Angkor

One of my ambitions in life is to try and visit all the World Hertiage Sites so when I was offered the chance to visit the Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia I obviously jumped on it!

The Khmer Empire's architectural accomplishments (9th-15th centuries) are remarkable and so inspiring. Much of the site which spans 400 square miles is still being discovered and UNESCO have set up a huge programme to safeguard the temples from the mass of tourists that now obviously descend.

Angkor Wat, just one of the hundreds of surviving temples is the most famous and was built as a 'temple-mountain' as a spiritual home for the Hindu God Vishnu. A mountain it is - I was so surprised at the sheer size of the temples and with a fear of heights climbing up the huge stone staircases was fine, coming down - a little more of an issue! It was worth it though, every corner you turned was a treasure trove of scultpures, engravings and views. As the whole site is now in ruins you did have to stop... and try to imagine how this city must have looked before the rulers abandoned the site and theives could enter to strip the beautiful temples of just about everything.

My favourite temple was one of the smaller ones - Ta Phrom deeper into the forest. Here you can see how the years have taken its toll on the stonework and the trees have grown up, on, through and down the temple. It soon becomes clear talking to the locals that apart from safeguarding the structure from completely falling down, they will let nature take its course - I can see why, it is just breathtaking to see nature at its best.