Angkor Wat lies 5.5 km north of the town of Siem Reap. The original site was built in the 12th century, during the reign of King Suryavarman II. It was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, and was built as the King's state temple and capital city. Toward the end of the century, Angkor Wat gradually became a site of Buddhist worship, which it remains today. In my 3 days there, I experienced the tourist-frenzied sunrise at the main site, and the beautiful quiet that followed. I also ventured 200 km into the Cambodian countryside, to a place left to the devices of the jungle.
