Temples And A Floating Village

   Yesterday we went to Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a must see if you travel in Cambodia. It was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 400 acres. It was a Hindu temple before it became a Buddhist temple. It is surrounded by a moat that has a bridge across it that is used for entering the temple. It is extremely impressive and was constructed over the course of 37 years, considerably less time than European cathedrals took to construct. It is believed there may have been 300,000 laborers who worked on building it. I knew a bit about because I saw NOVA program on PBS about Angkor Wat. If you can find that program, I highly recommend it, not only because it is extremely well done, but if you watch it you will get reliable factual information (not that I would make up anything.  The walls are covered with carvings depicting historical battles, Hindu epics, and Apsara dancers. There are various levels, and the highest point is 213 feet from the surrounding area. The highest point is accessible by very steep stairs which really require use of the handrails both on the way up as well as down. The descent requires great care. It is hard to put into words how extensive Angkor Wat is. Visitors must be very careful when walking around because the surfaces are uneven. 

  In the afternoon we boarded a boat for a trip to one of the over 170 floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. The boat on which we traveled had a canopy over our seats so we were protected from the sun. We were glad we chose this excursion because there was a refreshing breeze that helped cut the heat and humidity. The floating villages are pretty much subsistence living that are inhabited by families that fish and sell their catch at fish markets. I am not sure I’d want to or would advise eating the fish. The people who live in the villages produce and add organic matter to the lake as none of their houses have plumbing. Each village has a school that goes through grade six. According to our very knowledgeable Cambodian guide, the majority of the children do not receive education beyond grade six, unless they go to a Buddhist monastery. It is a life into which one is born. It is not a life one chooses. There was a floating store at which we stopped. Purchases by tourists help the villages. There are jewelry items as well as other craft items and clothing available for purchase. If anyone is interested in purchasing crocodile skin, I know where you can buy some. 

  Today two more temples were visited, Bayon Temple located in what was once the city of Angkor and Ta Prohm Temple, perhaps best known as the location of Lara Croft Tomb Raider. Bayon was one of many temples in Angkor city which covered an area of 390 square miles and had a population estimated to be between 700,000 and 900,000. The homes were made of wood and have all disintegrated. Excavation continues in Angkor because lidar mapping has indicated there is much more than meets the eye in Angkor. Ta Prohm is referred to as a jungle temple because the jungle reclaimed the temple in Angkor once the site was abandoned when the Khmer king moved the capital to Phnom Penh. There is much restoration taking place at Ta Prohm. Our guide used to play hide and seek there when he was a child. Now that is a UNESCO site, there is no more hide and seek allowed. 

  Tomorrow we visit a school and then board the Viking Tonle for our cruise down the Mekong and back into Vietnam.