Angkor Thom and Ankor Wat

Nothing like saving the best for last! This morning before heading out for a day of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, we caught a quick dip in the empty pool - delightful.

Our first stop was at the ticket booth so we could get our ID photo passes.

The price you saw there is the $US price for both sites. We first visited Angkor Thom, meaning Great City in Khmer. This massive city has four gates facing the cardinal directions. We and the masses of Chinese tourists came in the South Gate with its causeway flanked by 154 stone statues, most of whom lost their heads to Tomb Raiders over the years and have had replacements - spot the original here.

Once we walked through the gate, we got back into our air conditioned van to go some distance to the heart of Angkor Thom, the Bayon. On the way we passed many reminders of the importance of elephants here, from the three headed elephant to the live elephant rides.

The Bayon features 54 four faced towers. They represent the all-seeing and all-knowing Buddhist/Hindu Gods. Later they were to separate the two religions, but well after the 12th century.

It was fascinating meandering through the narrow passage ways here, especially at a time when many ancient relics have been closed to foot traffic - aka Parthenon, Pyramids.

Angkor Thom is massive compared the area of Ankor Wat and we loved it - maybe more than Angkor Wat.

Our next visit was to Ta Prohm, the most mysterious of the Angkor Temples. We have been delivered to our sites in Mercedes air conditioned vans, but lots opt for the Tuk Tuk. With the heat, the drivers love their hammock time.

Ta Prohm is famous for its use as a location setting for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movies. This is because trees took over the temple hundreds of years ago and now their twisted roots entwining the temple walls provide wonderful photo ops.

Cicadas were screaming in the trees today and we actually located one of the little guys.

The morning over, we were taken past an Apsara statue to the 24 Square Restaurant where we had another excellent lunch.

Given the choice of continuing our excursion to Angkor Wat immediately after lunch and in the heat of the day or having a break back at the hotel, we opted for continuing on in the hot sun - crazy, but actually a wise choice, since the Chinese don’t go out in the heat of the day. Our route took us in the back door of the temple, thanks to the expertise of our guide Jak.

Angkor Wat, unlike the other sites in the area, has always - since the 12th century - been inhabited by monks. Therefore, the jungle did not take over like it did in Ta Prohm. As a result, most consider this the crown jewel of this area. The frescoes are impeccable. Unfortunately, thousands of Buddha statues were looted in their entirety or just their heads. Angkor Wat, largest religious monument in the world, is - you know what, I can't even find the superlatives for it, but here are some photos.

Since we have been in Cambodia we have have found out guides to be extremely knowledgeable, kind and very easy to laugh. Our current guide Jak has protected us from the sun as much as he can and he knows every shortcut on the tours. He was pretty tickled when we said we wanted his photo. Can I just point out that the wi-fi at this hotel has been CRAP - = many hours getting a post!

More images of the indescribable Angkor Wat.

What a once in a lifetime Day!!!!