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Ancient Angkor Wat one of the world's great wonders
It’s known as one of the great wonders of the world, but chances are you have never heard of it, and certainly most people in North America have never visited the place. Buried deep in the jungles of northern Cambodia lie the remains of the fabulous 12th century temple complex of Angkor Wat, slowly emerging from the sleep of centuries as archeologists carefully dig through the remains of what was once the world’s largest city.
Located just outside the rapidly growing town of Siem Riep, Angkor can easily be reached these days via international flights that touch down briefly in the capital of Phnom Penh, itself an architectural delight well worth an extended visit. From Phnom Penh there are one-hour flights onward to Siem Riep.
"Wat" means temple, and Angkor actually refers to a vast complex of temples that stretches for more than 50 miles throughout the steamy jungles, many still in a state of disrepair. Touring all of the temples in one visit is literally impossible; the heat and humidity, crowds and touts are quite draining. While Angkor may not be well known to the west, certainly Chinese and Japanese tourists have discovered it by the busload. Temples can be crowded on any day of the year.
Three-day passes can be purchased directly at the gates, an easy 10-minute ride from Siem Riep by tuk tuk. This form of two-wheel motorcycle rickshaw is the best way to tour the complex. You can simply hop on and off the tuk tuk as your driver winds his way through the myriad jungle paths. The vast city complex goes on forever. A three-day pass will only reveal hints of Angkor’s ancient glory.
Banyan tree roots engulf the ancient structures
Anyone who saw the movie Tomb Raider, starring Angelina Jolie, will recognize the eerie temples and especially the enormous banyan trees that grow out of the Ta Phrom temple complex. The roots of the trees alone are bigger than the buildings. Be prepared for extreme heat and plan to avoid exertion in the mid-day sun. This is true jungle country.
The nearby town of Siem Riep, rapidly expanding with franchise hotels and guesthouses, still maintains some of its colonial French charm, and the small, easily walked downtown district is full of attractive restaurants and bars, well worth a visit after a hard day of climbing crumbling structures in the sizzling heat. Sunset over the spooky jungle palaces of Angkor is an experience not to be missed.
- Photos & text by Michael McCarthy©
