We took the tuk-tuk under the starry night to see the sun rise at the Sra Srang, and we became the first visitors of the day to the nearby Banteay Kdei as the sun rised. We then visited Ta Prohm, whose root covered walls were made famous by the film Tomb Raider. We also visited Preah Neak Pean and Preah Khan before arriving Angkor Thom, and we spent the rest of the day visiting sites inside Angkor Thom, the ancient city of Angkor.

Moon hanging on the sky before sun rise.


The entrance of Banteay Kdei.


The temple was really quiet and peaceful before other visitors arrived.


Ta Prohm was once entirely hidden below a forest.


Part of the buildings had fused with the trees.


我們決定依逆時針方向進行書上介紹的大環遊行程。我們搭嘟嘟車穿過乾涸的東芭萊湖 (Eastern Baray)，經過就在路邊的變身塔 (Pre Rup) 和東梅蓬寺 (Eastern Mebon)，一路來到龍蟠宮 (Preah Neak Pean)。龍蟠宮的五個水池如今只剩下中央水池裡面還有蓄水，而圍繞著水池中央小島的四個雕像如今也只剩碩果僅存的一個。

The temple of Preah Neak Pean at the center of the pool.


The beheaded statues of guards at the gate of Preah Khan.


Strangely, there was a building in Preah Khan built in a style very similar to Greek buildings.


Renovation taking place at the west gate of Preah Khan.


Bayon was the central temple inside Ankgor Thom.


The famous smiling faces of Angkor on all sides of all towers of Bayon.


The stone path leading to Baphuon.


Cranes were used to repair Baphuon.


Phimeanakas was the palace of Angkor Thom.


Archeological digging took place at one side of Phimeanakas.


繼續往北走到聖琶麗寺 (Preah Palilay)，這也是一座曾經幾乎被叢林吞沒的建築，現在建築四周的大樹都已經被鋸斷，只剩幾節乾枯的樹根依舊纏繞在石階上，感覺十分突兀。

The nearly collapsed tower of Preah Palilay.


One of the small temples belonging to the Preah Pithu Group.


View of the square in front of the palace and the zodiac towers from the top of Terrace of Elephants


The Next Day