Sorry for the late post of the part two for my Cambodia Trip, i hope you guys still remember my 1st post about my >>> CAMBODIA TRIP (PART I) <<<
Okie, let's make the story begins...
DAY TWO
Wake up in the early morning (cause we had promised with our TUK-TUK driver)
After having our breakfast at the hotel that we stayed (breakfast was included), then we checked out from the hotel and moved to another hostel. (forget this hostel name already, since it's 5 months ago when i was in Siem Reap, Cambodia)
*This hostel was suggested by the Tuk-Tuk driver, quite nice at the outside, but just one things to remember, DON'T ever try to put your shoes or slipper that you like or expensive outside the door of the lobby, cause i had lost my slipper at this place.
*Price for this hostel still can afford for the backpackers like us around 15 US dollar (around RM45)
*No breakfast included, but there's restorant next to it, so no need to worry about the meal.
After settle down the hostel, then we are going to Angkor World Heritage a.k.a Angkor Wat!! The place that you must go when you are in Siam Reap! Don't tell people you had been in Siam Reap if you never go to this place!
Angkor Wat..here we come!
For your information, let's do some revision about the history of Angkor Thom.
The city of Angkor Thom was founded by Angkor's greatest king, Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181-1219), who came to power following the defeat of the former Khmer capital by the Chams. At its height, Angkor Thom may have governed a population of one million people in the surrounding area.Angkor Thom was built in a nearly perfect square, the sides of which run north to south and east to west. It was surrounded by a squarewall (jayagiri) 8m high and 12km in length and further protected by a 100m-wide moat (now dry), said to have contained ferocious crocodiles.A gate opens exactly in the middle of each wall, from which a bridge extends over the moat to the area outside the royal city. The originalroyal palace at Angkor Thom, built in the 10th and 11th centuries, was probably built of wood and no longer stands.
What to See at Angkor Thom
The vast area of the Angkor Thom ruins, over a mile on one side, contains many stone temples and other features to explore. The city has five monumental gates (one in each wall plus an extra in the eastern wall), 20m high and decorated with stone elephant trunks and the king's favorite motif, the four faces of Avalokiteshvara. Each gate, which leads onto a causeway across the moat, is flanked with statues of 54 gods on the left and 54 demons on the right. This is a theme from the Hindu myth of the Churning of the Milk-Ocean (illustrated in the famous bas-relief at Angkor Wat).
The south gate is the best restored and most popular, but also the most busy since it leads directly to Angkor Wat. The east and west gates, found at the end of uneven trails, are more peaceful. The east gate was used for a scene in the Tomb Raider movie, in which the bad guys broke into the "tomb" by pulling down a giant apsara(actually made of polystyrene).
The Terrace of the Elephants served as a viewing platform for royal parties and depicts elephants and garuda (a mythical bird-like creature).
The Terrace of the Leper King is a decorative platform topped by a statue surrounded by four lesser statues, each facing away from the central statue. The central figure is probably a Khmer ruler who allegedly died of leprosy, either Yasovarman I or Jayavarman VII.
Bayon Temple (circa 1190) is a Buddhist temple but retains elements of Hindu cosmology and imagery. Standing in the exact center of the walled city, it represents the intersection of heaven and earth. It is known for its enigmatic smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara and its extraordinary bas-reliefs.
Just north of the Bayon is the stalwart Baphuon, a temple built in 1066 that is in the process of being put back together in a way that gives visitors an idea of what original temple construction might have been like.
Phimeanakas Temple, located on the site of the now-disappeared royal palace, is another pyramidal representation of Mt. Meru. Most of the decorative features are broken or have disappeared, but it is an interesting structure and can be climbed for good views of Baphuon Temple.
It takes around an hour to reach Angkor Wat from its town. Before going inside, we need to make a card like this at the 'checkpoint' which costs 20 US Dollar.
This is a place where you can cool down your mind and just feel amazing about the skill of building at around hundred years ago. It's really big area that combined by different small part such as Ta Phron, Bayon, and etc.
For sure the most famous one is this. ANGKOR WAT.
(Outside View of Angkor Wat)
(The Inner Part)
If you are feeling thirsty, you can just buy the mineral water or coconut at there, cause there's so many stall at the side. But the better way, just bring over your own water, cause one small bottler of mineral water costs you in 4000 riel a.k.a 1 US dollar.
There always have some kids will keep on following you to ask for buying the postcard or other things in their beg. Although they are pity but it's actually quite annoying cause they will keep on following you and ask you to buy the things. Once you buy, there will gonna be more kids follow beside you! it's so terrible!! haha..
After finishing the Angkor Wat, we went to another side of Angkor Thom to see the sunset. But, due to the clothes, we can't go to the upper part cause singlet is not allowed.
(Bear in mind, when you are visiting this place, better wear in proper way such as T-shirt. Don't ever-ever try to put on singlet although it's actually quite hot at there. This is because Angkor Thom is the place for the local to do there prayer just like Mosque and Church. If you are going to church or mosque, you are not going to wear in singlet, am i right? So, it's same here. Just respect others religious.)
*A view that I shot when on the way to Ta Phron
After having a whole day of walking, finally we are going back to our hostel to have our dinner and rest.
*Next post gonna be the last part of my Cambodia trip. Just wait... i hope i'm gonna to update as soon as possible. Chill... :)
(To be Continued...)
