The mother of all temples, more temples, and more temples, and then just piles of rocks...

Welcome to Angkor Wat

Welcome to Angkor Province. Home to world famous Angkor wat. The largest religious structure in the world. And it is truly as large as they say it is. Angkor Wat is in every way, a huge ancient temple, of mammoth proportions with equally amazing detail and arcitecture.

Some of the fine carvings found around Angkor Wat

Another beautiful stone carving. These were present all

over the place where mother nature had not taken her toll

The outer four walls were covered with engravings

depicting some kind of super battle of some sort

A close up of the wall. The detail is mind blowing.

A courtyard inside Angkor Wat

Outside Angkor Wat

But really that is all the praises i can say. I was there for sunrise and spent the next 9 hours walking around, seeing temple after temple after temple. With the heat increasing throughout the day and my bum foot hurting more and more, these fantastic temples turned from the 7th or 8th wonder of the world into huge piles of crumbing rock.

A lovely pile of rocks

In this temple, the Mother Nature is in the process of reclaiming her land

Same here

I feel kinda bad not understanding more about each and every temple i visited. But as usual, i just didn't care. I'm not a temple person. I have read up a little of the history of each structure, but it really felt like i was studying a history lesson that i could care less about.

There were so many tourist there it was difficult to get some time alone and really absorb the surroundings. It was always chinese, korean or japanese tour groups marching their way around, poking, prodding and posing at every structure the tour guide pointed out. It was quite annoying fighting with them to get pics everywhere i went. That and my stupid phone camera takes the lamest pictures ever. I should just draw everything i see instead. I'm sure the pics will be nicer. But for now, it will have to suffice. I will be in bkk tomorrow and then i can have a new camera.

Ooooh, scary entrance...its the temple of Doom

However, there were some points in the temples i will never forget. Sometimes, when you wander off away from the crowds, down some dark corridors, and find yourself in a completely empty and serene place. When the walls are just right and they block the sound of the ever incessant tourist, you can have moments of silence that are indescribable. I felt like an explorer that has stumbled upon a never before seen lost city in the jungle. The atmosphere was a mix of romance and wonder as you stroll through ruins and jungle waiting to see what was around the next corner. Every turn was something new. Every small window led to another new garden. Every wall contained a secret of vast untold riches. Every exit was, but an entrance, somewhere else (Dr. Fraiser Crane). There was a real Indiana Jones feeling about everything. I half expected poison darts or a giant stone ball to come out of somewhere and try to kill me.

The Bayon temple, famous for its carvings

Alone inside the Bayon

Back to Angkor Wat

But of course, the adventure always ended too quickly. Sometimes when you turn a corner you bump into a sign saying no enterance or danger. Those kinda things quickly ruin the myster of a place. Oh, that and tour guides yelling, one, two, three, cheese (well, thats what they were saying in chinese, i'm not sure about the other languages).

Damn tourists! They really are like an infestation or plague.

A Hindu temple. I was quite keen on exploring this temple as well but after reaching the base i decided not to. Hindu temples are build very tall and so the stairs were steep as hell. I'm sure i could have went up but my bum foot would have definitely been my undoing on my way back.

Well, that is my story of Angkor wat and the surrounding temples.

My attempt at an artistic shot using my fone.

Damn i wish i had my camera. Did you know that new D-SLRs have the apeture in the housing and not in the lense? How strange it that? But better question, is why didn't they do this long ago? It makes perfect sense.