The Temples of Angkor

Arriving in Siem Reap, a few hours by bus from Phnom Penh we were pretty excited. Why? Because Siem Reap is the home of the Angkor Temple complex - a vast collection of temples and other structures built in the Angkor period, when the Khmer Empire stretched beyond Cambodia into parts of Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Angkor was a huge city home to 1.5million people in its heyday. 'Discovered' in the 19th Century, the ruins stretch for miles into the jungle, starting 10 km from the modern town of Siem Reap. And with a three day pass and bikes at our disposal we got to explore heaps of them! Thank you to Janine and Dave for such an awesome present!

We decided to build up to the big temples (anyone heard of Angkor Wat?!)... So we started off on our first day by covering lots of miles on the bikes and finding the less busy temples on the outskirts of the archaeological park. 

Venturing into the jungle by mountain bike,
in search of our first temple!

The archaeological park was also home
to villages, kids and water buffalo

To be honest, these temples alone blew us away - ranging from huge temple mountains, to never-ending corridors, to man-made lakes. And the wonder of nature eating up the ancient structures!

Our first temple mountain - wow!

All the cycling and climbing got us a bit moist...

Nature claiming back the soil

Tucked away - but what a find

Beautiful carvings contrasted with rubble - a common theme

The next day we started by exploring Ta Prohm, known by many as the Tomb Raider temple. Nature really has run riot here - everywhere you look roots are eating bricks, trunks rising out of structures. Amazing!

Lara Croft eat your heart out!

Later on, we entered the gates of Angkor Thom, a city within the city. 

One of four gates to Angkor Thom - each had
four faces guarding the city from all directions

Never-ending steps

More beautiful carvings - every face was different!

Happy explorers

Having explored within the city walls we ended the day with what turned out to be our favourite temple, Bayon. 

Bayon

Going to battle

The temple itself is home to hundreds of faces on every side of every tower. Calmly looking down on us. Awe inspiring and amazing to imagine just how impressive it must have been when first built, when every chiselled mark was perfectly defined.

Inside the temple - so quiet!

Serene

And all knowing

So impressive from all angles

Saving Angkor Wat itself until last we caught our first glimpse on our third and final day. And wow - what a sight! 

The big boy

The inside was no less impressive with seemingly endless corridors of bas-relief carvings. 

Every relief told a story

It's supposed to be one of the busiest tourist sites in the world but 'rainy' season seemed to have kept the hoardes away. We were treated to peace and tranquility as we explored.

Inside the temple

In such perfect condition - due to its
continued used as a temple over the centuries

The photographer at work -  he will do anything for his art.
But isn't that just a pile of rocks?!

Matt shows the locals how to scissor jump over a rope.
They were suitably impressed with his high jumping prowess

Finishing up the day we thought we'd hang around for some sunset photos... what an end to our three days stepping back in time.

The sun sets on Angkor

This has to be one of the best adventures of the trip. And we'd highly recommend it to anyone coming out to Southeast Asia - especially by bike. Just pack some padded shorts.