Angkor Archaeological Park

Angkor became the capital of the Angkor empire in 9th century and many temples were built here from the late 9th century to the early 13th century. They were first built as Hindu temples, then as Buddhist temples, and then back to as Hindu temples. There are dozens of temples both in the Angkor Archaeological Park and farther afield. The most famous one is Angkor Wat, which you can see from the map covers much less territory than does Angkor Thom.

The Angkor temples were discovered by French naturalist Henri Mouhot in 1860. They were covered by jungle growth. The French, during their colonial period, started clearing the temple areas and then again after the wars ended in Cambodia  in the early 1990s. In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge looted the temples and decapitated many of the statues.

Our Tour Guide

Our tour guide was Mony. We met him last night when Radi dropped us off in Siem Reap. He was a very nice man though his English was at times hard to understand. He called me “Peegee.” I thought it sounded cute and didn’t correct him.

Thma Bay Kaek

Before visiting the temples, we had to have our photos taken and then carry around a card with our photo on it while in the park. The cards are checked to make sure that you paid the entrance fee.

The first temple we visited was Thma Bay Kaek, built in the 10th century as a Hindu temple. It was built from brick and not much is left of it.

Thma Bay Kaek

Part of the temple.

Thma Bay Kaek

The other part of the temple that is still standing.

Thma Bay Kaek

A boat in the water near the temple.

Thma Bay Kaek

An abandoned tuk–tuk near the temple.

Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom was a very large city, built between the late 12th century and the early 13th century. We entered Angkor Thom through the South Gate.

Angkor Thom

Leading up to the South Gate were 54 god statues and 54 demon statues. These are demon statues in the photo.

Angkor Thom

We visited the Bayon in the Angkor Thom complex. It was built as a Buddhist monastery and includes 54 towers and more than 200 huge stone faces.

Angkor Thom

One of the huge stone heads.

Angkor Thom

There are many bas–reliefs at the temples of war scenes.

Angkor Thom

There are also bas–reliefs of women.

Angkor Thom

The Terrace of the Elephants are also part of Angkor Thom.

I have put my photos of Angkor Thom on a slide show. Go to Slide Shows, Asia, Cambodia, “Siem Reap: Angkor Thom” or go directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/siem–reap–angkor–thom–tour–day–2a/

I was ready to go back to my hotel after visiting Angkor Thom. It was boiling hot outside with awful humidity. After visiting Angkor Thom, we also visited Ta Phrohm, had lunch, and then went to Angkor Wat. It was way too much and became an endurance test, but most tours do Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, and some other temples all in one day. I would suggest that if you come here to visit the temples take it slowly and do it over several days. You easily can rent guides and tuk–tuks and other transportation and make up your own tour, one you can do at your own pace and heat tolerance.

Ta Phrohm

I almost didn’t visit this temple. I knew I could not take anymore sun, but I saw a vendor selling hats and bought one. I was comfortable enough to proceed and the walk to the temple wasn’t a long one. It also was a bit cooler at this temple because of the trees in it.

Photo: A pretty doll being sold on the walk to the temple.

Ta Phrohm

Instruments being sold along the walk to the temple.

Ta Phrohm

Ta Phrohm was built as a Buddhist monastery in the mid–12th to early 13th centuries. About 80,000 people lived at the temple.

Ta Phrohm

Trees grow out of and into the ruins. This is the “Tomb Raider” tree. It is where Angelina Jolie falls undergrown in the movie “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” which was filmed here.

I have put my photos of Ta Phrohm on a slide show. Go to Slide Shows, Asia, Cambodia, “Siem Reap: Ta Phrohm” or directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/siem–reap–ta–phrohm–tour–day–2b/

Lunch

I and many (most?) of my tour group was suffering from the heat. We were given hand towels to clean our hands but we were using them all over our skin to try to cool down. When cold beer cans were brought out to those who ordered them, they went first to the face to cool it off. Even though we had driven to the restaurant in an air–conditioned bus and the restaurant was air–conditioned, I still felt very overheated and didn’t cool down enough that I felt comfortable. I really spent the day hoping I wouldn’t have sun stroke or heat exhaustion. I think this was the worse that I have ever felt in the heat and I was worried.

Angkor Wat

You go to visit Angkor Wat after 2 p.m. because the lightening there is not good earlier in the day (except for sunrise, a time when people do visit Angkor Wat). It started feeling a bit cooler, but I was already exhausted from this morning’s tour. But if you come to Siem Reap, you don’t want to miss seeing Angkor Wat, but it was a test of anyone’s endurance.

Angkor Wat was built as a Hindu temple in the early to mid–12th century. It is quite spectacular.

Angkor Wat

The other reason to see Angkor Wat at sunset is to take photos like this one of the temple reflected in the water.

I have put my photos of Angkor Wat on a slide show. Go to Slide Shows, Asia, Cambodia, “Siem Reap: Angkor Wat” or directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/siem–reap–angkor–wat–tour–day–2c/

Dinner

Dinner was part of the day’s tour and a good ending to a very exhausting day, the kind of day I hope never to repeat again.