The third day was the grand finale, with Angkor Wat! This time we slept in and went to lunch before heading to the temples. Erich had suggested leaving around 7am and returning in the early afternoon, but we wanted to watch the sun set at Angkor Wat, so instead we braved the heat of the afternoon and set off on our bicycles at mid day. Besides, after two days of getting up at 4:30 am we needed the break! We arrived at Angkor Wat a little after 1pm, and took a break in the shade to drink the sodas we had brought with us. The bicycle ride actually was not that bad, and it was for a much shorter distance than on the first day.
I was afraid that after two full days of temple visiting that Angkor Wat would not impress me as much, but I was wrong! The scale and intricate detail of the carvings are absolutely amazing! Truly the mother of all temples!!
The moat around Angkor Wat is huge, more like a lake compared to its European counterparts. Now that’s what I call a moat!
Of all the temples, the carvings are the most preserved in Angkor Wat.
The shine on the stone (compared to the dull one above) is caused by tourists rubbing it as they walk by. However, it is no longer allowed in order to preserve the details.
Out the back, about 1/3 km is one of the 4 gates of Ankgor Wat.
We don’t know how old this piece of wood is, but it looks original. When the temples were built all structures made of stone were reserved for the gods. Humans were only allowed to live in wooden structures which have long perished.
Many of the temples in Angkor have long corridors with columns, but none were as impressive as the many at Ankgor Wat.
Visitors are no longer allowed to climb the towers as of a couple of years ago, again for preservation reasons.
You have probably seen many photos of Angkor Wat with what appears to be a lake in front of it. Well, that lake is actually a little swampy mosquito infested pond, it just looks much bigger in the pictures.
Sunset is the best time to get photos of Angkor Wat as seen in the reflection photo above. On the opposite side the sun sets over the front gate of the temple.
The horse scratching its butt was the remaining attraction after the sun had set.
The temperature was still in the mid 30’s celsius as we began our bike ride back into town, but because of the shade from the many trees it was pleasant!