| | Apr 30, 2006 - Siem Reap, Cambodia -- The Marvels of Angkor | (click to enlarge)
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 | Climbing up to Phnom Bakheng to watch the sunset
| | Angkor Wat seen from Phnom Bakheng
| | Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
| | Eric and our tuk tuk driver searching for mangosteens
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 | Angkor Wat
| | Angkor Wat
| | Eric at Angkor Wat
| | Angkor Wat
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 | Angkor Wat
| | Robed statue at Angkor Wat
| | Sitting on steps at Angkor Wat
| | Climbing the incredibly steep steps at Angkor
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 | Angkor Wat
| | Angkor Wat
| | Ornate Angkor Wat
| | Angkor Wat
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 | Asian's love their squat toilets!
| | South Gate to Anchor Thom
| | Statue at gate to Anchor Thom
| | The Bayon - inside Anchor Thom
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 | The Bayon
| | The Bayon
| | Bayon - inside Anchor Thom
| | Restoration work on the Baphuon inside Angkor Thom
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 | Like a giant jigsaw puzzle - pieces of Baphuon during the restoration work
| | Monks walking around Angkor Thom
| | Sunrise over Angkor Wat
| | Sunrise over Angkor Wat
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 | Reflections of Angkor Wat at sunrise
| | Getting a coffee at sunrise - Angkor Wat
| | Ta Prohm - the overgrown jungle temple
| | Ta Prohm
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 | Giant tree roots overtaking the temple of Ta Prohm
| | Ta Prohm
| | Crumbling temple of Ta Prohm
| | Ta Prohm - being overtaken by the jungle
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 | Entrance to Preah Khan
| | Preah Khan
| | Preah Khan
| | Land Mine Museum - Siem Reap Cambodia
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 | Sample of live land mines that are found throughout the Cambodian countryside
| | Documentary being filmed with a young land mine victim
| | In a hot air balloon over Angkor Wat
| | Banteay Srei - a small temple with incredible detail
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 | Detailed work at Banteay Srei
| | Banteay Srei
| | Ornate carvings at Banteay Srei
| | Eric at Banteay Srei
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 | Statue at Banteay Srei
| | Sweating profusely in the over 40 degree heat and jungle humidity
| | Looking through a temple's corridors
| | Statue remains
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| Siem Reap, Cambodia - The Marvels of Angkor
After a four night stay in Siem Reap, it is without a doubt in my mind, that this third world country that has gone through some of the most horrifying modern history in our world, is on the way to becoming one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the next decade. With the help of foreign aid and the United Nations, the infrastructure in Cambodia has been rapidly improving over the past few years. Main highways are being paved, new businesses are opening up and tourism is on the rise. For anyone that has visited the Temples of Angkor just outside Siem Reap you know why tourism is booming. With over fifty well-preserved temples in the area, it is a step back into the history of the massive Khmer Empire and their religious, political and social structure of over a thousand years ago.
The best preserved and most popular temple of all will leave you in awe as you round the corner and see the massive moat 190 metres wide, surrounding an area almost two square kilometres. Inside is what is believed to be the largest religious structure in the world - Angkor Wat. The stone temple, with its impressive causeway leading the main temple and conical lotus-bud towers, is ornately decorated with carvings in the rock walls. These carvings tell stories to those that can interpret the ancient meanings and symbolism that could challenge any historic scholar.
Although Angkor Wat is a world-class attraction on its own, thanks to the ancient Khmer Empire, there are enough additional temples from their early society to keep visitors occupied for days or even weeks. Our second stop after Angkor Wat was Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom is the remains of a complete walled city containing unique temples such as the Bayon with its 216 puzzling faces peering out at you and the pyramidal Baphuon currently undergoing an incredible restoration and is believed to be one the most spectacular temples back in its day. Also, found within the walled city, is the 350 metre long Terrace of Elephants once used for public ceremonies, and the Royal Enclosure marking off the area where the Royal Palace once stood along with many other ruins. These remarkable remains are thought to have served a population of about one million people back around the 11th century.
