Angkor Wat was the center of the Khmer empire until about 800 years ago, when it basically was taken over by the jungle. The site wasn't even known to the west until it was "discovered" by a French explorer in the mid-1800s. I can't imagine what that experience must have been like. Serious Indiana Jones type-stuff. Of course the locals knew it was there. But I guess either no one believed them before then, or they just didn't talk about it much. Angkor Wat was actually a Hindu temple, as the Khmer king had converted to Hinduism. But now it's used as a Buddhist temple since Cambodia is 95% Buddhist. Also connected is Angkor Thom, and older Buddhist temple. It has a lot of really cool faces laid into the tower.
Even though I finally got to see it, there still wasn't enough time to really take it all in. I actually feel a little bad about basically blowing through in a day and a half and just taking pics. (Derek, Keith and Mom stayed for 2 nights, Amber, Shelby and I only stayed for one night.) Like maybe I've offended the spirits of the place. But the entire compound is so huge and the time demands of our trip were so tight, there just wasn't any other way this time. I hope someday I can go back, with a bicycle, and spend a week just chilling and communing with the buildings (sort of like I was able to do with Chaco Canyon). Until then, Angkor Wat spirits please forgive me.
Amber and Shelby were really touched by the friendly Cambodians, and sincerely want to find a way to help them out somehow. Cambodia was basically a basket case until about 10 years ago, and before that of course was in the grips of Pol Pot and his horrible agrarian utopia/human exermination program. So the scars from that have to still run pretty deep. Shelby got a pretty interesting ongoing history lesson the whole time we were there. Also she had a monkey climb on her, which of course was a blast for her. I kept thinking about monkey diseases the whole time. But worrying was my job, and having fun was hers.
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