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Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Day 1:

Roluos (the first Angkor capital),12km southeast of Siem Reap.
– 1) Preah Ko (named in honour of Shiva’s mount, Nandin, the sacred bull.)
– 2) Bakong (earliest of the temple mountains.)

Angkor:
– 1) Ta Nei
– 2) Ta Prohm.

Sunset at the hilltop temple of Phnom Krom.

Day 2:

Sunrise at Angkor Wat

Angkor Thom.
-The South Gate
-The East Gate.

Angkor Thom’s temples:
-1) The Terrace of the Leper King
-2) To the south is the ceremonial Terrace of the Elephants
-3) Preah Palilay
-4) Royal Palace
-5) Phimeneakas
-6) Baphuon
-7) The Bayon -216 faces of the Buddha of Compassion

Sunset at Phnom Bakheng

Day 3:

Angkor

-1) Phnom Bakheng at sunrise
-2) Preah Khan (“Sacred Sword”)
-3) Neak Poan
-4) Ta Som
-5) East Mebon
-6) Pre Rup
-7) Banteay Kdei
-8) Sras Srang

2nd visit for Hamel, after 6 years. In this time there has clearly been quite a boom in tourism to Siem Reap and the Temples of Angkor. As well as bringing in the US dollar, this change has affected both the town and the temples. There are many more bars and restaurants around town, with big screens showing Aussie Rules. To a certain extent, sadly, some of the previous gentleness of the local people has been replaced by capitalist drive. The volume of tourists found at almost all of the temples has now increased, resulting in more noise and less peace. The temples themselves seem to all be undergoing some form of restoration and renovation, thus restricting the level of access that was available in the past.

However, despite the concessions that have been made in the cause of economic development, Angkor still remains a ‘must see’ attraction, and if you search, moments of solitude, quiet and stillness.

Incidentally, Hamel’s bag was delayed by Air Asia for 24hrs, so boxer short recycling protocol was implemented, and the need for detachment from one’s possessions was practiced.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia