We walked the long elevated walkway to Baphuon, but it was being restored so we couldn't go in. It was built in the mid-11th century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. In the late 15th century, it was converted to a Buddhist temple.
The next building was Phimeanakas (celestial temple). It built as a Hindu temple at the end of the 10th century, during the reign of Rajendravarman (from 941-968). For a while, this was the central point of the capital.
Legend goes that every night the king had to go to the tower to appease a nine-headed serpent by having sex with her in human form. If he didn't, then a calamity would befall the kingdom. His wife (the queen) wasn't allowed up. Uh huh.
We were allowed to climb the steep stairs to the top.
We took a break to have some fresh coconut. We first drank the cold milk, then the vendor cut it open so we could eat the meat. It was actually very good. Sometimes they're too old, slimy and yellow and taste rancid.
We strolled over to royal bathing spot. The women's pool was smaller than the men's.
