Angkor Wat - A Sight To Behold, An Experience To Remember (Angkor Wat)

Member Name: spalsh

Product:	Angkor Wat
Date:	06/06/07 (124 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Extremely beautiful architecture, immensely rich cultural essence, amazing photography opportunities

Disadvantages: Desperate drinks peddlers, tour-guide rip-offs, tourist crowds

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Introduction
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Angkor, Cambodia, is a World Heritage Site containing numerous beautiful temples that is situated a 20 minute drive from the Cambodian town of Siem Reap. Some people mistake the Angkor Wat to be the name of the entire site. Actually, the Angkor Wat is one of the temples enclosed within the Angkor site. It is, however, one of the biggest and most beautifully constructed temples among the ruins there.

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The Angkor Wat
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Pretty much the main drawing point of this South East Asian nation. It was built in the early 12th century as a king's state temple and capital city. The largest and best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre — first Hindu, dedicated to Vishnu, then Buddhist — since its foundation. We can see the confluence of religion where some carvings on the temple walls show evidence that alterations had been made to a number of Hindu idols. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.

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My Experience
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I went to Cambodia in 2006, traveling overland from Singapore through Malaysia to Bangkok before taking a flight to Phnom Penh before taking a ferry to Siem Reap - the doorway to the Angkor Wat. I am a city kid, accustomed to the urban jungle and the hustle and bustle of city life. Naturally, I am also more inclined to having fun, you know, the usual active young person type of activity. So for me to visit the Angkor Wat, it was a liberating experience to enter such an immensely rich and different culture that I found myself growing up during those three days at the Angkor Wat as I reflected on my life while walking through the ruins.

It was an enjoyable three days, and even for a city kid like me, it provided me with ample entertainment as I took to taking pictures with a newfound love for photography as the scenery there blew me away. I shall walk you through my journey in this review, and hopefully this will give you a better idea of what visiting the place is like.

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Getting There
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A plane trip will bring you to the doorway of the Angkor Wat - Siem Reap, a rustic town that is undergoing steady development as tourists flock to the Angkor Wat and pump millions of tourist dollars into the town. However, it still retains its rustic charm and is a place where you can spend a couple of days to explore, with the pubs, the artwork galleries and riverside present to enrich your experience of a laid-back holiday.

A car or motorcycle-cab (called a tuk-tuk) can be hired to bring you to the Angkor Wat for as little as US$7 a day. You will need some bargaining skills though, as the driver usually quote an astronomical sum as if they were in New York. Smile, and say you will find another guy, and more often than not the driver will give you a down-to-earth price.

Now that transport is settled, you can enjoy a scenic ride to the Angkor ruins that will take a comfortable 20 to 30 minutes.

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Survival Pack: What To Bring, What To Wear
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Wear -
Light clothes, not too revealing but comfortable.
Sandals or shoes with good grip. Make sure they fit well.

Bring - Put these into a small carry bag that is pick-pocket resistant
Camera, with extra film or memory cards
A cap or straw hat
A 1 litre bottle of mineral water (optional)
A small fan (optional)

First things first, weather. Cambodia is situated close to the equator, so you will be experiencing some good heat and sun. Luckily, humidity is not that high, so perspiration dries up quickly and you don't get the sticky sweaty feeling. Dress lightly to beat the heat, but don't wear too little because after all, Cambodia is a conservative society and we should respect their Asian culture.

Your footwear MUST be good. No sloppy slippers or worn-out shoes. The reason is for safety. One thing about the Angkor Wat's architecture is that the steps there are high, really high. So if your footwear is poor, you may find yourself nursing a sprained ankle sooner or later.

The fan is for comfort purposes, while the cap is to provide some shade. Bottled water should be bought and brought along but it is optional because of the horde of drinks peddlers at the site who sell overpriced water to you at 3 times the cost in town. However, even so, with our money, the water is still considered dirt-cheap. Make sure it is bottled water. Anything else puts you at risk of an upset tummy.

Finally, a camera is a must. The scenery there is postcard perfect, and you will find yourself snapping away and no matter how amateur you are as a photographer, you find yourself loving almost every single picture you take.

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Money
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The exchange rate in Cambodia is 400 riels to the US Dollar. However, the US dollar is the most commonly accepted form of currency there.

