S1 E72 | Angkor Wat, Baphuon Temple and Pub Street in Siem Reap, Cambodia (Part 2)
Another day of our temple adventures in Siem Reap began with the mighty Angkor Wat. Spread over nearly 400 acres—equal to about 300 football fields—it’s the largest religious monument in the world. What makes it even more special is that it’s one of only two monuments in the world to be featured on a national flag (the other being in Afghanistan).
Walking through Angkor Wat felt like stepping into another world. At its peak, the temple was once painted in vibrant colors, though little of it remains today. Despite being a Buddhist temple today, its design is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, built to represent Mount Meru, the mythical home of the gods. Every layer of its architecture symbolized a layer of this sacred mountain. Built in the 12th century, this thousand-year-old marvel stands 65 meters tall and was constructed using over five million tons of sandstone, quarried from Phnom Kulen and transported by elephants and rafts.
One curious detail struck us—unlike most temples that face east, Angkor Wat faces west, making sunrise here especially spectacular as the first rays light up the temple towers. Compared to our last visit in 2017, when Pub Street and Angkor Wat were overflowing with tourists, the atmosphere this time felt calmer. Last time, Nav had dengue and barely managed a short visit; this time, we stayed almost three hours and soaked in every detail.
From there, we climbed up the steep steps of Baphuon Temple, another grand structure modeled after Mount Meru with seven levels. The incline was so sharp that the steps felt like ladders, but the views from the top were worth every effort. While Shishira chose to stay at the mid-level due to the heat, Nav went all the way up to take in the panoramic sights. Baphuon, along with Bayon Temple, lies within the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom, once the capital of the Khmer Empire. Here, kings were revered as gods, and the temple carvings reflect both Hindu deities and Buddhist avatars.
As the day ended, we traded stone ruins for food. The rain led us to Pub Street, where we revisited a favorite restaurant from five years ago—Diva Mexican. The familiar taste of tacos, burritos, and fresh salsa was the perfect way to wrap up an intense day of exploring.
From the world’s largest temple to the steep steps of Baphuon and finally the cozy comfort of good food in Siem Reap, this day captured the very essence of why we travel—to relive, rediscover, and relish every moment.