Headwear selection

A cobweb covered devata on the wall of Ta Prohm at Tonle Bati

The author looking considerably less stylish, pictured at Wa Ka Koh yesterday

Two very different types of headwear are on display in the above photos. The top photo is one of the Apsaras or devatas (heavenly goddess) that adorn the walls of the main Ta Prohm sanctuary at Tonle Bati, which I visited yesterday. This carving is from the late 12th century when this temple was constructed under the kingship of Jayavarman VII, the master temple builder of the ancient Khmer kingdom. Like the devatas at Angkor Wat, each of the figures at Ta Prohm are individually unique. You can also see a faint trace of red paint on her lips.

The bottom photo is a very different, if not unique, head-covering. This is a 'barang' wearing a krama very badly and without any of the style and poise shown in abundance by the heavenly goddesses. In fact, someone should really tell this individual that a barang in a krama looks decidedly silly. For other awful headgear worn by this individual, click here.