The one-day pass costs US$25, a three-day pass costs US$40 and a seven-day pass costs US$60. I strongly recommend the three-day pass, because that's the time it takes to take in enough of the ruins experience to make this holiday a memorable one. One day is NOT ENOUGH to do justice to the Angkor Wat. Seven days are for people who really wish to take their time to enjoy the experience. You can buy the pass at the ticket office at the gates to the Angkor Ruins. The proceeds are claimed to be channeled to the restoration of the site, as you will see when you walk around the place later on.

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The Visit
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Inside, there are numerous temples, or "wats" as they are locally called (hence the name Angkor Wat), that you can explore. I went to about 9 different temples, some small, some large, all beautiful in their own way. There are three main attractions at the site, and they are:

Angkor Wat:
This is a the main and most spectacular of all of the temples, dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu. The carvings on the walls of the Angkor Wat are intricate and totally stunning. It is surrounded by a moat and you have to cross a bridge called the Naga causeway which has carvings and statues of Nagas (snake gods). The causeway makes for great photographs.

As for photography, the Angkor Wat is best viewed at sunset or sunrise for amazing pictures as the sun rises directly behind the temple.

The steps leading to the highest point of Angkor Wat are incredibly steep. Even as an active basketball player, I found myself struggling at times to reach the top. Imagine my amazement when I saw a local old woman of about 60 years of age move up the steps faster than me! Getting down was another heart-stopping experience. However, it seems that everyone is mindful of this and injuries are not common, though you find an occasional sprain here and there.

The view at the top... I have to admit, it astoundingly beautiful. You see the vast lush Cambodian jungle for miles around from your vantage point. It has to be seen yourself to believe it. Seen those postcards of Cambodia panoramic scenery before? Just imagine you were there. You would have taken the same picture as well.

Ta Prohm:
Another spectacular part of Angkor, Ta Prohm has not been restored and is left in it's original state. You feel yourself stepping back 900 years, and the feeling is surreal. Gigantic trees have grown in, around and on top of the temples, tree roots envelope the whole area and toppled bricks scatter the area. The majesty of the trees and the experience of being in a 900 year old structure puts me at the loss of words. Wonderful.

Angkor Thom:
The most impressive part of this temple is the Bayon. It consists of numerous towers which are in fact 14 separate temples, composed of gigantic carved stone faces, each has four sides, looking into the directions of the four winds. There are 54 towers each of four faces (totaling 216). Another great photo-op location.

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Places to Rest
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Don't worry about fatigue, there are numerous shaded places and food stalls around to provide shade, drinks and food to keep you up and running. The beverage prices have to be scrutinized clearly, as some places charge cut-throat prices. (US$1 for a can of coke?? In Cambodia??)

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Things to Note, Tips, Warnings
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For a perfect experience arrive at the site for sunset or sunrise for stunning views. This also allows you to take advantage of the cooler temperature.

One cool thing about the tickets. You can actually gain an evening when you buy your ticket in the evenings. Let's say you buy your ticket on Monday evening 5pm. The ticket, say a three-day ticket, allows you entry from tuesday through thursday. But, get this, it also allows you entry for MONDAY EVENING! Wonderful, one extra free evening for a breath-taking evening sunset view from the Angkor Wat. Note that this is only when you buy your ticket in the evening.

Hire a driver for a whole day, it is really a lot more convenient as you don't have to spend any more time at the end of the day looking for drivers when everyone is heading back to town.

Beware of rip-off guides in the temples. I was approached by a local who said he was a local college student studying the history of the site, and he was "king enough" to explain the architecture and other significant symbols within the temple. I was thinking of giving him US$2 for his appreciable act which lasted 10 min. Imagine my horror when he asked for $20!! Next time, be sure to ask what the person charges, or you may be stuck with one pesky rip-off for a while. I paid him US$4 in the end.

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Summary
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Despite the crowds and heat, my entire experience at the Angkor Wat ranks as one of the top 5 holidays in my life. It so different from the Parises, the Los Angeleses, the Australias etc that you really appreciate the holiday for what it is. A chance to kick back and relax.

Stunning scenery, a very very fair price (my entire Cambodia leg of my backpacking holiday cost me US$200 for 4 days!) and the interaction with the warm locals really made this a memorable holiday for me.

I would give it 6 stars if I could, but 5 would do fine for now. Wish you a great holiday if you're going there!

Summary: A holiday you will never forget, for the experience, for sights, for the serenity. Unforgettable