Getting spiritual in the Temples of Angkor
Trip Start
Dec 28, 2005
1
54
55
Trip End
Sep 01, 2006
Siem Reap,
Cambodia
Sunday, August 27, 2006
That evening we had to endure hours of exceptionally loud and downright awful karaoke - it was literally right outside our bedroom window, there was no escaping. Finally got to sleep to be awoken by monks (I think?) chanting and singing - actually a better wake up call than my alarm clock noise. Somewhat grumpily I rose and we got ready to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat Angkor Wat. Well, it was simply stunning, a truly amazing place - really did love it. Despite the early morning crowds it felt very peaceful and inspiring. The size of it is overwhelming - it is just huge; in fact, it is the world's largest religious building! Soaring towers, elaborate engravings and intricately interlinked galleries, it really is a spectacular masterpiece (o.k. stole that description from the Lonely Planet - I've been writing this blog too long now!). Spent a long time wandering around in awe before settling on the top step of one of the towers - slowly but surely most of the visitors left and we pretty much had it all to ourselves which was really great. Eventually the tiredness got the best of us and we headed back to our driver having not quite completed looking at the whole building. We decided we needed a nap before attempting to see anymore temples, so back we went for brekkie and bed.
Post-snooze we were ready for more temples; the first stop being The Bayon, part of Angkor Thom. This was just incredible and pretty spooky; it has 216 huge faces with icy smiles carved into all the walls. A really innovative piece of architecture, very impressive.
Next stop was Ta Prohm, now most famous for being the temple where scenes of 'Tomb Raider' were filmed. This was exactly the kind of place I absolutely fall in love with; it is literally being eaten by the forest. Trees are kinda growing over walls and there are tunnels and passages everywhere - it's so cool.
Did the larger circuit the next day, which included quite a lot of smaller temples, but they all had something really unique about them; don't worry I'll spare you (and me) all the details. Also returned to Angkor Wat to finish it off and soak it up for one last time. Found ourselves stuck in a downpour for ages; sat in a café/stall thing and got talked into buying a few bits n bobs - yes, we really are suckers (but with great bits n bobs!)
Big storm in the evening - power cuts and all. Ventured out in a rather damp tuktuk though for dinner and drinks with friends we'd made the night before - ah, stormy nights.
Up early in the morning after a few hours sleep for a coach journey on the worse roads we've come across yet!! Had the bumpiest few hours heading for Bangkok - ouch...
