Cambodian Adventures Part III

The next day was the absolute highlight of our Cambodia trip and involved an all day trek through Angkor Wat.  "What is Angkor Wat? " some of you might ask.  Trust me that isn't a silly question because up until our move to Asia and our growing interest in Cambodia, my knowledge of it consisted mainly of its brief appearance in the movie Tomb Raider.  However as we discovered it deserves MUCH more notoriety than that.  We were blown away at these structures and the history found there.  I don't understand how this area isn't commonly mentioned in the same breath as the Pyramids or the Colosseum.

 Anyway, Angkor Wat is the common name for the Angkor Archaeological Park Complex located in Seim Reap, Cambodia.  It is a huge area of temples and giant tree forested areas that dates back to the 9th-15th century.  Although there was a lot of damage to the area due to some of Cambodia's recent tumultuous years  the ruins are still absolutely magnificent especially now that much is being done to restore them.  Our pictures simply cannot do it justice but here is a couple to give you an idea.  Don't worry next time we see you we will hold you hostage with a home movie slide show of all 762 pictures we took.  Just kidding!  We will cut it down to at least 400. :)

One of the temples popping out from behind the trees= breathtaking!!  Also, yes that is a wild monkey on the path!

And yes, that is Hubs feeding a wild monkey! 

I don't even know how to begin climbing this thing.

Probably the most widely recognized spot in the whole area thanks to the movie Tomb Raider.  Aren't those tree roots something else?!

Leave a boy unattended for a few minutes and next thing you know he has knocked down a temple wall. . .

 I think all this would be an amazing sight even if it was built in current times with all the modern day construction equipment, materials, and tools available.  It boggles my mind none of that was around when it was built.

The impressive part isn't even how big the temple looks in comparison to Hubs, it is that this is the 2nd or 3rd story up on the huge structure!!  They are so big it is almost impossible to capture them all in one shot.

If you look carefully at the stones above the arch opening there is a Buddha face looking down at the path towards the camera and one one either side as well.  

Little monks roaming around one of the active temples.

This place is awesome.  I wonder if I can just pick it up and take it home. . .. :)