WORLD'S LARGEST RELIGIOUS EDIFICE:"Angkor Wat(t) in Cambodia; "You Tube" videos; what is your opinion?

Question

This site taken as a whole, is much larger than all the pyramids in Egypt put together: a truly unbeliveble architectual jewel.

Has any of you ever actually been there, and witnessed it for yourselves? I would give anything to do so; but will probably never be able to afford a trip there.

In scope and scale, it even surpasses St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and the "Yamoussoukro" cathedral - largest Christian church in the world, located in Africa - in grandeur and magnificence.

Do you agree? If not, why?

Wotan

3 hrs. after posting: three very good answers so far; many thanks.

"Snow
Globe"
= thanks for your "papertoys" referral. I checked it out; and what struck me right off the bat, was how remarakably the "complete" design outline, looked like something from an extra-terrestrial landscape. You?

Can anyone who has been there, recall off the top of their head, approximately what was the total cost: airfare, hotel, guides, ground travel, etc.?

Does anyone know if it has ever been used as a setting, backdrop for a commercial film?

2nd "Add Details" posting. Just a reminder everyone: QUESTIONERS can add details after a question has been posted.

And ANSWERS can comment, after Best Answer has been chosen. This is an avenue of interaction - or rather, inter-communication(?) - that it seems like very few users take advantage off.

December 10 - 07: Thanks Adyari and ratzfatz for the movie referrals.

"ratzfatz": how in the world did you come up witha name like that?

"fat rats"?

Wotan

To choose a best answer, was terribly difficult: believe me. But I had rather choose myself, than leave in up to the general user audiecne. Some people seem to vote not out of a genuine, quality assessment, but rather some particular bias they have.
So thank you all very much, and again, it was a very difficult choice to make.
Wotan

Answer 1

I lived in Cambodia for a couple of years and yes, the temples are one of a kind, a true magical place. The sheer size of the complexes are mind boggling, not to mention the new discoveries made.
There is so much to discover, every relief tells a story, every temple has its own history. If you're into history and Asian culture, this is the place to go.
Compared to other sites around the world, I rank the temples of Angkor in the top 3 places to see, ahead of the pyramids and the great wall.

Movies made are the before mentioned City of Ghosts (with Matt Dillon and James Caan) and Laura Croft:Tomb Raider pt.1 (with Angelina Jolie)

Answer 2

I have been there, and it is beyond description. The entire complex is massive and the individual temples are incredible examples of architecture and decorative art. I have also been to the pyramids, way back when you were allowed to go inside to the burial chamber. It is also a mind-boggling structure -- the thought of all that weight of stone around you as you follow the tunnel into the heart of the pyramid is not something to dwell on! But Angkor is more interesting in that it is smack in the middle of the jungle. There are dozens of buildings, walls, temples, roads, and statuary that are either cleared out or left untouched, so that we can see the amazing work trees do when they grow in between the stones of a giant building. The massive carved reliefs of mythological scenes are something else! The two carved reliefs in the front gallery of Angkor Wat are over 200 m. long each!

Another place I was quite impressed with was the Mayan city of Tikal in Guatemala. Shots of it were used in the original Star Wars movie for the rebel base.


http://www.papertoys.com/angkorwat.htm

Answer 3

I have been there 4 times. I can never visit Cambodia and not visit Angkor Wat. I have visited with my Boyfriend and he is Cambodian.. he still can't believe the great architecture of his homelands ancestors. I personally feel a very spiritual connection with Angkor Wat. I, before meeting my boyfriend, had dreamt about the place and when i first visited with him (he had been there before) I was the one telling him where everything was located. In my dreams i was a monk who prayed there often, being a monk is what i have always wanted to be; despite growing up in a catholic family and country, i have always taken my grandfathers religion (he was Chinese) and beliefs.

All in all, the wonderful and amazing Khmer people not only built Angkor Wat, there are a lot more buildings and structures in Cambodia and even surrounding countries due to the Khmer Empire taking up over half of South-East Asian territory.

It has been used in a commercial film, i just can't remember the name of it at this moment. One of them was in Beyond Borders (just Cambodia, not Angkor Wat, but that movie made me fall in love with the country) and the movie WITH it as a backdrop was City of Ghosts i think the name is.

Answer 4

i think of you are able to relax so deeply and settle for issues to such an quantity which you're feeling love in each thing. you will nevertheless react to oppose issues which look out of unity with the situations, yet there is what i assume is 'unconditional love' for existence itself which suits previous all situations and types. i think of letting go of the strategies which make us demanding and consciously relaxing into each 2d can take you to a love it somewhat is unconquerable. jointly as i think of this provide you with super 'power' interior the international, this love conquers the terror interior, particularly than stumbling blocks exterior, which will desire to persist.

Answer 5

I have been there. It's amazing...the only real way I can explain it is, it's like driving towards a mountian....It seems so close, but it's still so far away. Then when you finally get there, you're just standing there in awe like "There's no way people could have built this with just hand tools and no construction equipment"....but they did.

Answer 6

I'd say it is, but that's just my opinion. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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