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Published: November 8th 2017
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I’d heard so much about Angkor Wat, the size, and significance of it I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I hadn’t read a lot about it so didn’t have much detailed knowledge. But knew that we had to go. Shirley, our travel agent who had been not long previously, suggested a sunrise visit, pick up at 5am. Great! But yes. I can get up early if it is for a reason.
And so we left in darkness, entered the Western Gate in darkness, fortunately our guide Mr Boon, had a torch. And knew the way. No one was there. Where were the millions I had read about who came to see the sun rise over the five towers?
We gained insight into the vastness of this incredible complex as we walked with the forest on our right with the towers slowly emerging from the darkness, around to the East side.
And there they were. Millions, well hundreds, of them. Lining the edge of the water basin aka a pool or large pond. Waiting for the dawn to colour the sky. Jostling was in order. And I can jostle with the best of them. To the front. And
an unobstructed view. The goal being to get not only the colours of dawn but also the silhouetted reflection of the five towers in the water. As you can see I managed one at a time but not the two together. Sigh.
The huge causeway in the East allows for better views to get the whole complex in. I did wonder if viewing from the West would have been better with complex lit up but the forest was too close. I did get the East Gate bathed in the golden sun light as I turned around from halfway up the causeway.
As daylight grew the crowd dissipated into the temple when it opened at 6.30. Many sat and ate the breakfast they had brought. We were impressed with two large buildings, the Libraries, on either side of the causeway. So called because inside were found documents from the time of occupation. One is being restored by the Japanese. In fact the Japanese are doing a lot of restoration work in the area.
The temple was built in the 12th century and alternated between being a Hindu or Buddhist temple depending on influences of the time. Originally it
was built to worship the Hindu god Vishnu, about the same time as Westminster Abbey.
From the Guide Book: Angkor is heaven on earth, the earthly representation of Mt Meru, the Mt Olympus of the Hindu faith and the abode of anc gods. Angkor Wat has been in virtually continuous use since it was built, never being abandoned to the elements.
It is surrounded by a 100m wide moat which forms a rectangle 1.5 x 1.3 kms. The stones were quarried 50km away, floated down river. All have a pair of holes where sticks (strong ones) were put through, tied on each side and pulled the last distance by elephants.
Around the outside on each side, 200 m per side, are bas-relief sculptures, telling tales of battles, heroism and everyday life.
Other temples we visited were the Bayan, inside Angkor Thom a huge city complex, surrounded again by a moat, with bridges representing the Churning of the Ocean of Milk; 54 demons and 54 gods engaged in an epic tug of war. The Bayan has many faces looking down on visitors.
And of course Ta Prohm, made famous by the film Tomb Raider.
We
returned exhausted mid afternoon, for a welcome, in equal measure, swim and nap.
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