Sanctuary tower and grazing moo cow on Bakong's grounds. From my very limited and vague understanding, these towers, which you find in various forms throughout all of Angkor's temples and palaces were places for monks (Hindu or Buddhist) to sit and meditate. Okay some of them might have been used to bury people's ashes, I am hazy on which are what. However, these towers are almost always orientated to the EAST because East is victory and West is death ... in other words, armies always left cities by the East gates so that they would be victorious in battle. Dead bodies and funerial processions leave by the West gate. Our bed at the bed and breakfast faced towards the east (our feet pointed east) because it's bad luck vice versa. Then you are just plain dead!