My 3rd trip to Cambodia. Same place but with different people and different experiences. Took a lot more photos this time around with the digital camera (!) as the past two times I didn't have a digital camera.
First stop was Siem Reap. The weather was actually hotter than I remember, and it was only March. Only managed to visit 3 ruins this time around - seems to be getting less and less each time! The ruins were as I remember, although it was rather a disappointment that we were not able to climb up to the main tower in Angkor Wat. It was barricaded off for some reason - signage was all in Cambodian. I can still remember the first (and only!) time I stared out that window from the tower - capturing the view all the way past the inner wall to the outer moat.
What a sight that was.
Well, tower or no, Angkor Wat is still Angkor Wat!
Angkor Wat
Besides Angkor Wat, we also did Angkor Thom and Ta Phrom. Signs of 'modern intrusion' were seen everywhere - wooden arrows pointing towards the 'correct' way, planks set out for walking, makeshift stairs, etc. There was no more excitement as we were left with no room to Explore and Discover - which was what made the ruins so mysterious and wonderful in the first place. We were 'hoarded' by an invisible hand to walk the 'mass route' :-(
However, it was still Angkor and its years of history still bears down on you. It serves to remind us that even the greatest civilisation can crumble and be ravaged by time.
Bayon
Each of the Angkor ruins are individually different and serves a specific purpose - from places of worship, to bath houses, to places of cremation. Each is a testament of the Khmers' lifystyle that has been preserved through the ages so that we may today marvel at their greatness in bygone years.
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