We leave our hotel room 6.00 a.m. in the morning in a Tuk Tuk heading toward the airport. It was still dark and everyone was on their way to work. Lucky for us (?) we were going in the opposite direction. On a very narrow bridge, our Tuk Tuk had to stop often to let the other side go by as both of us would not fit the width of the bridge. Our flight was great. Laos Airlines manages to feed us a 'meal' on a one-hour flight. They automatically put the tall men at the front of the small airplane so that they would have room for their legs.
He found one in the Psar Chaa part of town, which is where we wanted to stay. The Villa Medamrei was an oasis in the dessert. It has an eye-catching exterior which sets the tone for a stylish and affordable boutique stay. The room included a flat-screen TV and bright silk decor, beautiful ponds/gardens and reclining spaces with a very attentive staff. We were welcomed with a drink and treats when we checked in. The Guest House was a welcomed change from some of our previous accommodations.
Angkor is the earthly representation of Mt. Meru, the Mt. Olympus of the Hindu faith and the abode of ancient gods. The temples are the perfect fusion of creative ambition and spiritual devotion. The Cambodian 'god-kings' of old each strove to better their ancestors in size, scale and symmetry, culminating in the world's largest religious building, Angkor Wat.
The temples of Angkor are a source of inspiration and national pride to all Khmers as they struggle to rebuild their lives after years of terror and trauma. Today, the temples are a point of pilgrimage for all Cambodians, and no traveller to the region will want to miss their extravagant beauty. Angkor is one of the world's foremost ancient sites, with the epic proportions of the Great Wall of China, the detail and intricacy of the Taj Mahal and the symbolism and symmetry of the pyramids, all rolled into one. It is truly an unbelieveable, breath-taking experience to visit these sites.
The Angkorian period spans more than 600 years from AD 802 to 1432. This incredible age saw the construction of the temples of Angkor and the consolidation of the Khmer empire's position as one of the great powers in southeast Asia. This era encompasses periods of decline and revival and wars with rival powers in Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. This brief history deals only with the periods that produced the temples that can be seen at Angkor.
The hundreds of temples surviving today are but the sacred skeleton of the vast political, religious and social centre of Cambodia's ancient Khmer empire, a city, that at its peak, boasted a population of one million when London was a small town of 50,000. The houses, public buildings and palaces of Angkor were constructed of wood - now long decayed - because the right to dwell in structures of brick or stone was reserved for the gods.
To begin our visit at the Temples of Angkor, we decided to take the Tuk Tuk driver's suggestion and do what is called the 'Big Circuit'. The 'Big Circuit' of the Temples of Angkor is 26km and is an extension of the Small Circuit, which is 17 km. As part of the 'Big Circuit' we explored the Buddhist-Hindu fusion temple of Preach Kan and the ornate water temple of Neak Poan, Ta Prohm, the Ta Prohm before continuing to the temple pyramid of Ta Keo, the Buddhist monastery of Banteay Kdei and the immense royal bathing pond of Sra Srang.
The name means royal bathing pond. The first lake, built in the 10th
century, may have been larger. This lake, built during the reign of
Jayavarman VII, is about 400 by 700 meters, and is bordered with steps
and a stone facing. It is across the road from the east entrance to
Banteay Kdei, the Buddhist sanctuary also built by Jayavarman VII.
Originally there may have been a small island sanctuary in the center of
this tranquil "baray" since blocks of large stones have been found in
the water there. 
The temple's modern name, Bantãy Srĕi — citadel of the women, or citadel of beauty — is probably related to the intricacy of the bas relief carvings found on the walls and the tiny dimensions of the buildings themselves.[6] Some have speculated that it relates to the many devatas carved into the walls of the buildings.[7]
Beng Mealea or Bung Mealea (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបឹងមាលា, its name means "lotus pond"[1]) is a temple in the Angkor Wat style located 40 km east of the main group of temples at Angkor, Cambodia, on the ancient royal highway to Preah Khan Kompong Svay.
Its primary material is sandstone and it is largely unrestored, with trees and thick brush thriving amidst its towers and courtyards and many of its stones lying in great heaps.
What an amazing day it was. Before saying goodbye to our driver for the evening, we made arrangements for him to pick us up at 5.00 am. to view sunrise at Angkor Wat.
It is also possible to get a foot massage, a back massage and have fish eat the dead skin off your feet if you wish at the very busy market.
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