This morning we eagerly woke up at 4am for what was going to be an action-packed day of temple ruin wandering and learning about a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site! We hired a tuk-tuk driver for the entire day to bring us around the different sites and help to inform us about the past, present, and future of these wonders. Angkor Wat (which is the largest religious monument in the entire world!!!) was our first stop for a spectacular sunrise and it was absolutely breathtaking. We spent 3 hours just exploring the grounds and taking in the rich history and religious relics. It is estimated to have been built by the Khmer empire in the mid-12th century in dedication to Vishnu.
After Angkor Wat, we rode to Angkor Thom, which was built in the late 12th century (after Angkor Wat) and has three major sites, with many others situated around them. We first visited Bayon, which was originally the official state temple. King Jayavarman VII, who built this temple, strongly resembles to many faces that appear throughout the site. Nearby is Baphoun, which was dedicated and build for Shiva. Beyond this site is the Terrace of the Elephants, which gets its name from the numerous carvings of elephants throughout (I originally thought it was a dedication to these magnificent animals, but turns out it was a major site of public addresses from the king to the people of the Khmer kingdom).
Ta Prohm was next on our list and it was something we were looking forward to since entering into the historical park. Some of you may recognize this site from popular films and stories, but seeing nature-versus-architecture was spectacular. We spent some time looking at the detailed reliefs and even more looking at the gigantic trees that are overtaking the stunning site, which was originally (in part) a university of sorts, even housing its own library. On our way out of Ta Prohm, we spotted a herd of water buffalo near the mote’s edge just calmly grazing on grass.
After quickly engulfing an entire bottle of water, we set off to Bantaey Kdei, our last stop on this temple ruin journey. It translates to “The Citadel of Chambers” and once housed the chief priest and family! While it may not have been as grand in size as the others, the detailed reliefs and structures kept us there for quite a bit.
It was now lunchtime, so we decided to head back towards the city center of Siem Reap, but on our way out of the historical park, Joey spotted a group of monkeys hanging out of the side of the road. We pulled over for some pictures only to find more up in the nearby trees with the cutest little baby monkey!
For lunch we decided to go to Spoons. It’s on the other side of the Siem Reap River, but still only about a 10-15 minute walk from the hustle and bustle of the market and pub street. We actually decided to eat here not only because the food is incredible, but also because of the mission and philosophy behind the EGBOK (Everything’s Gonna Be OK) organization that runs it. It was founded in 2009 by a Cornell graduate and gives low-income rural Cambodians the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in the hospitality industry. Education and infrastructure are still lacking quite a bit outside of the few major cities in Cambodia, this program has built a restaurant and associated school. There are hundreds of applicants from many different regions in the country, but only 45-50 students are selected each year. The program managers, many of whom are graduates of the program themselves, travel to these regions to meet and interview the prospective candidates. They base their selection off of different criteria, but the core philosophy remains steadfast; applicants must come from a low-income background and be passionate about learning, cooking, and family.
Please please please look into this organization and if you’re ever in Siem Reap, Cambodia…it’s a must! After a wonderful meal and even more wonderful conversation, we grabbed a tuk-tuk to the Fresh Fruit Factory. Although it is not a traditional Cambodian dessert (which many of you know we try to only eat local cuisine when possible), it was one of the most delightful treats we’ve ever had! We decided on the dragon fruit ice mountain, but I seriously doubt you could make a bad choice at this fun and flavorful locale.
We caught a late flight out of Siem Reap back to Bangkok where we will begin our travels to northern Thailand. Tomorrow we will be visiting another beautiful historical park, Kamphaeng Phet, so stay posted!
Great posts and photos are amazing. Have you tried your drone yet? Be safe always!