Angkor Wat

So it was the big one today, two massive well known temples.

We entered through a very impressive gate and after a brief drive we encountered a car park chocked to the brim with tourist buses. It did not bode well. The heat was oppressive and I was sweating like they’d turned up the heat in hell and that was before i’d left the comfort of my air conditioned car.

First stop was Angkor Thom and it just mind blowing the scale of the place and this was one of approximately 150 temples in the Angkor Wat region and the more than 2,000 in Cambodia. The Khmer empire at one point included Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and of course Cambodia. This was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was established in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII. It covers an area of 9 km², there are several monuments located here from earlier eras as well as those established by Jayavarman and his successors. At the centre of the city is Jayavarman's state temple, the Bayon, with the other major sites clustered around the Victory Square immediately to the north. Again pictures speak louder than words.

Now it is the dry season here at the moment so when we got caught in a torrential downpour we were somewhat under prepared. At the risk of sounding a little trite our spirits were not dampened, we got thoroughly drenched and with a stiff upper lip carried on. After drying out over lunch it was time to tackle the biggie, Angkor Wat. Now this place takes no prisoners. It is massive, surrounded by a huge moats that should have had crocodiles for effect (apparently at one point it did), there are the obligatory temple monkeys and of course the oh so impressive temple itself. There is a peasant’s entrance, priest’s entrance and a royal entrance. Originally it had nine towers now only five really remain with the front view of the main towers featuring on everything Cambodian from the flag to the beer to any other branding opportunity. Sadly my words are just a pittance compared the might, awe and quite frankly ego of this place. Just look at the pics.

Tomorrow will be a little more somber with a trip planned the land mine museum ands maybe a couple of the more obscure temples then its on to Phnom Phen as the Asian odyssey continues.