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Initials JRG/S/JH/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: DELEGATES FROM THE TEN COUNTRIES ATTENDING CELEBRATIONS MARKING CAMBODIA'S ELEVENTH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, HAVE BEEN VISITING THE ANGKOR VAT TEMPLES. RUINS OF THE ANCIENT KHMER CIVILISATION, THEY LIE IN THE JUNGLE SOME 150 MILES (240 KMS) NORTHWEST OF PHNOM PENH.

ANGKOR VAT WITH ITS FIVE TOWERS SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE RISING SUN AND ITS MONUMENTS, WAGES A PERMANENT WAR AGAINST THE ENCROACHING JUNGLE. BUT IT REVEALS IN STRIKING FASHION THE GENIUS AND POWER OF THE KHMER PEOPLE. THE TEMPLES ARE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE AND MOVING ARCHITECTURAL ENSEMBLES IN THE WORLD.

THE GREATEST OF THE CLUSTER IS BAYON TEMPLE, BUILT ABOUT 1200. THE MASSIVE STONE FACES OF BUDDHA GAZE DOWN FROM ALL SIDES. AND ENGRAVED IN THE STONES ARE TEXTS AND CARVINGS ILLUSTRATING SCENES OF LIFE IN THOSE DAYS -- OF THE HOME, AGRICULTURE, SPORT, SLAVERY, RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS AND OF WAR.

ELSEWHERE IN THE TEMPLE, SCULPTURED HUMAN FIGURES ABOUND. IT TOOK ONLY 21 YEARS TO BUILD THE TEMPLE, THOUGH IT HAS MORE MARVELS IN IT THAN IN ANY OTHER TEMPLE AT ANGKOR VAT. MORE THEN 200 SCULPTURED FACES OF BUDDHA ARE THERE TOO, RISING EIGHT FEET HIGH. AND ENTWINING ALL AMONG THE CRUMBLING RUINS ARE THE ROOTS OF GIANT TREES.

THE SIMPLE DESIGN OF THE NEARBY NEAK PEAN TEMPLE IS IN STRONG CONTRAST. THE SANCTUARY IS A SMALL LOTUS-SHAPED TOWER RISING FROM THE MIDDLE OF AN OLD DECORATIVE POOL. A STATUE OF THE MYTHICAL FLYING HORSE STANDS NEARBY AND CLINGING TO IT ARE HUMAN FIGURES, SYMBOLISING THE RESCUE OF THE FAITHFUL FROM PERIL.

AT THE END OF THE SIGHTSEEING TOUR, THE DELEGATES WERE ENTERTAINED TO KHMER CLASSICAL DANCES GIVEN BY THE CAMBODIAN ROYAL BALLET TROUPE. THE TROUPE IS LED BY PRINCESS BOPHA DEVI, THE DAUGHTER OF PRINCE NORODOM SIHANOUK, THE CAMBODIAN HEAD OF STATE.