"Angkor Wat" a Angkor Wat Travel Page by l_joo

India China Funan Jayavarman Angkor Wat and Cambodia
About 2000 years ago, Asia has two powerful empires of India and China. Both were obstructed and separated by the highest mountain of Himalayas and the Karakorum. Merchants from these two countries confronted a big problem to cross over those mountains. Airplanes haven’t yet invented by Wright brothers, to walk across Himalayas by horse or camel is nearly impossible. No merchants want to take such a risk. Central Asia is possible but that area during that time was too long yet too dangerous. The best way for them is by ships sailing pass South East Asia.

Sea traders or merchants invented ships to sail across Indian ocean to Bay of Bengal and then pass through Straits of Melaka finally into South China Sea. To sail such a distance, ships and sailors need to rest in between. They need a place more like home to stay for long. Therefore the first kingdom was built and it was Funan. They provide all facilities for ships and sailors and many more including lodging, restaurants, etc.

As they became rich, they build big constructions such as Angkor Wat. A place completely influenced by Indians. Later with more sea traders coming and going, the entire South East Asia was nearly occupied by them. More traders worldwide joined in over the years, from one Funan to Srivijaya to Majapahit etc until at last we have Melaka. All these kingdoms rise and fall from time to time. For that reason they were known as Indo-China.

Countries of Indo-China have not much personal identity or even culture and image. Mostly influenced by other bigger empires. I'm one of them among billions of South East Asians under these influences. To understand more about Funan Empire and Angkor Wat, try the history of South East Asia, together with India and China.

According to Chinese historians, the peoples of Angkor walking on the street naked without any clothes. They also describe Angkorese short, black and ugly. For this reason, the King of Angkor orders all peoples to wear proper clothing.

Chronology of Ancient Cambodia
1st-7th Century A.D. - Funan Civilization
550 A.D. - Chenla's Independence from Funan
613 - Chenla's conquest of Funan
657-681 Jayavarman I
7th century - Division of Chenla Kingdom and invasion of Java Empire
802-834 Jayavarman II Founder of Angkor Empire

Standing at the entrance of Angkor Thom. This is the first photo the moment I saw the construction. The door is at my right side, the dark black door. The construction looks like a palace of mystical power, probably because of its old murky feel. It was the influence by early Hindu and Buddhism merchants.

When to go?
I was there in November, very good time to visit, not so crowded.
Almost impossible to walk by legs in Angkor, not because they don't allow but because its size is about 1000 football fields. Bike boys charged us US$6.00 per day, so we get around by motorcycles. Another site far away called Banthey Srei has to pay additional US$6.00. Angkor is so big and you probably need bottles of water, to get to the food court is also far away.