Last December I had the Great privilege to visit Angkor Wat in Cambodgia. This is a world renowned temples site dating from the 8th centure. What is left of the highly skilled Khmer civilisation which reigned over South East Asia for five hundred years during our Western European Middle Ages. A highly sophisticated and skilled civilisation who managed to erect in the middle of the jungle cities and temples where over one million people from the humble servant to the King all serving a bunch of Gods.

         A religion which had roots in India with a complicated story where any normal European looses its understanding and where half man/half gods get lost in the great milk sea and where soldiers with green monkey faces battle to save honor. The Ramayana with a different twist.

  
  
  
  
  
Anyway this great complex suddenly became empty at the end of the 1300 was discovered again by a Khmer King in 1600 was overtaken by the jungle again to be rediscovered in the 1800 by Europeans explorers looking for rare plants and gradually got a world wide status for its uniqueness ! For its beauty ! It’s a Unesco site only equated by the pyramids or the Great Wall of China…

It’s breathtaking ! And very very busy with tourists … Guides … Tuk Tuks … And so very hot but so worth travelling to the other side of the world !

  
  
  
The small circuit ! The big circuit ! The North temples for which Thailand and Cambodgia disputed for years … One must read before visiting to fully grasp what you see when visiting between steps so steep because going to the Gods and outside Libraries … Many holes in the walls for wall plaques and rooms full of Buddhas…

  
  
  
  
 I loved it it was so hot ! So tiring ! We climbed so many stone steps ! Walked kilometres in the scorching sun feeling drenched in sweat like true adventurers but I am in love with this site and I can’t wait to go back another time to check all the details I missed! I want to get up before sun rise to see Angkor Wat and drive up through Angkor Thom South Gate in a Tuk Tuk ! I want to give a donation to the Landmine small orchestras which are playing delightful music on each sites … Orchestra of ex soldiers with missing limbs smiling as they play but that is another story …

  
  
  
 I know there is only one God but I rather like the idea of an ancient civilisation with many Gods and great architect !

Do make the plan to visit Angkor Wat sometimes it’s one of our world’s wonder I can guarantee you will love it too!

Love Betty xx