Lakes and small bodies of water ensconced the temples within the Angkor Complex, the temples were built with the complex waterways created by the Jayavarman VII to transport the blocks needed to make these temples from Mt Kulen, some 70km away from present day Siem Reap.
Pro-tip: if you're not going on a bus tour with other tourists, it's best to enter Angkor Wat Temple from the eastern gate as it's more peaceful and serene, away from the throngs of tourists on the other side. Walk through the gravel lane that leads to the eastern side of Angkor Wat Temple and relish the royal atmosphere. Watch out for the monkeys, they're really friendly but avoid touching them as they might bite.
Trust me, this crowd is the complete opposite of what's on the other side!
One of the Earth's grandest structures right before my own eyes.
These walls were once adorned with gold shingles and painted in bright gold. Imagine, everything 24k!
Every block in each temple are covered with these reliefs that tells a story of so many things: everyday life in ancient Angkor, myths, and recounting the heroism of their kings.
Hindu images carved in 100++ temples within the ancient Angkor empire.
Most of the unpopular temples lay in desolate despair after being abandoned for a thousand of years however restoration processes are being undertaken, no matter how slow.
*Overall, Siem Reap proved to be an exciting destination despite what I had in mind. Sure, it was touristy but I found some places that are worth the visit within the two days I was there. I highly recommend the Hard Rock Cafe for awesome music and beers. While there are tons of night markets around, I find the ones at the back area alongside the Siem Reap Grocery store to be the cheapest for souvenir finds.
Let me know if you've been here and how was your experience! See you around. ;) *