Guess what, we found all those delicacies you were looking for to have at your next gathering.

The journey to Seam Reap from the lower lake is long and rather arduous. We travel through small towns that are busy but show the intrusion of adopting modern plastic,electricity and technology without thinking of the impact on the environment. There are huge telecommunications towers, multiple wires and plastic everywhere. People in the past used rattan baskets and wrapped food in palm or banana leaves, when these were discarded, they broke down. Plastic does’nt.

Angkor Thom means the big city. It was the last city of the Khmer Empire. It was a huge fortified city of wooden buildings , stone temples and libraries. Within the complex is a decorated terrace for testing the strength and suitability of elephants for battles. Opposite this are twelve towers that used to have ropes suspended between them. Soldiers had to climb up the tower and then climb from one to the next until all 12 have been climbed.

Around the walls of the main temple region (Bayon), is a complete carved history of the Khmer people and the King Jayavarman VII. The stories were carved in pieces and then the story joined like a jigsaw.

Sitting on 54 towers is the face of the king facing in each direction. When you consider when these buildings were created, the skills of the craftsman could not be surpassed today.

  

You will be pleased to know I got heaps of exercise today. To reach the main temple holding the Buddha the monks had to climb extremely steep stairs. The stone stairs are worn so wooden stairs are in place……these are just as steep,. 

    You can imagine the ancient monks complaining about the intrusion of all these tourists. There are only a few Buddha statues left as most were removed in the Pol Pot period. The one in the small main temple is a reproduction but still has temple carers who climb everyday to burn incense and clean the temple. Many of the statues were also removed and sold during the war. Some have been restored but not all. It is amazing that a 1,000000 people lived within the walls of this fortress. Angkor Wat tomorrow.