ANGKOR THOM, SIEM REAP (CAMBODIA) – One of the obvious challenges that you will face when visiting the Angkor temples in Siem Reap, Cambodia would be time management.  This is why it is important to book a room in a hotel in Siem Reap like the Angkor Star Hotel Siem Reap as you would definitely have to stay more than a day.  In the first place, how in the world can you fit in exploring all the breathtaking temples in what little time you have?

The order by which you would want to explore the Angkor temples is very subjective and will depend highly on your personal preference.  Take into consideration the amount of time that you have allocated for your trip.  Based on our prior research before our trip, we found out that it is ideal to set aside at least three days for your Siem Reap stop.  One week is definitely a lot better.  Unfortunately, there are instances when tourists are simply “passing by” Siem Reap on their way somewhere.  In the cases, tourist guides and tour companies within Siem Reap can help you plan and make the most out of your stay.  They would know which temples to prioritize and the best itineraries to follow.

In the first place, appreciation of the Angkor Temples is not only limited to physical beauty.   It also involves immersing one’s self in the culture of the place and the atmosphere.  One must also be conscious of the place’s colorful history and everything else that transpired within the temples’ high stone walls.  Mr. Sambo, our English-speaking guide, suggested that we start our tour with Angkor Thom.  Angkor Thom is said to the one of the largest Khmer cities that was ever built as it occupies a total of 900 hectares. Because of its size, the visit can last anywhere from two to four hours depending on how much time you have, your physical state, and weather conditions.

We entered through the South Gate.  But before we were able to do so, I asked Mr. Rith, our tuk-tuk driver, to stop for a while so that we can take some souvenir photos.  There were also quite a number of vendors selling straw hats, canvass hats, scarves, books, clothes, refreshments, and many others.  My partner saw the scarves on sale and decided to buy one.  The vendor originally said that one scarf was US$ 3.00 but when we said it was too much lowered the price to US$ 2.00.  It was a good deal, or so we thought…

Angkor Thom was founded by Jayavarman VII and was said to be the capital until the 17th century.  The walls of the city, which were built for defence, are enveloped by an enclosed square and a moat.  The four gates at the cardinal points pass through the walls and come together at the Bayon, which is considered the central State Temple of Jayavarman VII.

Most visitors enter through the South Gate, a magnificent landmark having towers with four faces pointing to each of the cardinal directions.  According to Mr. Sambo, the gates are lined with 54 demons or asuras on the right side and at the same time guarded by 54 gods on the left side.  It was quite easy for me to distinguish the demons because of their strong and fierce facial expressions.  The impressive images of gods and demons line the bridge across the moat.  The South gate is the most popular point of entry as this is the one that was expansively reinstated to its original form.  I also easily noticed that most of the heads of the images that line the South Gate have been stolen.  Mr. Sambo said that only the North Gate was able to retain the most number of complete images.   The two rows of figures also carry the body of a giant serpent, a naga with seven heads.  At first glance, I thought that these figures are holding a very thick rope and playing tug of war.  The nagas are believed to be “guardians of the city’s royal wealth.”

After climbing several steps and going through several ruined structures, we found ourselves at the Bayon.  This State Temple of Jayavarman VII and his successors is considered one of the most powerful and unfathomable buildings in the whole world.  Mr. Sambo told us that it is quite difficult to determine the exact number of towers that can be found at the Bayon but at present, only thirty seven towers are existing.  Some towers are engraved with four faces but some towers only have three or two.

It is easy to get lost here but the advantage is that you can use a lot of different entrances and exit points.  Getting lost is part of the experience!  Within The Bayon, we immersed ourselves in various rich details such as chambers, corridors, steep stairways, libraries, chapels, intricate carvings, and a lot more.  The wall carvings really caught my attention.  Mr. Sambo explained that these carvings depict marching Khmer soldiers, fight scenes of the Khmer army, palace scenes, and some more carvings that were not even finished.

With all the details that you can absorb during your visit, it is quite important to have meticulous eyes.  If you are in an amazing place like Angkor Thom, you cannot afford to have any bit of information pass you by.  As for me, I grabbed the chance to have a lot of photos taken during our visit.  In one photo, my partner was even able to angle the camera in such a way that one of the faces appeared to be kissing me on the cheek.

After a couple of hours, we decided to wrap up and transfer to another site.  We left for the hollywood-famous Ta Phrom.

Posted in Attractions, Cambodia

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