Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom should be on everyone's list of things to do before I die. It is truely the most amazing place I have ever been ( and if you have known me long you would know I have been alot of places.) There is nothing to compare it to. I can tell you what it is not...
It is not like the Great Wall of China which is awesome to see, and climb on.
It is not like the Grand Palace in Phnom Phen which is breath-takingly beautiful.
It is not like the rice fields in the Philipines which I could sit and watch all day.
It is not like the jungle hikes through the bush of Paupa New Guinea which gets your blood flowing.
or seeing the Opera House in Syndey, or seeing the Terra Cotta soliders in China, or climbing through the tunnels of Cu Chi in Vietnam.
I have already done all of these things and some many others.

But seeing Angkor Wat or walking through the ruins of Ta Prohm at sunrise is all of these things and more. I can't believe what I have seen and done these past few days. The pictures will never show the dept of emotion each of these places stirred within me these past couple of days. My hope is that by looking at my picture it will want to come at see it all for yourself. The Cambodian people are amoung the most, beautiful, humble, friendly, helpful people I have ever met.
These past few days I will never forget for the rest of my life. Here are some of the highlights.
* Angkor Wat at sunrise.
* Bayon (a temple that from far way looks like a heap of rocks but up close reveals hunreds of faces carved into the rocks.)
*Da Prohm at sunrise (one of the sites that the movie Tomb Raider filmed at. Going at sunrise afforded us an hour the explore the temple all by ourselves. It is by far the coolest thing I have ever done.)
* Visit to the eastern gate. (Used in the movie tomb raider were they are trying to break into the temple door. Nobody else was there because it is dowm at long dirt road that the tuk-tuk drivers don't want to drive down. Our driver was nice enough to take us. We were able to climb on top and all around. In the picture I am the speck of dust on the left side because it is so big you can't see me.)
* The dozon or more temples included in the Angkor Thom. We climbed hundred of stairs the were more like ladders than stairs. The view from the top was amazing.
* The children selling things inside and outside of the temples. I bought 200 ballons before I came. It was the best thing I have ever bought. The kids love them. And they are so pleased to let us take a picture for a ballon or two.

PICTURES TO BE INCLUDED SOON!