Page 26 - Thailand Laos Cambodia Myanmar 26 Day Sample

DAY 15 SIEM REAP Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch Enjoy sunrise at the incredible Angkor Wat Temple Groslier and George Coedes, who devoted years to Complex. the understanding and preservation of the treasures at Angkor. The sight of the tree's powerful embrace Angkor Wat is one of the largest temple complexes in of the stone evokes feelings a visitor will very likely the world. The Temple is dedicated to the god remember forever. Vishnu, from whom the Emperor was considered a reincarnation. Essentially a three-layered pyramid, This afternoon drive about 45 minutes into the Angkor Wat has 64 meter high towers at the corners countryside, stopping en route to visit a local of each storey. The marvelous bas-relief of Angkor village. Enjoy a 90 minute boat ride on Tonle Sap Wat's outer wall of the lower picture gallery depicts Lake, also known as the Great Lake of Cambodia. scenes of the Ramayana. Angkor Wat represents the You will see many communities of floating houses high-point in the evolution of Khmer architecture. and boats, including schools, markets, police The ruins seen today represent successive capitals stations, children playing and swimming, and fresh constructed by a dozen kings between the 9th and water aquariums with different fish species 12th centuries. Central to the civilization of Angkor displayed. The living conditions in this area are was belief in the God-King, an originally Indian extremely basic. Clean, fresh drinking water is a concept, which was adopted by Jayavarman II when luxury for a few villages. he became Angkor's first king in 802. After the boat ride transfer to an eco-tourism site Return to the hotel for breakfast. where you can enjoy a cocktail and watch the sunset over Tonle Sap Lake. After breakfast travel outside the city to explore the picturesque Ta Prohm Temple. You may wish to dine at Viroth's Restaurant (a delightful garden restaurant). Enjoy delicious Ta Prohm was built by Jayavarman VII as a shrine for Khmer food in a sophisticated setting. Your guide his mother and as a monastery devoted to its can assist with any reservation requests. upkeep. A stele referred to the temple as a monument "whose limbs are adorned with gold and Overnight: Grand Hotel D’Angkor – Landmark resplendent with gems". The magnificent roots of a Pool Room tree pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple have been left that way intentionally, at the suggestion of French art conservators Bernard IS NOW COMPLETE