Angkor Wat

Saturday the 29th in the morning we wander the grounds of the splendidly preserved 12th Century temple of Angkor Wat. Considered the best example of ancient Khmer architecture, it is the largest and most impressive of all Cambodian monuments and generally regarded as one of the finest religious structures in the world.

Angkor Wat

Another view of Angkor Wat

We then visited Angkor Thom the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire, it was established in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII with an area of 9 km². There are many monuments from earlier eras as well as those established by other kings. At the centre of the city is Jayavarman's state temple, the Bayon, with the other major sites clustered around the Victory Square.

Angkor Thom

Most of the great Angkor ruins have vast displays of bas-relief depicting the various gods, goddesses, and other-worldly beings from the mythological stories and epic poems of ancient Hinduism which were modified by centuries of Buddhism. There are images are actual known animals, like elephants, snakes, fish, and monkeys, in addition to dragon-like creatures that look like the stylized, elongated serpents with feet and claws found in Chinese art.

God riding elephant

We were also treated to monkeys following us in our trip.  The weather was very hot and humid and we take a break for lunch at a local restaurant before heading to a few more temples.  The vast space and sheer number of things to see is beyond belief.

Monkeys viewing a temple

We visit the Elephant Terrace which was used by the king as a platform from which to view his victorious returning army. Then to the Terrace of the Leper King with a statue depicting the Hindu god Yama, the god of death. The statue was called the "Leper King" because discoloration and moss growing on it was reminiscent of a person with leprosy, and also because it fits with a Cambodian legend of an Angkorian king Yasovarman I who had leprosy. The U-shaped structure is thought by some to have been used as a royal cremation site.

Elephant terrace

We head back to the hotel for a swim and some R&R and then decide to hire a tuk tuk to watch the sunset at Sras Srang or the Pool of Ablutions. We watch the local kids climbing over the tuk tuk and offering us all sorts of things to buy. We enjoy the sunset before heading back to town for a relaxing evening a bit overwhelmed at what we saw.

Sunset at Sras Srang

Our tuk tuk driver