Fun things to do in Angkor Wat

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No point for guessing what animal is featured on the wall of this terrace.

It is said that the 350m terrace was used by Angkor's king Jayavarman VII as a platform from which to view his victorious returning army. Wow..I could imagine the celebration, complete with the jumbo parade, apsara dancers and confetti...Heheh!

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The championchip check point was set up near Bayon. The runners got a very good look at this magnificent temple as we make a half loop around it.

From afar it really look like a pile of rubbles. Upon a closer look, I was amazed by the multitude of smiling face towers which rise up to its central peak.

According to Ancient Angkor book, the number of face towers is said 40 or 54, but now only 37 are standing. Most are carved with four faces on each cardinal point but sometimes there are only three or even just two.

It is one of my favourite temples and definitely worth a visit.

These are two Cambodian monks dressed in bright orange robes, and you will get to see many of them quite frequent if you spend hours exploring the wat. Which most of us did.

They are kind of popular photography subjects for all the foreign visitors. Well, they kind of like the attentions as well.

Ta Som is a lesser temple featuring a face similar to the faces of Angkor Wat. This temple is relatively free of crowds and doesn’t take long to visit. It is a Buddhist temple, built in the late 12th century for Jayavarman VII.

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Our driver suggested a trip to Pre Rup as an alternative to the crowds at Angkor Wat for sunset. Honestly, I didn’t quite get why this was the second best sunset in the park but the temple is definitely worth exploring. The architecture here is very different to that of Angkor Wat. It is a Hindu temple constructed in the late 10th century for Rajendravaraman II. This temple has undergone major restoration, but as with all the sites in Angkor, there is still more work to be done. I would recommend visiting Pre Rup early in the day or late in the afternoon as there isn’t much shelter from the sun here.

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On the way back to Siem Reap from Kbal Spean we made one last temple stop at Banteay Samre, a Hindu temple located about 5 km east of East Mebon. This temple was erected in the mid 12th Century for Suryavarman II. Banteay Samre isn’t on the Grand Circuit so it is less frequented by tourists than many of the other temples in the area. The drive to Banteay Samre takes you through a few small villages, so if you don’t have the time to make it out to Kbal Spean or Banteay Srey at least attempt to visit Banteay Samre for an intimate view of the Cambodian countryside and peoples outside of the city.

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Phimeanakas celestial palace of heaven is down a trail behind the terrace of the elephants/leper king, and adjacent to the Baphuon. It's a square sandstone and laterite step pyramid of sorts that of any temple in Angkor Wat most resembles the sorts structures built in the Mayan New World. The corners are protected by lions, that with time have eroded to look more like lambs, and the top has post and beam structure. The view from the top is good. It was built between 1000 and 1025 AD.

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The word Prasat refers to the distinctive pine cone shaped top found on many Angkor Wat temples. the Sour Prat Towers are tall narrow structures set back off the main east-west Angkor Thom road, across from Terrace of the Elephants/Leper King. Their purpose is unknown. The images her show these structures, as well as the terraces and the road as I saw it in 1997. The other image is the remains of a palace entrance and pool in the area.