Angor Wat & Siem Reap
Gateway to the largest religious complex in the world.
The night market in Siem Reap is crowded and rowdy - come hungry and don’t be afraid to try something new. The beer is cold and cheap and the carnival never finishes passing by. It is a bit too ready to cater to western tourists, but if this is your first visit to Asia you will find much that is familiar.
Spend some time researching the deep backstory of the Angkor complexes in order to appreciate them and be able to read the stories carved on the wall. Tickets go on sale at 4:30 AM so get there early and get in line.
Briefly, the Angkor Dynasty flourished here between the 9th and 15th centuries. Angkor Wat was built in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple complex dedicated to the god Vishnu however, it eventually became Buddhist. The wall carvings are detailed, beautiful and rich with meaning.
Also spend time at the other complexes Angkor Thom, Ta Phrom, Bayon Temple and Banteay Srei. Although they aren’t as big, they are just as fascinating and much less crowded. In 1992, after peace broke out, UNESCO added Angkor to the World Heritage List and that put a stop to most of the looting. With 900 years of turmoil, it is a true miracle that so much has been preserved and is now being restored by multi-national groups.
