days 116 and 117 - The Ancient City of Angkor

Tuesday, 18 February 2014

We spent the past two days exploring the incredible ancient city of Angkor. Angkor was home to the Khmer kings and up to a million people from the 9th to the 15th century and the park contains several different urban layouts, reservoirs and a large number of monuments and temples. While some of the temples are crumbling or feeling the squeeze of Mother Nature, the creativity and craftsmanship evident in the remains of all the buildings we visited hints at how magnificent the Khmer Empire's capital must have once been. Today, the descendants of some of those who lived in Angkor at its height, still live within the grounds of the park.

(The moat around Angkor Wat at dawn)

Each day, we arrived at the park at sunrise in order to make the most of the quieter and cooler mornings. At that time of day, we were lucky enough to grab a few peaceful moments alone in parts of The Bayon, The Baphuon and Angkor Wat, with only the sounds of the birds in the surrounding trees for a soundtrack. Below is just a small selection of the many, many photos we took over the two days.

(The Bayon)

(Bas relief wall at the Bayon)

(Some of the Bayon's many faces)

(The Bayon)

(The Baphuon)

(A bas-relief at The Baphuon)

(A gallery at The Baphuon)

(Looking down from The Baphuon's upper level)

(Ta Prohm)

(Ta Prohm)

(A bas-relief at Ta Prohm)

(A gallery at Ta Prohm)

(Ta Keo)

(Ta Keo)

(Banteay Kdei)

(Children wait while their parents work in the grounds of Banteay Kdei)

(A shrine inside Banteay Kdei)

(Banteay Kdei)

(Bas-relief detail in Banteay Kdei)

(Children play in Sra Srang)

(Angkor Wat at sunrise)

(Waterlilies on the moat of Angkor Wat)

(Angkor Wat)

(Bas-relief detail at Angkor Wat)

(Angkor Wat)

(Angkor Wat)

(Angkor Wat)

(Angkor Wat)

(A statue of Buddha at Angkor Wat)

(Preah Khan)

(Preah Khan)

(Preah Khan)

(Preah Khan)

(Preah Khan)