Cambodia — Day 1: Angkor Wat Temple (អង្គរវត្ត), Angkor Archaeological Park, Angkor, Cambodia — the buildings — (part 1 of 2)

Stunning buildings but overall, not a great experience

September 2015

I had wanted to visit Angkor Wat Temple (អង្គរវត្ត) for some time. I had seen dozens of photos of the site and thought visiting such an iconic temple complex would be great. I was wrong.

The Angkor Wat Temple (អង្គរវត្ត) is in the Angkor Archaeological Park, and I needed a pass to gain access. Luckily, this was all arranged and dealt with by my tour guide. As we approached the park, we pulled up at the entrance, and my guide hopped out and picked up the required access pass.

There was no phone signal on-site, and it rained all the time I was at the temple. It rained most days on my four days of touring around the area.

The history of Cambodia is divided into three periods:

• Pre-Angkorian (1st-8th Centuries)
• Angkorian (9th-13th Centuries)
• Post-Angkorian (14th-20th Centuries)

And Angkor Wat Temple (អង្គរវត្ត) was built in the Angkorian period — the 12th century — around 1110 to 1150.

The Angkor Wat Temple (អង្គរវត្ត) is old, and the site is big. The size of the temple complex was amazing.