Amazing Angkor!

Our exceptionally hot day at Angkor started with the gates to Angkor Thom. We hopped out of the tuk tuk to walk through the gigantic gates and were met on the other side by our driver who had taken us on the 7 km trip outside of Siem Reap to the Angkor park complex. Our initial impressions of the size and scale of the site were only enhanced when we reached Bayon, the temple of 216 faces. We had been to the museum a couple days before, only there we were not allowed to touch any of the displays. Here we were very excited to be able to climb around the site through the many passageways and steep staircases.

After Bayon we headed north towards the entrance of Baphoun and then down the long elevated walkway. On the opposite site of the entrance way is a very large wall fashioned into the image of a reclining Buddha statue. From there we headed through an overgrown gate to the royal enclosure area and Phimeanakas. We stopped at some stalls over to the side to grab a cold drink and recharge in the shade. A couple of friendly fellow travellers from New York stopped with us and we chatted for a while while being accosted by a plethora of child touts. I shared some crackers that we had brought to snack on with the kids which seemed to appease them for a while.

Next stop was the terrace of the elephants which had immense carved elephants along a 350m wall. We then crossed the road to North Kleang to sit in the shade by what remained of the large pool where we watched the fish, dragonflies and butterflies. Back across the road we checked out the Terrace of the Leper King and met our driver who was concerned that we had gotten lost. Time for lunch!

We stopped at the strip of small restaurants and cafes close to Angkor Wat and had a bite to eat while we watched a monkey napping and being groomed by his human friend in the courtyard. The lunch recharged our energy and we headed across the road to Angkor Wat which we had both been looking forward to all day. The view as we headed down the bridge over the large moat towards Angkor Wat was spectacular and we snapped quite a few pictures. At one point a local motioned to Ryan that he wanted his picture taken too and I figured that I would go stand with him in the shot. This caused quite a commotion among his family who were all giggling and laughing as we got our picture taken together.

Angkor Wat is too much for words and I would do it a great injustice if I tried. We wandered around the outside of the site looking at the bas reliefs for hours slowly taking it all in. We stopped at one point at a stall just outside of Angkor Wat to relax in the shade and restock our water supply. Ryan spotted a shirt that he wanted, and also a purse for me, so Ryan went off to haggle. He decided to buy the shirt and change into it right there as we were both really sweaty at this point. When Ryan took his shirt off to change he got alot of attention and was told that "he must come from tiger" before one of the stall owners discreetly touched Ryan's butt.

Now that we were hydrated we went back into Angkor Wat and headed in to the middle of the complex. I will let the pictures (click here for more) we took of this majestic and awe inspiring place speak for me as it was too much to describe. We will never forget our trip to Angkor, the largest religious monument on Earth, as it has left such an impact on us and we are blessed for having the chance to come here and experience it for ourselves.