i haven’t had time to write about angkor thom and angkor wat in cambodia – about their stunning history, engineering genius and magnificent artistry. we are talking about the 11th/12th century! built with blocks of sandstone brought in from a mountain miles away, thru a system of canals and then carried by elephants. the blocks were cut precisely so they interlock. no cement. angkor wat is built on a water table. it is surrounded by a large and deep moat. this way, as the water levels change during the dry and wet seasons, pressure doesn’t build up – extra water is released to or from the moat. that these temples are still standing is frankly shocking. angkor wat was the center of a city with a population of about a million, the largest city in the world at that time. it was an honor to visit these temples with someone as erudite as our guide, chamrong soeut. we took hundreds of pictures, here are just a few.
