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Made the bus trip up from Pnom Penh to Siem Reap, the jumping off point of touring Angkor Wat, and once again, the bus ride was interesting. This time merely Cambodian music videos and comedy shows, which isn't bad, but at full volume for 7 hours, it becomes a bit much. Exiting the bus also proved a challenge as all the westerners were greeted by about 50 touts, all screaming (literally) "come to my guest house, cheap," while jabbing flyers at you. At one point, I stopped to shove some books into my pack, I literally had to push signs for guest houses out of the way to put things into my pack. The only thing I could do was laugh at the absurdity of the situation, it was quickly sorted out and I was off with some friends on a Siem Reap Moto, which is a two wheeled covered trailer pulled behind a moped. After booking a room, a group of us made plans to head to Angkor Wat the next morning at 8:00 am. However, we then proceeded to go out a little bit too late, so began the day with some serious bags under the eyes, but nothing
a greasy breakfast and coffee couldn't clear up.
From the 9th century to the 12th century an empire ruled from modern-day Cambodia, with the capitol city near modern day Siem Reap. This empire was massive spreading across most of Southeast Asia, including all of modern-day Thailand, Laos and Southern Vietnam. As the empire declinged, the sacking of the capitol convinced the emperor to move to a quieter neighborhood. Before the move, various emperors left their mark by going on a building binge, which has left ruined temples and walls spread out over a several hundred square miles. Interestingly, the city was truly abandoned, and after the move nobody stayed in the area. Locals thought it was an area haunted by evil spirits and stayed away, it was until the early 20th century that the French colonialists stumbled upon it while hacking through the jungle and began clearing out the area. The scale of the buildings is jaw dropping, purely dumbfounding. I will try to explain some of it, but I am certain it has to be experienced. As there isn't much else to do in Cambodia, if you're ever in the neighborhood, I would definitely recomend stopping by, and
Siem Reap does have an international airport. After riding the road from Thailand to Siem Reap (supposedly the countries second most important road) one quickly realizes why many people fly.
*Editor's note, while the author did his best to explain the various temples of the Angkor Empire, justice is not done by merely describing them. Please see the soon to be attached pictures . . . you know what, skip it - just fly here and visit them.
Rolling along in in a two wheeled trailor pulled behind a moped, which for me sprang to mind rolling about in a chariot, we wound through numerous temples to the day's starting point. We began in Angkor Thom, an area covering several square miles, enclosed by a massive wall, the area of which is strewn with a variety of ruins. The highlights were the gate through the wall, which was enough to make an elephant seem small and Bayon, which is a temple with 54 faces about 12 feet across, carved into it. Throughout all the sites, tourists are allowed to enter the various temples and clamber up to any ledge that is accessible, which definetely makes one feel like
Indiana Jones.
After lunch we went to another temple which the curarators have left similiar to how the French originally found it, with huge trees are growing on, around, through and over this particular temple and its walls. It is quite fun to wander about and find one's way blocked by a pile of rubble.
Then we headed off to Ankgor Wat. I have read this temple was built with as much stone as the pyramids. The temple is built on a slightly rectangular island surrounded by an absolutely massive moat.
The next day, I futzed around in the morning and rented a bike to explore even more temples ini the afternoon. I made it to some of the smaller temples, which would be marquee attractions if they were anywhere else, but the competition is tough in this neighborhood. I had quite a good time, as many of the temples are connected by a nice road that leads through the jungle in the miles between the temples. I explored all afternoon and was actually thrown out of a temple by a police officer at close. I finished in a temple that hasn't been restored and has trees
growing on the temples, which is quite atmospheric at sun down, because everything takes on an eery darkness as the sun sets, with wildlife providing the background noise.
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