Siem Reap Day 1 Angkor Wat

Off to a bad start. Our tuktuk driver Po was waiting for us after breakfast and we set off.  You need buy passes to go and see the temples, which you buy from a kiosk at the entrance to the temple complex.  Dozy features had clearly said that you could buy them on visa. On arriving we queued up to find out that you could not buy them by visa nor have ever been able too. So Po had to turn around and drive us to an ATM to get some money.

He could see we were not happy and rang the hotel to find out that our guide wasn't at the ticket booth but had arrived late at the hotel and was still there. We were then told to stay put and wait for him. We did for 45 minutes and he didn't come. I was a little angry. We got Po to take us back to the hotel where Rod blew a gasket with the manager. The guide had just left and gone home.

Lots of grovelling later we set off for the temples without guide but with a book. The manager promised us a different guide for the next day. Wasn't happy really.

So the temples we visited today were Angkor Wat, Prasat Kravan, Banteay Keep. Ta Prohm and Ta Keo. I won't be offended if you nod off during this part, as I am likely to drone on and on.  What an amazing place, historically and visually.  We were just struck dumb by the whole place.  We thought we would feel templed out even after one day, but we just wanted more and more.

So it begins.  Angkor Wat.

Built by Survayarman II from 1113/1152 it is the heart and soul of Cambodia and quite unbelievable.  It is set in a huge rectangle 1.5 x 1.3 kms.  What is different to all the others temples is that is was never forgotten, and has been in constant use and never allowed to decay. It's almost too good to be true in some ways.

View from the South Gate

Side walls

First level entrance gateway.

Inner walkway

Looking out towards the outer wall. Phenomenal.

Every piece of stone inside and out is beautifully carved with tales of battles and legendary sagas.

Goddesses

And Apsara dancers which obviously played a huge part in court life.

Another astounding thing is that it had a moat built around it and reservoir canals over a kilometres long. Sandstone blocks were cut and brought fifty kms up river to the site.

It is built up on three Levels and is meant to represent heaven on earth, of mount Meru their equivalent of Olympus. The central level is the sacred temple. They only let a certain amount of people up to this level at any one time, but we were so pleased that we made it up there.

We had better move on. Small early 10th century the second site, Prasat Kravan dedicated to Vishnu.  Brick sculptures inside, currently being restored.

Then it was Banteay Kei. A site you often see in photographs with amazing carved heads. 12/13th century. Fairly ruined and found this way.

Ta Prohm better known as the Tomb Raider temple.. Indiana Jones eat your heart out. Built in 1186. The pictures tell the story.  What a wonderful place.

They are doing a lot of work here to conserve the site and make sure that the fig trees don't destroy it further. It was a true romantic site.

And lastly Ta Keo. 10th century. A giant temple mountain made of sandstone.

That's probably enough to keep you going. It was an amazing day. I've probably mixed the temples up. But they were all wonderful.

As you will imagine after climbing up huge rocks, through holes, up stairs cases and round huge walls all day in about 35 degrees, we were pretty exhausted when we got back.

We wandered into town in the evening, found a nice quiet restaurant, had some beers and food and then staggered home and went to bed early.

A great day.