Where do you even begin with the temples of Ankor, and most specifically Ankor Wat? Explaining it can take all day, but avoiding it is one of t
Our first look! We came and got our tickets the day before we entered at sunrise.
Your first glimpse of Angkor Wat, the ultimate expression of Cambodian genius, is simply staggering and is matched by only a few select spots on earth such as Machu Picchu or Petra.
Angkor Wat is, quite literally, heaven on earth. Angkor is the earthly representation of Mt Meru, the Mt Olympus of the Hindu faith and the abode of ancient gods. The ‘temple that is a city, Angkor Wat is the perfect fusion of creative ambition and spiritual devotion.
The temple is the heart and soul of Cambodia. It is the national symbol, the epicentre of Khmer civilisation and a source of fierce national pride. Soaring skyward and surrounded by a moat that would make its European castle counterparts blush, Angkor Wat is one of the most inspired and spectacular monuments ever conceived by the human mind. Simply unique, it is a stunning blend of spirituality and symmetry.
Our first look! We came and got our tickets the day before we entered at sunrise.
Sunrise over the temples. Breathtaking.
We charged in the temples while everyone waited on the outside for the sun to rise.
Ankor Thom
This is the best.
Everyone watching the sunrise while we were in the temples alone!
Everyone watching the sunrise while we were in the temples alone!
I wanted to love Angkor Wat so badly– and it was visually stunning and my inner photographer nerded out– but I left with such a heavy heart. There were so many very, very young children begging all over the complex. It was really hard for me to reconcile the beauty of history and the cruelty of modern times.