The Temples of Angkor: Day 2, Angkor Wat & Bayon

Day 2 was our planned BIG day, starting with sunrise at Angkor Wat, and a full day tour of the central temples on the Big and Little Loop. We got up around 4.15am (how I don’t know) and met a different Tuk Tuk driver, as our guy from day 1 was unfortunately already booked!

There were people with torches checking IDs at the entrance and there were loads of people ready for sunrise. Ian was patient all day wtih me taking hundreds of photos on his camera haha. Slowly the sun creeped up from behind the might Angkor Wat and after watching for an hour or two we ventured inside.

The temple itself is pretty huge, the World’s Largets single Religious monument in fact. It has also been on the National flag since 1863.

There are intricate details in the walls all over, and a huge depiction of the Hindu story the ‘Churning the Sea of Milk’, as it was originally dedicated to Vishnu before buddhism. The whole place is in pretty good nic as they continually restore it.

Next, we went on to Bayon, the temple of over 200 giant stone faces! Built in the late 12th century or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII (thanks wikipedia) and it’s believed the faces are in his image.

I took loads of photos today (thanks again Ian!) so Ill break here and prepare part 2!

The Temples of Angkor: Day 2, pt 2 »« The Temples of Angkor: Day One