Sunset at Angkor Wat
It was already afternoon when we left Ta Prohm. As we exited the main Ta Prohm complex, we were greeted by vendors selling “cold drink” and kids asking for “one dalah”. This will soon be a famliar scene since every major temple has a strip of vendors right outside it, ready to quench the thirst of the weary tourist.
Our driver asked us where to go next since it seemed like he doesn’t have any more on his itinerary. So we decided to go to Angkor Wat to see the sunset. Angkor Wat isn’t really that far from Ta Prohm, after a few minutes we reached the moat surrounding the temple mountain.
I had no idea how vast the area of Angkor Wat was until we started going around the perimeter of the moat. It took us some time to cover one side of the moat. No wonder, it was a full kilometer long. In fact the entire Angkor Wat complex occupies two square kilometers. The moat itself is very impressive since it is wide enough to be a small river. Fortunately, this moat has water since it is fed by the Siem Reap River.
To cross the moat, visitors needs to go to the main entrance. Our driver dropped us off at the entrance and we quickly made our way to the bridge crossing the moat. As expected, there were a lot of people here. Busloads of tourists all trying to get in the temple. Fortunately, Angkor Wat is huge enough to accomodate all those tourists.
The name Angkor Wat means “royal city that is a monastery”. It was built by Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. This is the most famous monument of Cambodia and is featured in their national flag. It originally was for the Hindu religion but was later turned into a Buddhist monastery.
As expected Angkor Wat is really a sight to behold. It is impressive both in size and style. Bas-relief seem to adorn every nook and cranny of the temple. Elegant carvings can be seen in the most insignificant pillar. It is worth to spend a whole day exploring every inch of this majestic temple.
After crossing the moat, and in the first enclosure. A field of opens up to greet the visitor. It would have been a really fascinating expierence if it weren’t for the hordes of tourists that are there. In the far distance it the main temple itself. Looks like it will really take a while for us to get there. Halfway to the main temple, are two sets of pools one on each side of the walkway to the temple.
The temple reflected upon the pools makes for a really picturesque scene. I’m sure the tourists on the shores of the pool would agree with me. It seemed to be great time to go since the sun is already behind us. The sky will not be overblown.
After a lot of photos, we continued our way to the main temple. Here on could explore the long hallways of the temple. There were actually monks there and their bright clothing really shows against the drab grey of the the temple walls.
At the innermost enclosure, visitors can climb up the very steep stairs to explore the temple itself. However, the builders of the temple seemed to be quite a small people since each step was not even as big as my foot. This led to an interesting predicament. You will see people crawling up or down the temple using their hands and feet, since it really is quite scary going up the temple. If you want to climb up the temple, use extreme caution, I don’t think the authorities would take care of you if something happens.
Behind the temple is an awesome bas-relief of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. The second half of the bas-relief is one depicting Vishnu fighting against demons. This part of the temple is relatively quiet, receiving only a handful of visitors. It is here where one can actually absorb the atmosphere of Angkor Wat. In fact, I could just sit down and stare out into space with no one bothering me. It is a good thing the tour groups do not reach this far. That had me wondering, with the way tourist come and explore the temple, there might become a time when most of the temple has already been replaced because of wear and tear.
At the other exit, visitors can get a great view of Angkor Wat without the crowds. It was also at this time when the sun started to set down behind the temple. While probably not as amazing as a sunrise, it is nonetheless an beautiful sight.
We walked the whole lenght of the temple complex back to where our driver would meet us. With the hordes of tourist also going back, I feared we might not be able to find our driver. Fortunately, he was smart enough to position himself at a visible place so we found him immediately.
Angkor Wat, despite the huge number of tourists flocking to see it, is truly a sight to behold. Yes, the tourists will get in your way a lot of times but it one small price to pay to see one of man greatest architectural marvels of all time.
Tags: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, heritage, moat, monk, Siem Reap, temple, UNESCO, world
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