Cambodia is one of the least developed countries in the world. However, this does not hinder people's enthusiasm for going to Angkor Wat at all. Some people come here to see one of the seven major heritage sites in the world, some come to appreciate the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets in the world, some come here to find the tree hole where Tony Leung confides his secrets, and some even jokingly say that they want to live a rich life there. Human addiction... This is Cambodia, a place with countless reasons to be desirable. Here, you can listen to sounds from ancient times.
Angkor Wat in Cambodia can be said to be a breath of fresh air in the outbound travel routes during the Spring Festival. It is the filming location of the movies "Tomb Raider" and "In the Mood for Love", which meets the aspirations of literary and artistic youths; large and small temples and temples are also popular for photography A travel destination for lovers; here there are historical monuments that the elderly love, and jungle adventures that children are fascinated by.
So, this Spring Festival, let us go to Cambodia, find a sunny corner in Angkor Wat, be in a daze for a while, take a nap, and watch the rising sun of Little Angkor under the gaze of the mysterious smiling stone sculptures. Waiting for the sunset on Bakken Mountain, soothing the hard work of a year in the silent time.
Entering the ancient capital of the Khmer Kingdom
In January and February, it is still cold winter in China, but Angkor Wat in Cambodia is sunny like summer. This tropical country will not hesitate to show its clear sky and sunshine. .
On a sunny day, we walked into the ancient capital of the Khmer Kingdom - Angkor Thom . There are 49 large and small pagodas forming a large pagoda called Bayon Temple. The most special design is that each pagoda has four sides. Engraved with the smiling face of Jayawarman VII, three meters high, more than two hundred smiles appear in the green forest. The changing light shines from the front or side, strong and weak, and the shadows among the trees and grass The intertwined singing of insects and birds is like a sound and light stage show. With its majestic eyebrows, steady nose, warm thick lips, and charitable temperament, the king’s smile left the deepest impression on people rather than the grandeur of the building itself. It is said that the term “Khmer Smile” came from this .
Wandering in the dense forest, looking at the old doorposts, broken door beams, and several collapsed pagodas, they were shining with golden light under the sky reflected by the setting sun, and in their eyes, they were getting more and more... Bright, still brilliant. "A flower is a world, a grass is a paradise, hands hold infinity, a moment is eternity", these lines of poetry are so relevant here. Angkor Wat lies quietly in the sunset, chaotic and unclear, unchanged from ancient times, caught off guard and piercing people's hearts.
When tourists come here, they can go to Ta Prohm Temple, which is the filming location of the movie "Tomb Raider". This temple was built at the end of the 12th century. After hundreds of years of vicissitudes, kapok trees are entangled in the temple. The wall at the entrance covers the sky and the earth, and the tree roots are growing in all directions. The tangled roots are like a giant python tightly wrapped around the pagoda and temple walls, which is a wonder.
At that time, Henri Mouhot said, "The temples here are far more magnificent than anything left to us by ancient Greece and Rome." When you are here, you will understand that this is not the exaggeration of the discoverer, but his true feelings.
When the sun shines into this temple, there is an illusion of time travel, as if you are playing the role of Angelina Jolie in the movie "Tomb Raider", and the hustle and bustle of the real world is surrounded by silence. Nothing remains, leaving only my own heart quietly comprehending the world.
The stone carvings of Ta Prohm Temple are set against the green moss, making it even more tranquil. The ancient trees are lush and green, and the air is particularly fresh. Enjoy a sense of freedom and tranquility amidst the glitzy light and shadow of the jungle.
Tour Angkor Wat layer by layer in small circles, large circles, and outer circles
The layout of Angkor Wat, known as one of the seven wonders of the world, is a bit like Beijing City. The city wall expands outward in circles, so it is basically on the line. It is divided into three main lines: the small circle along the Angkor Thom, the large circle along the Holy Sword Temple, and the outer circle Queen's Palace .
In terms of the itinerary, we first walked the small circle of Angkor Wat, then the large circle, and then the farther outer circle. Layer by layer, visitors can learn about the history of each dynasty in Angkor Wat.
