Siem Reap is one of the largest cities in Cambodia and certainly the most visited by tourists, due to its proximity to the Angkor temples.
Located just over 5 kilometers north of Siem Reap is the Angkor area, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. There are many temples scattered throughout the area, so if you think you can do everything on foot, think again; the distance between some temples is still significant, and if you catch a day of intense sun, it's even worse.
In any case, you always have to hire a guide or someone to transport you and assist you in getting around because driving by foreigners in this area is not allowed.
I hired a tuk-tuk driver, and after some discussion, we agreed on a price of $18 for the day. I wanted to wander freely through the temples without having a guide recounting the history of every detail. But if you're a history buff, a guide is the best option, and you can easily hire one at the entrance to Angkor Wat temple.
At 4:30 am, he picked me up at the hotel, and we headed to the queue to buy tickets to enter the temple. The ticket office opens at 5:00 am, but many have already risen early to get a good spot to have a privileged view of the sunrise. It's true that it's very touristy, but you can't miss the magic of the colors that emerge behind the temple.
You have the option to buy a one-day pass for $20 or a three-day pass for $40. Note that the passes are non-transferable because they have your name and a photo, which is taken at the purchase counter.
In my case, I chose to do a one-day visit because I'm not one to spend a lot of time on details. I stuck to the most important temples because the truth is, after a few hours, the temples started to all look the same to me... The intense heat didn't help either and made me impatient, hastening the visit. You have from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm to visit the temples.
Important information:
Wear good shoes to walk comfortably. You'll have a lot of ups and downs...
Respect that it's a sacred area and cover your shoulders and legs. Even if you bring a scarf that you only wear at the temple entrance.
Stay hydrated and bring plenty of water. My tuk-tuk driver had a cooler with water, which was already included in the agreed price. So, I always had cold water.
Apply sunscreen because you'll be walking in open areas.
Also, bring insect repellent because in some areas, there are puddles with lots of mosquitoes.
What to visit:
Considering that there are more than 45 temples, you should plan carefully what you really want to see.
ANGKOR WAT
This is the main temple, the pinnacle of Khmer architectural style. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the largest religious structure ever built and still one of the most important archaeological treasures in the world.
It's curious that the stones for the temple structure came from a city 50 km away, and the entire construction relied on the support of 6,000 elephants and the labor of 300,000 workers.
Also curious is the fact that the first Western visitor was a Portuguese, the Capuchin friar António de Magdalena, in 1586.
BAYON
This temple dates back to the 12th century and is known for the immense faces carved into the towers. There are 54 towers with 4 faces on each side. Apart from these faces, there are many others carved, totaling more than 11,000 figures.
BAPHUON
This temple dates from the mid-11th century and was converted into a Buddhist temple in the 15th century.
THE TERRACE OF ELEPHANTS
This terrace played a very important role because it was here that the king held public ceremonies.
TA PROHM
This is the favorite temple of fans of Angelina Jolie's film "Tomb Raider" because the film was shot here. It stands out for the trees that grow out of the ruins.
Despite the fatigue, it was an experience I really wanted to experience, and going all the way to Siem Reap to see the temples was undoubtedly worth it.
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