ANGKOR WAT
Of the three types of entrance passes for the Angkor temple complex that you can buy: a 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day, our tourguide bought us the 3-day passes. But, I wish we had a couple more days to explore. The Wats (or "temples") were mostly built during 8th through 12th centuries by the kings of the Khmer kingdom as a way to celebrate and symbolize the king's reign. The more magnificent the Wat, the greater the prestige for that king. And, that led to many breathtaking wats.
Angkor Wat ("Great Temple")
Seeing its signature five towers rising from the temple complex is simply awe-inspiring. As we were walking on the causeway towards the temple complex, our tourguide led us along the pool situated in front of the temple to the Kodak moment of our trip. At the corner of the pool, we were able to see (and take pictures of) all five towers unhindered as well as the perfect reflection of Angkor Wat in the water.
Inside the temple complex, while my mom marveled at the bas-reliefs, I climbed the middle tower (65 meters) and watched the sun set all the while wishing for a pen and paper to write down my thoughts.