Asia 2005 Journey Day Twenty

                                   Siem Reap, Cambodia to Koh Sumai, Thailand

                                            

                                            May 23, 2005:  Endless heat.  Early 7:00 a.m. start to visit Angkor Thom since most temples

                                            allow access at 5:30 a.m. and hopefully avoiding the midday heat. Angkor ("City") Thom ("Big") 

                                            was built after Angkor Wat and reflected the incoming Buddhist influence.  The Banyon temple

                                            within Angkor Thom was built as respect for battle victories and the carved reliefs recounted the

                                            accounts.  The area was the capitol complex in early history and each of the 50 +/- towers 

                                            represented the provinces.

                                

                                            One could call Cambodia the "Poland of Southwest Asia" - between two major powers and suffering 

                                            conquests from both sides.  Cambodia for many centuries, including recent decades, has been challenged

                                            by either Thailand or Vietnam.  The Angkor Wat complex suffered a few bullet wounds from early 1980s 

                                            conflicts. 

 

                                            The area is located in one of the few forest areas and has elephant and monkey road crossings.

                                            On the main road, ancient grandstands decorated with elephants were still existing.  The walled

                                            city has five main entrance with elaborate statuesque entrances.  German and French governments 

                                            maintain a high presence with their collaborative Cambodia restoration work.  Though not a restored 

                                            complex, all of the stones were carefully marked and stacked in the perimeter area.  Also, one could still

                                            sense Anglia Jolie's presence from the filming of "Tomb Raider" movies on site. 

 

                                                   

                                                           

                                                           

                                                  

                                                                                                                               

 

                                           Travel specs:  Siem Reap Airlines ATR-70, Bangkok Airlines Boeing 717

 

                                            Return to Asia 2005