♀ delicate hands

we travel to East Baray

to Banteay Samre

one of the smaller temples of Angkor

it was named after the people who lived here

 intricate carvings tell Hindu stories 

dedications to Vishnu

every temple has the same carved coverings 

for the windows and false windows

in threes, fives and sevens

we hear the music of a local band

a sweet sound of traditional instruments

as we leave the temple grounds

we drive on to Banteay Srei

the citadel of women

built around 967 

and devoted to Shiva

intricately carved red sandstone

by women, for women

beautiful arches

the inner sanctuary guarded by 

monkey sentinels

tiny doorways only 1 meter high

lotus flower motifs

and sanskrit carved door jambs

a thousand years old and more

hidden away for centuries

uncovered in 1914