Today is my first day as part of the A to Z Challenge! I’ll be writing 26 posts in April, following the letter of that day’s alphabet. I’m excited and nervous for this challenge! Click on the button below to check out the many other fabulous bloggers taking part!
There is a place in the little country of Cambodia I’m sure you’ve heard of…it brings images of jungle, wild vines, ancient crumbling ruins, and maybe even Lara Croft. (No judgement!)
The ruins of Angkor Wat near Siem Reap, Cambodia, are indeed all of those things (except maybe Lara Croft, although it was filmed there I suppose…but I certainly didn’t see her 😉 ) and more. We visited Angkor Wat in November, right on Thanksgiving, and it was certainly a jungle, with ruins buried in viney trees, and some so immersed in the land trees had started to grow OUT of the temple.
One thing I didn’t know about the ruins prior to our visit is that Angkor Wat is just one of the old relics of the Khmer Empire, although the beehive spires are arguably the most famous, and that there are many others to see in the greater Angkor ruins. Angkor Wat itself was built in the 12th century and has been used both as a Hindu and Buddhist temple. It remains the largest religious monument in the world!
It’s also stunningly beautiful and really unique, especially at sunrise. Although we spent several days seeing all of the Angkor ruins, including Angkor Thom, waking up in the dark and meeting our tuk-tuk driver for the sunrise over Angkor Wat was my favorite part of the trip. The days were hot, and sweaty, and there are so many begging children and tourists it was sometimes difficult for me to enjoy the ruins, although I was exposed to an entirely different part of modern Cambodia.
However, watching the sunrise, in the relative cool and relative quiet, transported me back to what the temple may have been like, so many years ago, when it was mostly used for worship rather than tourism. Wandering the temple after the sunrise allowed me to find the small offerings to the Buddha, reminding me that it is still considered a sacred spot, and the immerse myself in the ancient hallways made of stone. Those stones have a lot of stories to tell besides pictures and selfies and postcards to send home. The stories of Angkor Wat are beyond mine, and mine are now just one of many. If you get a chance to visit, make sure to listen carefully for these stories, or you might miss them.
{waiting for the sun to rise / sunrise 1 / sunrise 2 / sunrise 3 / now I’m getting artsy with sunrise 4 / me and my cousin watching the sun rise / the view from inside the temple / soaking up the quiet / the massive ruins, still largely intact / an offering point for Buddha / Angkor Wat in the middle of the morning}
I’m linking up with Travel Tuesday, one of my favorite blogger link-ups on the web. Check out the hosts, Bonnie, Tina, and Melanie, or click on the link below!
Amy, That’s a lovely story, and those are wonderful pictures! Clearly this is an experience you will never forget, and I thank you for sharing it with us. Mary at Variety, the Spice of Life
Thank you so much for stopping by! It is certainly a place I will never forget. 🙂
Jealous!! Thanks for sharing.
http://ninekindsofkids.wordpress.com
Thank you so much for stopping by!
It’s very beautiful. My parents went there last year and I was very jealous. One day….
Aww lucky them! I hope you make it there soon 🙂
Ruins are so beautiful and seeing the sunrise above them just adds to it!
I know! It’s quickly becoming a must when I am visiting ruins 🙂
so beautiful, angkor wat is on my bucket list for next year for sure!
jen@www.healthyglobetrotting.com
I hope you get to see it! It’s incredible!
What a great first post for A. I, too, love Angkor!
Thanks so much 🙂
Exploring Angkor Wat was one of my favorite SE Asia experiences! We had to loan our tuk tuk driver money because he lost his shirt gambling while he waited for us to explore one of the complexes and he had to buy it back from his friend who won it!
Haha what a great story! And how nice of you to lend him money 🙂 I wondered what the drivers did while we explored the ruins…
Angkor Wat looks beautiful! I hope to get to see this place one day soon myself! 🙂 Good luck with your blogging challenge!
Thanks for hosting Travel Tuesday and for the well wishes! I hope you get to see it too, it’s unforgettable!
gorgeous sunrise pics – I love how it’s impossible to tell the difference between a sunrise or sunset, but somehow my sunrise photos always make me smile more…. the photo with your legs in it makes me feel dizzy, I just can’t work out the angle of it…
I always love sunrises more too! I think they’re more peaceful, although there’s nothing like a beach sunset. Sorry to make you dizzy, haha, that’s usually what happens when I try to get “artsy!” Thank you so much for stopping by!
Ankor Wat was on my bucket list before seeing this post, now I want to be sure to be here for a sunrise. Beautiful photos. I have pinned several.
Thank you so much! Angkor is definitely beautiful and a must-see if you get the chance 🙂 sunrises are my favorite!
Beautiful!
Thank you 🙂