Guarded
by giant seven-headed serpent gods high on an obscure mountain, in
backcountry disputed by Thailand and Cambodia, is an ancient sacred
site that's not on the regular tourist map.
Surrounded by landmines and bunkers from the Khmer Rouge era, and still caught up in today's border disputes, Preah Vihear, or "Holy Monastery," is a mysterious place few westerners have been able to visit.
Jon Ortner, photographer and author of the book "Angkor, Celestial Temples of the Khmer Empire," shares his first encounters and impressions of the thousand-year-old sanctuary in this essay of words and photos composed especially for NatGeo News Watch.
[NatGeo News Watch]
Read More: IT's coverage of Angkor Wat; National Geographic Magazine's cover feature this month, Divining Angkor.
Photo: Jon Ortner
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We have sought out many ancient ashrams and monastaries around the world, though have not been to this particular region. There is a certain ambiance that you cannot find anywhere but old monestaries like this. Great picture too!