Cambodia: Siem Reap (Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom)

Next morning, we woke up early, hoping to catch sunrise @ Angkor wat

Many tourists were already waiting for the sunrise.

Too bad, the sunrise can hardly be seen due to the clouds

Angkor Wat
-most probably constructed as a funerary temple for the King to honour Vishnu (symbolizes man’s devotion to his gods)
-the largest religious structure in the world
-best-preserved temple at Angkor cos it was never abandoned to the elements

Coincidentally bumped into Jianming and Melinda! Uncannily, earlier that morning I wondered whether I would bump into anyone at one of the wonders of the world. Ha

Long walls of carvings depicting epic events

Treacherously steep stairs

The central cupola

Headless statues everywhere

Palito doing his favourite pose

Roda in Angkor Wat

View of the Sandstone Causeway & Main entrance from inside the Angkor Wat

Sneak shot

Statue of Vishnu with his 8 arms

Newly weds

After Angkor Wat, our guide drove us to Ta Prohm
-the most atmospheric ruin at Angkor and a must-see
-Buddhist Temple left to be swallowed by the jungle
-filming site of Tomb Raider

The tree that was previously on top this monument has been removed & reconstruction of the statue is now taking place

Victims of landmine

Ruins

The friendly guide who took us around

Power of the jungle

The Shiva Temple that Nithiya wanted to see

Another temple

The guide then took us to the fortified city of Angkor Thom, which encloses many impt monuments

Giant Buddha statue @ Tep Pranam

Intricate carvings

Sexless statue @ Terrace of the Leper King

Terrace of Elephants

Baphuon which is a pyramidal representation of mythical Mt Meru. Too bad it’s closed for reconstruction

Bayon , seemingly like a pile of rubble, is at the exact centre of the city of Angkor Thom

Nose-rubbing the statue

At one of the monumental gate to the city of Angkor Thom

After Angkor Thom, we climbed up a hill to catch the sunset.

Again we can’t see the sunset due to the clouds

When will I ever be able to do a bridge like this?

Too many/much rocks

Phew, this must be the tiring day for the entire Cambodia trip after all that climbing & walking. I am so glad that we only took the 1-day Angkor Wat pass.