Visiting the Angkor Archaeological park would have to be the greatest highlight of any Cambodia trip. If only I was given more time, I would have explored it for three whole days rather than the fast paced 1-day tour that I did. The whole complex, which is around 400 square km, represents the 9th to 15th century Khmer Empire. It boasts of temples, basins, dykes, reservoirs, canals, and communication routes. Formerly the center of the Khmer Kingdom, it was the major site for Khmer's cultural, religious and symbolic values.
ANGKOR WAT
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| No-Filter Angkor Wat Sunrise |
To best experience this site, visit it during sunrise and sunset. During my visit, I was pretty puzzled as to why people would go to any length just to wake up in the wee hours of the morning, brave the chill of the dawn coupled with darkness, and position themselves in front of the lake on the left side of the Angkor Wat temple. I thought to myself, "It's just sunrise. What's the big deal?" And then, as I was gathered in front of the temple together with hundreds of spectators, and as the sun's rays began to shine on the temple, a magnificent chill overcame me and went through my spine making the strands of hair on my back stand up... It was one of the most majestic sights I have ever witnessed in my whole life. The sunrise event takes place for more or less 15 minutes. As the sun ascends, the view changes; everything changes, the colors, the shadows, the skyline, they made me truly awestruck.
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| What happens BTS |
After the sunrise, we then hired a guide to tour us around the Angkor Wat temple. There are many tourist guides available roaming around the complex, so don't fret. Also, they charge the same rate that's why you don't have to worry about being ripped off. They are really friendly, and good in explaining the complex, so better pay attention. Mainly, the walls tell stories of Hindu mythology. Scenes were carved from Mahabharata and Ramayana. The temple is adorned with sculptures, which are mostly that of female divinities called "apsaras" created for the entertainment of the Hindu gods. These divinities were often depicted in dance poses and were seen wearing pointed crowns. If you fancy having a tour on your own without shelling some bucks, search and download audio tour guides from the internet and listen to them as you go along. Or bring a trusted traveling book with you.
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| The Inner walls of Angkor Wat |
The Angkor Wat complex was designed to replicate Mount Meru, home of the Hindu God, Vishnu. Bearing five peaks surrounded by mountain ranges and oceans, Mount Meru was architecturally represented by Angkor Wat by also having 5 peaks surrounded by outer walls and moats. The monuments rise in tiers towards the center tower, with higher towers at every corner of the concentric squares. It was thought that, since the main central tower of Angkor Wat was made facing the West, symbolizing death in SEA, the Angkor Wat was built by Suryavarman II to serve as both his tomb and as a temple.
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| Angkor Wat view from behind |
As part of the "small tour package" that we availed at our inn, we then proceeded to Bayon Temple where we decided to eat our simple breakfast consisting of 2 slices of baguette, 2 slices of bananas, and 2 packets of butter and strawberry jam. It was a truly simple and humble breakfast, if I might say.
BAYON TEMPLE
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| Bayon Facade |
The Bayon Temple is basically "massive stones lying on the ground." Before you are able to enter the temple, there are guards to whom you have to present your Angkor Wat pass. This temple, situated at the center of Angkor Thom, is unique in such a way because it contains giant stones making up faces bearing different kinds of smiles.
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| Bayon Temple Panorama |
Walk along towards the top and you'll see the beautiful collage of smiling stone faces. The view kind of makes you feel like you're in Machu Picchu.
BAPHUON TEMPLE
Just walk across the Bayon temple, and to your left, you'll see a towering temple, the Baphuon Temple. Before being able to access the temple, you'll have to walk through a long bridge-like structure towards it. Oh, I can only imagine it during its hay day! When the people of Khmer walked through it to go to their temple.
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| View from the top of Baphuon Temple |
This temple is quite striking because just from below, you'll see an altar-looking structure at its top. You have to climb all the way through very steep sets of stairs to the top to see yet another set of magnificent views! Believe me, climbing those steep steps is worth it. The dilemma would be going down through another set of steep stairs, but no worries, it's actually more fun than scary.
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| On the way down |
On the way to Ta Prohm, we had a quick stop at a restaurant in front of Angkor Wat for lunch, which was priced at around 6 USD per pax.
TA PROHM
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| Wall/Temple-Eating Trees at Tomb Raider |
More popularly know as Tomb Raider because it was used as a shooting spot for Lara Croft's Tomb Raider movie series, Ta Prohm's jungle-eating-temple theme makes it truly unique from the other temple sites. You'll see enormous tree trunks eating out (or in) temples.
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| Ta Prohm Panorama |
We were done exploring all of the aforementioned temples at around 2 in the afternoon. I swear, although the views are Angkor-edible, you'd really feel like you've seen one too many stones and temples for one day. So, we opted to go back to the inn to freshen up before being picked up by a van for our bus transfer to Phnom Penh that same night.
Costs of the day:
- Angkor Wat 1-day pass: 20 USD (paid at the entrance to Angkor complex)
- Angkor Wat small tour: 10 USD for 4 pax (3.75 USD/pax) (arranged at the inn)
- Angkor Wat tour guide: 16 USD for 4 pax (4 USD/pax) (arranged on the spot inside Angkor Wat)
- Lunch (for sharing): 23 USD for 4 pax (6 USD/pax)
- Bus to Phnom Penh: 8 USD/pax
Total: 41.75 USD/pax
