FROMTHEARCHIVES
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SEP
2009
THEBAYONBY
MOONLIGHT
Wellpastmidnight,BayonTemple
formedan imposingsightunder
theglisteningmoonlight. In the
darknessI lurched insideoneof
Angkor’smostcelebrated temples,
withonlya tinyflashlight tohelp
illuminate theway.
TheatmospherewaseerieasI
clamberedovercenturiesofrubble,
pastemptyhallspopulatedby long-
deadmonksandup towards the top
gallery,wheremysubjectawaited.
I foundhimwithawaveofmy torch.
Hissmilewasgentle, andhissheer
sizewashumbling(and justa littlebit
terrifying, given theconditions).By
dayhewasapostcard; a landmark for
gawking tourists.Tonight,however,
luminousunderabrilliantpre-
dawnsky,herevealedhis trueself:
JayavarmanVII,builderofBayon
Temple,kingof theKhmerEmpire.
