Angkor Wat was one of the main things that drew me to this trip. Built in the 12th century, it is a massive feat of engineering and the largest religious structure on earth. I remember seeing pictures of it when I was 15 or so and thinking I wanted to visit it one day. Well, I finally made it. The Angkor area actually has many temples and other structures. Some Hindu and later ones Buddhist. Some went back and forth as different factions prevailed.
We started at Angkor Wat, the largest and a Hindu site. Massive moat which used to be crossed by a stone bridge. Now it’s a sort of floating bridge (a little disconcerting since it moves as the crowd walks over it).
The central structure has a tower in the middle, surrounded by 4 smaller towers. Here are some pictures from our visit and also an artist’s rendition of what it would have looked like when it was intact (from a book with plastic overlays is that I bought - The Angkor Guidebook by Andrew Booth)
It’s also famous for bas relief carvings of historic scenes and apsaras (celestial dancers in some sources or female spirits of the clouds and waters elsewhere)
Next we made our way by Tuk-tuk to Ta Prohm, built for a queen. It’s famous for the kapok and fig trees that have overgrown it. The preservation workers have to balance restoration efforts with respect for the iconic trees that have grown around it. This one is also famous as the site for filming Lara Croft Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie.
