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Detail - Beng Mealea Temple

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Prasat Bram - Koh Ker

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Ta Prohm

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Ta Prohm

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Ta Prohm

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Ta Som

Strangler fig tree is a common name for a number of tropical and sub tropical plant species. These plants begin their life growing on another tree or object, when their seeds, often bird dispersed, germinate in crevices atop other trees. These seedlings grow their roots downwards and envelop the host while also growing upward to reach into the sunlight zone above the canopy.

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Kapok Tree

Two main species of trees are seen growing within the Angkor ruins: the kapok tree and the strangler fig tree.

Also called Java Kapok, Silk Cotton and Ceiba, the kapok tree grows to 60 - 70m tall. It has a very substantial trunk of up to 3m in diameter with buttresses. Its branches are sometimes covered by large robust thorns.

While Cambodian find the tree mostly useless as it is too soft for construction, the fibre obtained from its seed pods is light, buoyant and resistant to water. It was used to be employed as an alternative filler in mattresses, stuffed toys as well as for insulation and in life jackets.

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Prasat Kravan

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Prasat Bram - Koh Ker

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Pre Rup - The Guardian

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Ta Prohm - Missing roof over a tower

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Koh Ker, detail

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Ta Prom

I was just watching a replay of Lara Croft - Tomb Raiders and recognised this particular area as Angelina Jolie was following a little girl through the temple to find a side entrance to the secret chambers...

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Ta Som, Eastern Gopura

To follow is a black & white series depicting how trees took over the temples after they had been disused, forgotten and recovered by a dense tropical forest.

Colours of Nature

A few images captured along the paths of Mac Ritchie Reservoir.

Images of the Thaipusam - Singapore (12)

A kavadi bearer on the road, surrounded by his family that is chanting and encouraging him.

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Music is played within the temple while the different rituals are taking place. Main instruments used are the hand hitting drums and a kind of flute called Shehnai.

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Limes have two roles, they symbolize protection by the deities and, due to their antiseptic qualities, are helpful in keeping the wounds inflicted by by hooks from getting infected.

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The "Vel" penetrating the skin.

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In Singapore, one must be at least sixteen years old to be allowed to participate in the festival.

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Holy ashes are applied to the skin before the piercings are effected. Hooks and skewers alike are mostly impaling the skin layer in area with less nerves or blood vessels and therefore devotees do not bleed.

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Thaipusam is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan, the son of Shiva and Parvati. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati presented a lance to Lord Murgan to vanquish the demon army of Tarakasura and combat their evil deeds. Therefore, Thaipusam is a celebration of the victory of good over evil.

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One of the major features of Thaipusam celebrations is body piercing with hooks, skewers and small lances called 'vel'. Some of the devotees pull chariots and heavy objects with hooks attached to their backs. Many others pierce their tongue and cheek to impede speech and thereby attain full concentration on the Lord. Devotees enter into a trance during such piercing due to the incessant drumming and chanting of "vel vel shakti vel."

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Devotees prepare for the celebration by cleansing themselves through prayer and fasting approx. 48 days before Thaipusam. Kavadi-bearers have to perform elaborate ceremonies at the time of assuming the kavadi and at the time of offering it to Murugan. The kavadi-bearer observes celibacy and takes only pure, Satvik food, once a day, while continuously thinking of God.

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Many devotees bear milk, water, fruits and floral tributes on pails hung from a yoke and carry them on their shoulders through a pilgrimage along a set route. In Singapore, the journey starts at the Sri Srinivasa Temple and end at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.

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The kavadi is a cage-like structure carried as a burden by devotees during the Thaipusam Festival. It is traditionally decorated with peacock feathers and aluminium plates, which show images of Hindu deities. Sharp spikes criss-cross its lower section.