Angkor Wat

The world renown temple, Cambodia’s finest and a display of her glorious past is all encapsulated within the Temple of Angkor Wat. It is the largest of all the temples and also the one is most well preserved. There were alot of people at the temple. There were locals and tourists, devotees, people taking wedding pictures, vendors, etc … it was a hustle and bustle. The temple was huge and there was a section where you had to climb up a steep flight of stairs. It was really steep with steps so small, I think they only meant for kids to climb up. My brother explains that people used to be much smaller in ancient times. I think it might just be a metaphor, that only people with childlike faith (feet) is encouraged to climb up the temple to seek solace, prayers, etc …

View from the top of the temple. Notice the hot air balloon in the distance. That was also a touristy thing for tourist to have a view of the place from up in the air.

Bayon, Angkor Thom

At this point, I think the next destination was part of the Angkor Thom. There were just too many temples all over the place and they looked quite similar, hence the confusion that I have. After a while, I felt I was just looking at rocks. However, there are still certain places where there are very nice and intricate carvings. (Later on that) This temple was the Bayon, and according to the driver it was known as the smiling buddha temple. There were alot of Buddha faces carved on to the walls of the temple. They looked great!

After lunch, went to tour the area around the Bayon. It was huge! There were a lot of temples all around but mostly ruins as well. Here’s another picture of what I meant when roads in Siem Reap are long and straight and ‘never ending’.

Their architecture was quite similar, in the sense that the roads lead you right up to the door of the temple. Each door let you on to yet another door and if you observe appropriately, and with all doors without any obstruction, there was a clear view from one end of the temple to the other end. It was a straight through design. This happened in all 4 directions, which I presume are the poles, north, south, east and west.

Can’t exactly remember which temple this was, but it is ruined with the power of nature seen throughout the place devastating the buildings. After that, there was a lake (probably man made) across the place and we went there to sit a bit. The sun was still up and the day was hot. Watched some kids bathing in the lake, which is truly amazing considering that the water ain’t all that clean, but I guess, to them the lake is their main source of water and hence, their means, or cleaning, living, etc.

Siem Reap’s Old Market really has a lot of places to eat and drink if you explore. They mostly sell about the same food, but they all have their unique ambience and design. They differ in style and decor. Ate by the road side stalls, food was not good! The auntie selling the food was also illeterate I believe, as she could not really read her menu very well. The meal was damn cheap, 2 plates of noodles cost less than US$1. After some drinks at the Red Piano, which had nice decor and ambience, went back to the guest house for rest and supper. (Beer at Cambodia is cheaper than Singapore. A mug of draft Angkor cost US$1 and Anchor was also about the same price.) I like the fried beef kway teow from our guest house’s restaurant. yums yums!!! That was one thing I missed and even thought about it when I was eventually in Phnom Penh. Haha!!!