Angkor Temples Discovered......
In order to truly understand Cambodia, one must visit one of the greastest archeological and architectural sites in the world - the Angkor complex. It is also in fact, an identity of the Kh
mer people.
It spreads over an area of more than 400 sq. kilometres. Angkor stands as an unrivalled legacy of a powerful Khmer race. The beauty, symmetry and mystery of the temples defy description.
The ancient capital of the Khmer Empire is bulit on the vast plane north of the Tonle Sap, Great Lake, dominated the region from 900-1500, reaching its zenith in the 12th century.
When Jayavarman II (801-850), founder of the Khmer Empire, established his capital at Rolous, he started the cult of Indian deities. It is he who created all these marvelleous temples.....
* * * * * The whole Angkor Area is very vast and it consists of many spectacular temples. The main temple groups are Angkor Thom, Ta Phrom and Angkor Wat * * * * *
Angkor Wat with its five towers, perfect symmetry and exquisite bas-reliefs is one of the most 
inspired religious monuments ever built. It is also the most important building among all Angkor Temples. Another special thing is that Angkor Wat faces west while other temples face east. This great symbol of Cambodia can also be seen in the three towers of the national flag.
Angkor Wat covers an area of two square kilometres which is the largest religious temple in the world. And the volume of stone equal that of the Great Pyramid in Egypt.
Conceived by Suryavarman II (1113-1150), Angkor's builders made a 'temple-mountain' like a pyramid with the shrine at the top. 
Angkor Wat is a representation of Hindu cosmology. Its universe has a central continent surrounded by 6 concentric rings of land and 7 concentric oceans. At the centre is Mount Meru and its five-peaked summit is the city of Brahma, the home of the gods. Eight guardian divinities protect the cardinal points, and the causeway and terraces are lined with stone nagus - a bridge between the worlds of man and of gods.
Bas-reliefs around the first level depict Indian mythical epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana and warfare of the Angkor periood. The carvings are in pristine condition for, unlike the other monuments, Angkor was continously ooccupied by monks, and not devoured by jungle.
It was restored by Ang Chan from 1546-1564, and later by his grandson, Satha.
Within Angkor Thom, one can admire the famous Bayon Temple, which emerges from the jungle as an incredible forest of heads. Built by Jayavarman VII in the twelfth century, its 100-metre wide moat extending 12 kilometres - larger than any walled city of medieval Europe - protected a population of as many as one million people.
It now encloses a dense tropical jungle that appears to have stood the test of eternity in silence.
The smoky colours of the Bayon add to the eeriness of this most haunting and impressive of all Khmer monuments. Its 45 metre high tower is topped by four huge carved heads, and surrounded by 54 towers, at different levels, each containing four mysterious smiling faces. These faces are said to resemble Jayavarman VII himself as the omnipresence of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvaara.
When I stood among the towers and looked up, my blood curdled as I saw an enormous smile looking down on me, and then another....then five, then ten, appearing in every directioon........
The 
most special thing in Ta Phrom is that the trees tower giants from pedestals of monuments overtaken by nature. The intimacy of these temples is a delightful contrast to the more grandiose temples of Angkor.
On our way getting into Ta Phrom, there were a father with his two small sons playing a Khmer musical instrument and dancing in order to attract the tourists' attention so they can make tiny amount of money for their living. 
All photos were taken by my father, Mr. Saint Leung
