The many faces of Bayon Temple

VBoth Kurt and I enjoyed Bayon temple the most. With its many faces which once were Buddah however changed to become the many faces of the king. The temple itself is set in the middle of Angkor Thom a complex containing a few temples including Bapuon which we hadn't intended to visit though ended up there anyway, an 11th century temple with incredibly steep steps built to reach the top. Keeping in mind that those tiny steps are built on top of the original even tinier steps!!! 

Bayon is beautiful we arrived as dusk was setting in, originally I had thought that I wanted to see Bayon at sunset instead of doing Angkor Wat and dawn and I'm so glad I made that decision.

The temple has so many dimensions and outlooks, stunning from any angle and with the sun setting over the smiling faces looking out to the horizon it is completely mesmerising.

I hope one day I get the chance to return and spend a little more time exploring and admiring the temples it's hard to do them in a day so next time I will take longer. 

Ta Prohm - 'Tomb Raider'

I can completely see the appeal for film makers in Ta Prohm built in the 12-13th century unlike the other temples this one has been left in the condition it was found. The photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor's most popular temples. Currently some parts of Ta Prohm are being restored which kind of took some of the magic away for us..hammering and crane noises etc though the deeper you get the further away everything else seems and now we could focus on well..the now :) it makes you want to climb and jump across boulders and swing from ropes and be Indiana Jones or Lara Croft. 

It's an incredible place full of what feels like magic, overgrown cotton trees with enourmous root bases wrapping and interlacing through the temple walls. It makes you want to find out where they've had to venture from just to work their way to where they now rest. 

The corridors, tunnels and hidden passage ways make this temple one of my favourites, it genuinely feels like a crumbling maze under your feet.