earth to build the temple to represent the universe.   Historically, King Suryavarman was the ruler who began the building program.

Why is the top of it pointy and why are the five towers?

Thes tructure was built represent Mount Meru, the sacred mountain regarded as the center of the world in the Hindu relgion.  The five towers symbolize the five peaks, the surrounding walls are the mountains, and the moat is the ocean at the end of the world.

References for Angkor Wat

Khmer Smile from UNESCO (Narrated video of Angkor Wat by image quality isn't the best)

Good set of links about Angkor Wat

National Gallery of Art - Cambodia:  Take a virtual tour of Sculpture of Angkor and Ancient Cambodia.