The Queen's Palace in the outer city, known as the "Mona Lisa of the East", is also not to be missed. The Queen's Palace was built in 967 AD. It is one of the three holy temples in Cambodia. It is known as the "Pearl of the Angkor Monuments" and is dedicated to Shiva, one of the three gods of Brahmanism.
The stone used to build this ancient temple is beautiful pink, and the carvings of the murals in this temple are also the most exquisite among all Angkor monuments. Regardless of the lintels, stone walls or window lattice, they are all carved with meticulous attention to detail, ingenious and wonderful. It is the finest stone sculpture among all temples in Angkor and the pinnacle of Cambodian art.
In fact, when tourists visit Angkor Wat, they will find that the stone carvings at Angkor Wat are as exquisite and complex as embroidery. The most common themes are the Indian mythological epics "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata" Mahabharata ”, you can also see scenes of ancient Khmer people’s cockfighting and farming life.
The inner circle of Angkor Wat, also known as Little Angkor, is the most outstanding and glorious masterpiece in the entire Angkor monuments. This is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, built in the 12th century AD. Entering from the main entrance, there is a triple cloister, which rises layer by layer. There are many exquisite reliefs in the cloister. The center is the lotus tower, with a total of 5 towers, one big and four small, which are the images on the Cambodian flag.
In addition to visiting the prestigious Little Angkor, the itinerary also arranged Sihanoukville King's Palace, Royal Park, Sisters Temple, especially the Royal Park located in the center of Angkor. What is particularly magical in this park is the big tree. There are huge bats hanging high in the treetops all year round, as if they are accompanying sisters who are reluctant to be separated. Especially in the early morning or evening, the sight of swarms of huge bats hovering in the sky is truly breathtaking.
In addition, you can also go to the vast Tonle Sap Lake. On this largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, you can sit on a boat and watch floating houses, visit floating markets, and visit floating churches.
Take a hot air balloon ride to overlook Angkor Wat from a high altitude.
If you are tired of seeing those temples and want to change the scenery and mood, then make good use of the free time in the itinerary.
In fact, there are many entertainment activities around Angkor Wat. For example, take a hot air balloon to overlook the entire Angkor Wat from a high altitude. The hot air balloon can rise up to 200 meters and can carry up to 30 tourists at a time. Visitors can not only experience the fun of riding a hot air balloon, but also enjoy the picturesque scenery from the air.
There are two types of hot air balloon prices. One is a hot air balloon that goes straight up and down. The price is about 20 US dollars for adults and about 10 US dollars for children under 12 years old. The second one is a hot air balloon that can fly out, allowing you to see Angkor up close. The view or overlooking Angkor costs about US$125 per person and the trip takes about 40 minutes. Hot air ballooning is divided into two categories: sunrise and sunset.
Tourists with children can go to Lychee National Park in Angkor Wat. The two waterfalls in the park are the favorite places for tourists to play. In addition, there are cool streams, green lawns, blooming flowers, dancing butterflies and ancient trees in the park, accompanied by some exquisite carvings such as Buddha statues carved in the 16th century, giving it a unique charm.
As for tourists who want to go shopping, go directly to the "Foreigner's Street" in Angkor Wat's old market. This is where locals buy spices and other daily necessities. Nowadays, most of the souvenir shops are opened specifically for foreigners. Tourists can go and broaden their horizons, but they must remember to bargain hard when buying things. At night, "Foreigner Street" has become a paradise for young people. There are Western-style shops, bars, and B&Bs, and many foreigners live here. Quiet in the afternoon and lively in the evening. Eating here is not expensive, and there are Western and Cambodian food. There is also a Red Piano restaurant in "Foreigner Street" worth visiting. It is said that Angelina Jolie often came here to have a drink when she was filming "Tomb Raider".
If you have extra time, you can also go to the National Museum of Angkor Wat. The things on display are all exquisite, some of which were rescued from scenic spots, and some of which were recovered after being sold abroad. It is equivalent to China's Palace Museum . Tourists who like to visit museums may wish to go there.
