What Wat is that?

Of all the things that come to mind when you mention Cambodia, it' s hard to imagine the temples of Angkor coming anywhere except number one on the list of amazing sites. And the photos don't do it any justice - this really is an amazing feast for the senses. I would easily put this in a league with the Pyramids of Egypt for sheer scale and magnitude - it demonstrates to me the power of spiritual devotion... really is amazing what people will do in the name of a deity.

The cream of the crop is Angkor Wat, a well preserved 12th century religious monument. This popular Wat is on everyone's itinerary - any moto driver worth his salt takes you to Angkor Wat, and of all the temples in the Angkor period settlement, it's by far the most famous. The crowds and touts are understandably horrendous, and somehow the sunrise is not as spectacular when you share it with thousands of flashing cameras. Still pretty good though - mmm, aren't I a snob?

Because we have an extended stay in Siem Reap, we explore some of the less known temples and we are rewarded by quiet sites, friendly locals and some really well preserved ruins. Some of the temples are dedicated to Hindu gods while others are devoted to Buddhist deities, and the most interesting are a combination of the two.

Although the Khmer Rouge abolished all religion, the temples of Angkor remained largely untouched by their hand. Unfortunately, light fingered treasure hunters helped themselves to a great swathe of priceless Cambodian artifacts evidenced by, among other things, headless statues. The current Cambodian administration are strict with captured opportunists, hopefully keeping the temples in tact for future generations to visit and admire.

Of all the temples, the most interesting one for me was Ta Phrom. Unlike the rest of the temples, Ta Phrom has been 'spared' from a constant preservation and restoration schedule and so the forest is slowly returning to claim the structure. Out of all the temples, it feels the most authentic - I expect a thousand year old temple to have some imperfections. The huge strangler figs stretch their fingers down into the earth, creating a mysterious atmosphere around the ancient walls - it's hard not to sit and soak up the vibes.