Following a brief evening on Pub Street and unwinding whilst viewing Ancient Aliens, I tried to get some rest so I'd be well prepared for day two exploring Angkor Thom. The alarm went off early, at 4:15 am to make sure we'd be ready to meet our driver at 5 am. Do you find it hard to sleep when an early wake-up is looming? I was worried I might sleep through it, and we'd miss the sunrise at Angkor Wats. Credit to one blonde woman for setting multiple alarms and getting us up in time!
I couldn't quite understand why such an early arrival was necessary if sunrise wasn't until about 6:45. Yet by 5 am, crowds had already assembled to secure the best vantage point for photos. Several locals insisted that sunset at Angkor Wats would be far superior. The season of our visit didn't permit us to witness the temple at dusk. As evening fell, clouds blanketed the sky, and heavy rain poured down.
So we remained...watching...and watching for that extraordinary instant when the sun would cast stunning shades across the heavens above this timeworn structure. There was a brief moment with delicate pink tones visible overhead but nowhere near the calibre of other Angkor Wats images I've come across. Still, it was utterly magnificent.
Once I'd secured the stunning photograph, we ventured deeper into the temple complex to discover its historical remains. We'd devoted considerable time over the preceding two days reviewing YouTube tutorials about Angkor Wats so we could get a comprehensive understanding of this ancient site.
Angkor Wats is extensive and would have felt quite daunting without those instructional videos. The evening before, we watched footage covering the artistic galleries situated throughout the corridors. Each passage contained a distinct narrative. Given my limited talent for reading maps and layouts, we found ourselves having quite the adventure trying to identify which gallery represented what. The galleries featured depictions of divine beings battling alongside the Khmer populace, King Suryavarman II during warfare, and various Buddhist sculptural works.
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| This sculpture shows a battle between the Khomer people & their adversaries |
Angkor Wat offers abundantly to discover. Overall, we invested nearly two hours touring the different sections of the temple. I heard a guide mention that visitors could readily spend 4 hours and still miss plenty. As time went on, more visitors kept arriving at Angkor Wat. When it began to feel quite crowded and our stomachs were making considerable noise, we opted to depart for breakfast.
Since we'd thoroughly researched the temple beforehand, Angkor Wat became even more fascinating. I gained a richer understanding of what the intricate carvings meant, how massive the structure truly was, and the enormous effort required to construct it. Whilst I wouldn't necessarily endorse the guides stationed at the entrance, I would strongly suggest conducting some preliminary research on the temple prior to your visit. This allows you to develop a more meaningful connection with the site.
Have you previously explored Angkor Wat? Tell us about your visit in the comments section below!
Until we meet again...
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