Welcome to Cambodia, the "Kingdom of Wonder." This is the first time I have visited this country. Since the collapse of the Khmer Rouge in the early 1990's, Cambodia has gradually responded to the world.
For nearly six centuries (802-1432), Anghor was the political and religious center of the great Khmer Empire, which extended from the South China Sea to almost the Bay of Bengal. The remains of that metropolis now occupies 77 sq. miles in NW Cambodia.
Located in dense jungles on the hot plateau of western Cambodia, Angkor Wat is beyond doubt, one of the magnificent wonders of the world.
Angkor today contains 70 temples, tombs and other ancient ruins. As one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, Angkor attracts millions of visitors each year.
It is a short 1 1/2 hour flight from Saigon to Siem Reap, the gateway city to the ruins of Angkor.
The airport was very quaint and clean.
The charming, modern, small town of Siem Reap is easy to navigate but its borders are currently spilling outward.
Hundreds of beautiful, modern hotels and restaurants have recently sprung up here, catering to the thousands of daily tourists. I selected this hotel on the internet.
And what a bargain it was.
At $70 a day (including an enormous buffet breakfast for 2), it was a steal.
It is a short 4 mile drive to Angkor Wat. Visitors are often surprised at the cleanliness and serenity of this place.
We were impressed by a very large moat that completely surrounds the complex. By the way, it was all dug by hand.
The causeway is a wide pathway leading to the main entrance. It offers a spectacular view of Angkor Wat's grand exterior.
A postcard shot gives you an idea of the grounds. The causeway is in the upper left corner. My guide book described Angkor Wat as one of the most inspired and spectacular monuments ever conceived by the human mind.
A large observation balloon hovers over the area.
For $15 each, you get to spend 10 minutes hanging out above Angkor Wat. It wasn't a clear day and being about a mile and a half from Angkor Wat, we decided to pass on the experience.
It is the largest religious building in the world. This is the entrance gate.
Once inside the grounds, you get the feeling how special this place really is. It is the national symbol of the country. It was built during the 12th century by King Suryavarman II. It was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, the Protector of Creation.
Looking left at the columns as I entered the complex.
Once inside, we were in awe. We assumed this pool was filled with water at one time.
Angkor Wat is no longer a Hindu religious site. Buddhism has replaced it.
Angkor Wat remained lost for several hundred years before being rediscovered in 1860 by French explorers. Jungle growth had to be removed and damaged structures had to be rebuilt to their original grandeur.
Towering over the complex is the Central Sanctuary with its 5 towers.
It represents Mt. Meru, the mythical home of the gods and center of the universe. The outer walls represent the edge of the world and the moat is the cosmic ocean.
The steep steps lead to the top and we climbed it.
This is the view from the top.
Especially interesting are the carvings that adorn the walls around the entire complex.
Different scenes are depicted. This is a warrior engaged in battle.
We ran into some Buddhist monks while leaving .........
and the doc started up a conversation with them.
We walked over to a refreshment stand and he purchased soft drinks for all of them.
That really made his day.
I was totally impressed the way this young lady was swinging a meat cleaver while opening coconuts. Coconut juice is a popular drink here.
We loaded up on souvenirs from the friendly shop keepers.
There it is, some called it the 8th Wonder of the World.
This little guy was there posing in his Sunday suit.
This was a memorable day that we will never forget.
It took me 73 years to get here but I finally made it. This was a big item on my bucket list.
Day 2
We got up early and decided to hire a cycle-taxi to view more ruins on our second day here.
The monuments at Angkor encompasses an immense area. To see it all would take you at least a week. We decided to check out the Angkor Thom complex this morning.
The Angkor Thom complex is much larger than Angkor Wat. Unlike Angkor Wat, it houses several smaller temples instead of just one because it was a capital city of the Khmer empire.
Angkor Thom was established in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman. It is spread out over 4 sq. miles. At its peak, it had a population of around a million. This is the south entrance gate.
The causeway has a row of devas (benevolent class) on the left, and asuras (evil class) on the right, pulling in a tug-of-war.
Inside the 18 foot walls was a system of canals which is now covered by forest.
The faces on the tower gates are a mystery as to what they represent.
Bayon is the city's most unique temple and second most popular with the tourists.
Its setting is spectacular.
There are 37 standing towers at Bayon.
Several of them have huge, calm, smiling faces. Who the faces represent is a matter of debate.
The entrance.
One could get lost easy here.
It was hot. The smart tourists brought umbrellas.
These kids were smart. They dressed up and for $1, you got to take a picture with them.
Goldy was in heaven. Being here was like me golfing at Augusta National.
Much like Angkor Wat, they also had sculpture on the exterior walls.
More battle scenes.
Bayon sits in the very center of Angkor Thom and is the centerpiece of the city.
A short walking distance away was Baphuon. It is a three-tiered temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva.
The temple was built on land filled with sand, and due to its immense size the site was unstable throughout its history.
It was closed for visitation.
I was totally amazed by this temple, a truly astonishing spectacle.
Next temple was Phimeanakas. It served as the kings temple. Legend has it that the tower was inhabited by a serpent, which would transform into a woman. The kings of Angkor were required to make love with the serpent every night, lest disaster befall him or the kingdom.
It is accessible by 4 staircases.
My thighs were like steel after this trip. We climbed our butts off. If it had a staircase, we climbed it.
Lions protecting the temple.
By noon we were hot, tired and burned out. We hired a taxi and I got some very interesting shots on the way back to the hotel.
#1 rule is don't pass gas here!!
We cooled off with a nice swim, had a light lunch and laid down for a quick nap.
At 4:00, we were back on the trail.
Ta Prohm is one of Angkor's most enchanting temples.
The joy of Ta Prrohm is that it has not been restored. It has been taken over by time and trees, HUGE trees.
Banyon and kapok trees everywhere, growing on top of buildings .......
out of buildings .........
in between the stones and archways.
Ta Prohm was the location of the movie, "Tomb Raider," staring Angelina Jolie.
Their roots burst apart the thickest of walls, yet their clinging embrace prevents the walls collapse.
Look at this little cutie.
THAT NIGHT WE ATTENDED A HUGE DINNER SHOW AT A LARGE RESTAURANT.
IT INCLUDED A TRADITIONAL CAMBODIAN DANCE COMPANY.
A LITTLE LONGER THAN MOST OF MY REPORTS BUT THERE WAS SO MUCH TO REPORT AT ANGKOR. THE AWE-INSPIRING TEMPLES RANKS HIGH ON THE LIST OF THE WORLD'S WONDERS. WE WERE HONORED TO ENJOY THEIR BEAUTY. ONE MORE STOP BEFORE WE HEAD HOME. TO BE CONTINUED ....................
