Angkor Wat in Cambodia

If there was one place I've always wanted to visit, it would have to be Angkor Wat (alright you all know there are ton's of places I want to visit, but Angkor Wat is up there). Angkor Wat is a temple complex near Siem Reap, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. Angkor Wat is the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation – first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. It is the world's largest religious building. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs, and for the numerous devatas (guardian spirits) adorning its walls.

Fortunately my recent visit to Cambodia, included spending a few days in Siem Reap and getting to go to the temple complex. It costs about $35 to get a pass into the complex for 3 days and that allows you to see all the temples. I took time to see quite a few of them, obviously the masterpiece however is Wat. Another amazing temple that is very popular is Angkor Thom, it was 15 minutes or so from the Victoria Angkor Hotel we stayed at in Siem Reap. The temple boasts 216 smiling faces. Words cannot describe the emotional effect the temples have on you. It is a place of beauty, mystery and wonder. The age and history of the temples are incredible. Our Guide "Sophy" could not have been better; he really knew his history and he knew how to find just the right spots to take 5 Star pictures and stay away from the crowds. The hotel we stayed at is one in a chain of my favorite hotels in Southeast Asia, Victoria Hotels. They are peaceful, serene, laid back and wonderfully designed. They even had 2 baby crocodiles on display in the indoor river. It was a wonderful hotel, as I always say, the breakfasts at resorts in Southeast Asia are like nothing I've ever seen in the U.S. You literally have over a hundred items to choose from. There was a chef ready to make any type of egg you wanted with 30+ options, there were 20 varieties of cheesse and fruits and cereals. There was even a waiter standing ready to serve you any juice you asked for and most of them he picked fresh right from the town. The breakfasts are always amazing and I love waking up early in the morning, getting a good workout in and having a great breakfast to start the day. There is so much to share about Cambodia, one of my favorite destinations. My next post will share information about Ton Le Sap Lake north of Siem Reap where I went on a small boat ride to one of the largest lakes in the world, ate with a local family and shared in the local culture. I love Cambodia and can't wait to go back!

This blog is part of a series from a recent 3 week trip I took to Southeast Asia through a Vietnamese based Luxury Travel company called Exotic Voyages.