Holiday in Siem Reap

MY WONDERFUL HOLIDAY IN SIEM REAP

At Mt. Kulen waterfall

Hi, it is me again, Tisha Ashwina. Let me tell you about my next destination in Cambodia -  SIEM REAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In Siem Reap, I stayed in  New Angkorland hotel, a 3 ½ star hotel. The hotel is very beautiful and comfortable. I stayed there for five days. Siem Reap is a beautiful town and it is cleaner than Phnom Penh.

ANGKOR WAT

On the bridge to Angkor Wat

I visited Angkor Wat - the largest ancient temple in the whole world.  Angkor means ‘Capital City’ or ‘Holy City’. Angkor Wat was built by Suyarvaman II, Shield of the sun. It is so majestic and  magnificent. I saw the beautiful sunset and the sunrise but the sunrise is more beautiful then the sunset. 

 

       SUNSET VIEW FROM BAKHENG HILL

I walked up to the hill slope heading towards the Bakheng Hill Temple to see the magnificent sunset. The red orange sun was a perfect round and the sky was splashed  in shades of bright crimson red, orange and golden yellow hues. WHAT A SIGHT TO BEHOLD!!!!!!

 

 SUNRISE AT ANGKOR WAT

The next morning, my parents and I woke up at 5 in the morning, got into our van with Kim San, our driver and Sean Mardy, our tourist guide, and headed to the west gate of Angkor Wat to see the sunrise. We walked into the temple grounds and WHAT A SURPRISE !!!!!!!!! There were SO MANY PEOPLES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD waiting with great patience to witness the first ray of sunrise. 

Then the awaited moment came – the majestic sun rose. Everyone was full of ahs and wows when the sun appeared between the towers of Angkor Wat and it became more and more beautiful. This is one experience which I will always remember in my heart.

ANGKOR THOM

My parents and I at the South Gate

Next I visited The city of Angkor Thom, founded by Jayarvaman VII in the 12^thth century, was one of the largest of all Khmer cities and remained the capital until the 17 century. I entered the city through the south gate, which has a tower with 4 faces. 

To get to the south gate, I have to walk on the bridge across the moat. The bridge is lined by a row of statutes. On the left are the gods, and the right are the demons. They carry the body of a giant serpent- a seven- headed naga, like in a tug- of –war. This is like the scene in the Churning Of The Sea Of Milk where the Gods and Demons are fighting to get the elixir of mortality. This is an interesting story as told by my guide, Sean. 

THE BAYON TEMPLE

My next destination was the Bayon temple which was built by Jayarvaman VII in the late 12^th century or early 13^th century, is one of the most fascinating religious contructions in the world. 

The Bayon is made of “faces tower” which are carved on the stones of the temple. Out of 49 “faces towers”, only 37 are still standing today. 

I took the elephant ride around the Bayon and I really enjoyed it.