WOW!!! That is all I have to say about Angkor Wat. It was absolutely amazing. Angkor Wat is a temple that is about 1,000 years old and were only rediscovered just over a hundred years ago. It is located in Siem Reap Cambodia, a sleep little town filled with hundreds of temples. Angkor was originally a Hindu temple that was later made into a Buddhist temple. Angkor is actually a large compound area with many temples. Angkor Wat (wat means temple) is the center piece, it is the building that is on the Cambodian flag. The place is massive and surrounded by a large wall and a small forest.
We decided to go for sunrise because we were told it was the most beautiful then, and it was. At 4:45 am we set out from our hostel on a tuk tuk (in Cambodia it is small carriage that is hooked up to a scooter) for the temple. We arrived just in time to see the sun rising. It rises behind the temple and cause the temple to cast the most beautiful reflection in the water just in front of the temple. Everyone sits by the water taking countless pictures, then hurry through the temple to go see the next one. By 7 am they are all gone. We took our time exploring and really took it all in.
Our driver then took us to subsequent temples in the area. After a few a temple is a temple is a temple, but there were a few there that really stood out. There was Bayon temple that was quite large. It has these large stone faces that look out in all directions. Each one of the faces is bigger than me. It is so amazing that this stuff is still standing. You can climb and crawl over it like it is a big jungle gym. For a minute you feel like a little kid, like you are Indian Jones and you are going to discover some treasure that has been hidden for thousands of years.
Another really impressive temple was Ta Prohm. You have probably seen pictures of this one before. To enter you walk through a gate down a long path surrounded by trees and then out of no where there stands a temple that has been overgrown by the vegetation. Trees are literally growing right out of the building. There is one particular carving of a woman that has been covered by tree roots except for her face. It is if she is hiding behind the tree and just peeking through.
Everywhere you look there are more temples all magnificent with intricate carvings. They all seem to hold a sense of mystery. By noon we were done for the day and enjoyed some much needed sleep.
The following day we went to the Cambodian land mine museum. Again we took a tuk tuk and this ride took almost and hour. It was great though. We passed by country side, little villages and adorable little kids all waving and yelling hello. The museum was really informative and surprising. Cambodia is covered with millions of land mines and other explosives (bombs) that never detonated. Everyday people including children are either killed or seriously injured by this. This museum has an home for children who have been hurt by the mines. They are educated and cared for and in turn are able to make a future for themselves. The thing that surprised me the most was how much America hurt Cambodia. During the Vietnam war we carpet bombed Cambodia killing thousands and thousands of people. We never learn about this in our history books at home. Another surprise was the fact that we still produce the land mines that have killed so many and that the fact that America never signed the Mine Ban Treaty. Amazing. We are so lucky that we don't have to worry where we step that we might get a foot blown off or even killed.
Overall Siem Reap was wonderful and really made me fall in love with Cambodia. The people here were so great and genuine. When we arrived at our guest house they were really friendly and at first we were cautious because in previous experiences people were doing this just to get your money or con you. After a bit we relaxed and realized that they were great and treated us like family. This was by far the best hostel we have stayed at. Great first impression of Cambodia.
That was soon tainted by Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. It is just like any large city. Loud, hectic and dirty. But the people here had no welcoming smile or friendly greeting, if they were being nice it was because they wanted something from you. While here we went to see the Palace and silver pagoda. While it was pretty and nice it was not nearly as impressive as the Grand Palace in Bangkok. It looked almost identical just not on such a grand scale.
We also visited the Tuol Sleng prison or S-21. It used to be a high school that was invaded by the Khmer Rouge and turned into a prison and torture facility. This place was truly disturbing and one of the worst things I have ever seen. It housed 17,000 people over a three year period who were all killed, but many were tortured first. Men, women, children and even infants. They took pictures of everyone who was brought here, and all those pictures were on display. It is so sad to see it all. Some of the pictures were so disturbing and unfortunately are permanently etched in my mind. I was on the verge of tears when we left. We were supposed to go to the killing fields where all the people for the prison were executed but it was too much for me and we skipped it. During these terrible years Cambodia lost a third of there population. It is hard to believe that only a few decades ago this country was turned completely upside down. It seems as though they are really overcoming and moving on.
Next is Vietnam.
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