Hitting Cambodia in the hottest month of the year made temple visits a little more challenging. The heat and humidity in the middle of the jungle was sweltering. The 1.5 litre bottles of water we consistently consumed seemed to just evaporate into the air as we sweated our way through the massive stone structures. Due to the intense heat, we opted to do shorter days of exploration before climbing aboard our tuk-tuk to take us back to our air-conditioned paradise at the Golden Banana Guesthouse.
At the end of our stay we had visited ten temples with two visits to the incredible Angkor Wat. One of those visits was for a dramatic sunrise, which even snapped Eric from his sleeping stupor at the sheer beauty of the glowing red sun against the stone towers of Angkor. Additionally, we took in a sunset from Phnom Bakheng, a static hot air balloon ride with panoramic views of Angkor Wat and a somewhat disturbing visit to the Land Mine Museum. The Land Mine Museum showed how one person has devoted their life to trying to rid the countryside of active land mines that remain from war times and continue to kill innocent Cambodian victims.
Our visit to Siem Reap and the Temples of Angkor was incredible. Truly this up and coming travel destination has something unique to offer the world and provided the country remains politically stable after its tragic war torn years, Angkor is sure to be the key for their developing economy. If you have ever visited, or considered visiting the pyramids and temples of Egypt, then add Angkor to your list of 'Must See' places. You won't be disappointed!
TEN TRAVEL TIPS FOR SIEM REAP
1. If you remember, bring a small visa sized photograph of yourself for a 3-day or 1 week pass as it is required for the personal pass they make for you. If you are doing a 1-day visit (hopefully not!) a photograph is not required. If you don't have a picture of yourself one can be taken there at their facilities for a fee.
2. Personally, I feel you need a minimum of 2-3 days to do the temples justice in an unrushed manner. If you enjoy temples and old ruins such as these, plan for some extra time. Many people will take 4 or 5 days and break their visits up spending only partial days at the temples and additional days in town.
3. The 3 must see temples are, Angkor Wat, the best preserved and most spectacular of all the temples at Angkor; the Bayon, inside the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom with its over 200 mysterious faces peering at your from all angles; and Ta Prohm that has been battling for survival with the jungle growing in, around and over it. After this you should select some additional temples with their own unique highlights to get a further feel for the ancient ruins and life of the past. A favourite of mine was definitely Banteay Srei with its intricate and detailed sandstone carvings.
4. Getting around the various temples can be done by moto (motorcycle), bicycle, tuk-tuk, car or tour bus. Remember the time of year you are there. In the hot season the thrill of cycling up to massive temple in the jungle can be lost due to fatigue and heat exhaustion.
5. The temples at Angkor are getting busier every year and if you would like to try to avoid the crowds plan your visits carefully. Drivers and guides often have a good idea where the main tour busses go each day to help you plan an alternative route. Most tours head back into town for lunch, which although it is the hottest part of the day, it can offer you some of the most peaceful visits inside the temples.
6. Sunset and sunrise visits are a must for everyone coming to Angkor. The magic of watching the rising or setting sun with a fiery red sky over a temple is enchanting. Try sunset at either Angkor Wat or at Phnom Bakheng (the most popular and watched by hundreds of tourists daily). Sunrise is spectacular at Angkor Wat over the reflecting pool just outside the main temple.
7. If you would like an aerial view of Angkor Wat and the surrounding region you can go up in a hot air balloon that is tied to the ground for about 10 minutes just 1 kilometre west of Angkor Wat. The current cost is $15 US per person.
8. The Land Mine Museum is located on a dirt road between Angkor and Siem Reap and is worth the visit to get a better understanding of the land mines that are still lying active around Cambodia and how the Aki Ra (operator of the museum) and others devote their life to finding and clearing the country of these active mines that kill hundreds of innocent citizens. The museum is free of charge with a request for a donation only.
9. The sooner you visit Angkor Wat, the better. The area is predominantly filled with Asian tourists and most Westerners are currently missing what I would foresee to one day become as popular as the Egyptian Pyramids. As more people discover Angkor and the pleasures of exploring the Cambodian temples will get busier and less atmospheric - the sooner you can visit, the better!
10. Cambodia is a very poor country and people (including a lot of children and disabled) will be trying to sell you something or beg for money every time you stop. Try to be patient and polite with them if you are not interested in buying their goods. They are trying to make a living and a sale for a few dollars for them can go a long.
www.carlhenderson.ca
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