We arrived in Siem Reap with one main objective, see Angkor Wat. Little did we know that the area is chock full of Hindu/Buddhist temple complexes and Angkor Wat is just one among the lot. Brief history: These temples were constructed by kings of the Khmer Empire during the late 800s to the 1200s and were mainly used as places of worship although some structures had other purposes. Each subsequent king tried to out do the previous one - resulting in crazy massive structures all over the area.
We decided to break up the trip over 3 days which gave us a good amount of time to see everything without having to rush. Kerry was even a good sport as she agreed to ride bikes on the first and last day. We hired a driver (yes, we are that important!) for the second day to show us around and teach us a bit more about the temples and it turned out to be a great decision. Now we know everyone reading this is in the market for a driver (one in Seam Reap no less), but if you are...look no further than Bunty. On to the important information.
First impression: WOW.
Lasting impressions: These complexes are enormous. Their sheer size is baffling, not to mention the intricate carvings that seem to be everywhere. It's no wonder the Cambodia government has invested lots of time, money and energy (seemingly absent in other areas) to keep the area in good condition.
The pictures below are from the first and last day. We will post a separate blog shortly after this one with the pictures from sunrise at Angkor Wat.
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