Magnificent Angkor wat - part 2

Angkor is believed to be the biggest city at its time between 9th and 13th century with area around 1000 km2 able to support up to million inhabitants. The only rival city by size at the time was blabla in Mexico and London for example had 50.000 souls living in the city. So one might ask what happened that Angkor kingdom faced such a decline, still visible today, and United kingdom becamethe biggest kingdom of all time with colonies all over the world? Cambodia is blessed with great climate able to sustain intense agriculture, they have their own domesticated cattle ( humpback bll and water buffalo) and they live in region close to where a lot of inventions, believed to make industrial revolution and rise of European empires possible, come from. So were Europeans smarter, maybe more open to new things that change your way of living completely? Or maybe just lucky to be on the right place at the right time? 

I believe that there is not a single factor contributing to that and that proximity of fertile crescent with greatest potential for domestication of various grasses, like wheat, and developement of steel industry and usage of horses in transportation and warfare was the biggest trigger that made all subsequent events possible. With all that happening few tousant years before other parts of the world it means that our civilization had a big headstart before others. If they would be given another tousand years to flourish, maybe they would develop whole set of "guns, germs and steel" as Jared Diamond is arguing in his book with the same title. I recomend it to anyone interested in how civilizations developed. Wandering around Angkor really makes you feel how it was possible to make such a great things only with what we now believe are primitive tools and manpower.

Simple plow

Rice fields around Angkor wat

The highlights of Angkor is for sure Angkor wat, which is believed to be the biggest religious building in the world. With its distinkt shape it invites a lot of tourists to come and take picture of its skyline in early mornings.

The moment would be beautyful only if there was not soooo many people:)

I have to say that inside of it did not impress me, but the city of Angkor Thom with main palace Bayon really is a masterpiece. 

216 smiling faces are looking at you form everywhere and the dark gray stone ruins give a special feeling to the place - a unique energy that makes you wonder what is it all about:)

Smiling faces of Angkor Thom

Another marvelous temple is the Ta Promh whic was left as it was when they discovered it - jungle is taking over and here you really see the ultimate power of nature and Jungle. Very famous for its role in Tomb rider and Indiana Jones movies it gives the perfect coulise with its surreal mixture of roots and ancient stone.

Tomb rider tree

There is probably no tourist that comes to Cambodia and misses Angkor temples. This can be seen with all the tuk tuks, bikes and mini buses on circular paths around the main temples. And in relative pressure from salesmans, restaurants and kids trying to get their dollar from enormous amount of money that is flowing to Siem reap area.

Where we stayed:http://www.booking.com/hotel/kh/golden-papaya-guesthouse.html?aid=884625

Cheap (9$ double room) and reasonably clean guesthouse. Restaurant is not the best and is a bit more expensive than what you can get in the center.