I was fascinated to see it first in the movie Lara Croft Tomb Raider years ago by Angelina Jolie. Today I had a real chance to see it with my own eyes.
We left our hotel at 6:30 in the morning. Our local tour guide led us through gates on the opposite sides of the park from where the others were gathering and walking through silent forests, sometimes stopping at small temples such as the 12th century Ta Nei, unrestored, tranquil and off the beaten track, and the major sights such as Ta Prohm, a temple with a massive skein of ficus and silk tree roots wrapped around it.
Along the road to the main entrance, there were quite many palm trees. Most of which carried an abandon of fruits. They look so appealing during this hot day.
Angkor Wat is one of the true wonders of the world. The exquisite colors of a sunrise above the temple was mesmerizing. I was transfixed by the view above the horizon.
It was built in brick and stone and created some of the most amazing structures I've had the privilege of seeing.
From hidden gems with Lara Croft Tomb Raider sets to civil engineering master pieces the temple of Angkor is so large it defies the imagination.
Walking is the only option here, and it is very hot and humid during the summer, so plenty of sunscreen and water are a must.
At the same time, all the roads surround the area are dirt roads, the red clay type, which in the dry season are full of dirt. That made it very hard to breath in.
It's so massive in size that I couldn't in relative term to be able to imagine the whole structural lay out.
This view must be breath-taking from the sky or from a helicopter, but during this time, there was none to be offered.
The plan of Angkor Wat is difficult to grasp when walking through the monument because of the vastness.
Its complexity and beauty both attract and distract one's attention.
Words and superlatives failed me. In simple terms this is one of the world's religious mysticism.
From a distance Angkor Wat appears to be a colossal mass of stone on one level with a long causeway leading to the center but close up it is a series of elevated towers, covered galleries, chambers, porches and courtyards on different levels linked by stairways.
This site is one of the largest religious monuments in the world and represents the architectural pinnacle of the Khmer Empire.
We at our lunch at a huge restaurant within the area. This restaurant can accommodate a couple thousand of tourists a day easily. I am not so much enjoyed the Cambodia dishes because they are similar to ours with fish is the mainstay.
We rest for about half an hour after meals, then set out to see some more.
We started to head out to the main gate where our driver were waiting. It was time to go visit the largest lake of Cambodia, the Tonlé Sap.
Beyond the gate, there were a few fruit vendors selling pineapples, mangoes, corn on the cobs and soft-drinks on pushed carts.
There were a few local fruit stands selling other exotic fruits grown and harvested locally.
No comments:
Post a Comment