Ohh, I feel just like Indy

---

Do do do do
Do do do
Do do do do
Do do do do do

(Honest that's right, check it if you don't believe us)

If the Taj Mahal is disappointing as a New World Wonder then Angkor more than makes up for it. We refer to it as Angkor as to call it Angkor Wat would be to do a massive disservice to the absolutely stunning temples, citadels and cities that make up the Angkorian Empire around Siem Reap in Northern Cambodia. The saying here goes that no matter what has happened recently the Cambodians built Angkor and can be proud. And to that we can only say their spot on. This is like finding every Roman ruin in one place, most of it still standing. Dozens of incredibly well preserved temple structures just waiting to be explored and if your willing to get up earlier enough, 5am thanks Nic, you can have them all to yourself - even if you have to cycle 26km to get there

Tourgroups descend like vultures around mid-morning (8-9am, seriously), but wait 20 minutes or so and they're off to devour the next 'must-see' site leaving you alone and able to wander freely among free-standing sculptures and collapsed 8-12th century masterpieces of architecture. Angkor can't have enough superlatives written about it and just when you think you've been blown away another structure appears around the corner. Often precariously balanced, but always exciting and incredibly enjoyable.

Even those with no interest in history or architecture couldn't fail to be blown away by this place. We could write all day about every different place we visited, but I realise this would be boring as hell, plus our bums ache after the afore mentioned 30km cycle this morning. So here goes with the condensed highlights

Ta Prom

The classic 'trees in temples' photos almost all come from Ta Prom where nature has been left interacting with and, in some ways, holding up the temple as it has done for hundreds of years. Once again the 'get there early' mantra worked wonders for us and we got to spend a few solitary hours perfecting our Indiana Jones routine before we had to leave and get some ice cold water and our tuk-tuk driver to take us to the next place - definitely what Indy would have done. As can be guessed from our apparent enthusiasm and the fact I stole Nic's camera for large portions of our time there we also have quite a few photos of this place too.

Bakong

The Rollous group is situated about 13km form Siem Reap in the opposite direction to Angkor Wat and hence doesn't get many (any) tourists (We honestly believe that if something isn't listed in the Lonely Planet most people don't think it exists). In fact when we visited this staggeringly large Zigguratt (like a pyramid but different because of the spelling) there were only four rather old Cambodians wandering around the site (clearly escaping the early morning housework). To reach the site you have to travel form main road to back road, back road to dirt track and finally head up a path between trees and bushes to reach what would feel like the lost city of the Khmer if it were not for the water selling and bloke checking tickets. What really made this place stick out for me, however, is the fact that in any other place in the world this would be a top tourist attraction receiving millions of visitors every year. But this is Angkor and there's just so much to see.

Bayon

Another classic on the tourist trail, although for us once again eerily quiet (7.30 am thanks once again to the girl in the hat). this is the place with the giant heads pointing in all four directions. There are dozens of them across the temple complex and one does wonder when and how they decided to stop. Did they one day turn round and say 'Look lads 103 multi-direction heads just doesn't say we're really pious enough, but 104 now that's a different story'. Maybe or maybe they just ran out of stone, who can tell.

---

Photos

More than just temples
Biting Red Ants Invade Ta Som - Little its