Today was the entire reason we came on this trip – to visit Angkor!  It exceeded our every expectation.  We took a bus at 8 to the complex, which is considered the largest (402 acres) religious monument in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  The main temple, Angkor Wat, is supposed to represent a miniature universe with the central tower representing mythical Mt. Meru, home of the gods.  There are multiple levels, and surprisingly, they still allow people to climb all over it.  The damage that is being done by thousands of people each day must be very hard on the stone, because there is no protection.  There is one wooden stairway up the longest part of the climb, but the rest of the stones are all original.  It was breathtaking at the top, and the stonework was amazing.  Angkor was built in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple, but changed to a Buddhist temple by the end of the century and has remained so. I was really feeling the heat so opted out of the afternoon excursion.

Lunch was at the Grey Restaurant, with a short break at the hotel before Tom and the group headed out to Ta Prohm, a temple ruin that has been allowed to remain covered in jungle vegetation.

I (Tom) liked Ta Prohm even more than Angkor because of its tree-covered temples and lush greenery. If anyone would like additional photos, let me know. The finger is pointing to a carving that the guide called a Stegosaurus. It does look a little like one..

Cheryl

Leaving Angkor heading to Ta Prohm