Rumo a Angkor8

Decidimos visitar mais um templo, Beng Mealea, situado a cerca de 77 km da cidade de Siem Reap e a cerca de 40 km do complexo arquitectónico de Angkor.
Foi construído no início do sé.XII pelo Rei Suvavarman II, tendo servido de protótipo para o Angkor Wat. Encontra-se em ruínas, invadido pela selva.
É uma sensação interessante visitá-lo nestas condições, porque se sente talvez algo semelhante ao que os primeiros exploradores sentiram quando o encontraram.

Beng Mealea

Lago de lótus e nenúfares

Naga

Ode to Beng Mealea
by
Willard Van De Bogart

Beng Mealea, Beng Mealea, home of Shiva

Submerged in a sea of green

Beng Mealea, Beng Mealea, keeper of the heart

Shiva's devotees swirling in between

Birds call out in the trees

Flowers lost in rivers of vines

Smothered by voracious roots

Shadows follow the creeping sun

Beneath the jungle cover

In the dark galleries abound

Songs of Beng Mealea

Only the Neak Ta are around

Beng Mealea, Beng Mealea so still and dark

Sun passing over fallen walls

Tranquil moss covered courtyards

Only enough space to crawl

Dark blue millennium corridors

Damp with hundreds of rains

These corridors of long ago

Sastras in gold and stories told

Now the forest watches in wonder

Learning the secrets cast away

Crossroads to Wat Phu and Preah Vihear

Kings deliberate their ancient ways

Beng Mealea, Beng Mealea, with gods on high

Shiva spoke to these kings of old

Told them of the sacred ways

Told them of the mountains far away

Shadows bending into darkness

Dancing apsaras on lotus ponds

Towers looming in Kingly minds

Beng Mealea, Beng Mealea, a glory gone

Nota: Beng Mealea = Lotus pond (khmer language)