Day 2 – Sunrise at Angkor Wat and the Temple of Baphuon

The second day began before dawn, standing by the wide moat of Angkor Wat. As the sky shifted from deep blue to soft pink, the reflection of the temple’s five lotus-shaped towers appeared in the still waters — one of the most iconic sunrises in the world. The atmosphere was both serene and powerful, especially with groups of young monks in saffron robes walking along the shore, their presence reminding me that Angkor Wat is not only a UNESCO monument but also a living place of devotion.

Crossing the stone causeway, I entered the immense galleries covered in bas-reliefs. Entire walls narrate Hindu myths and Khmer victories, with extraordinary details such as the Churning of the Ocean of Milk and long processions of celestial dancers. Every corridor seemed to converge towards the central sanctuary, symbol of Mount Meru, the cosmic mountain of Hindu mythology. The sense of scale is overwhelming, as if the temple were built to bridge the human world with the divine.

Later in the day, I moved to Baphuon, inside the ancient city of Angkor Thom. This temple-mountain, dedicated to Shiva, was once known as the “Tower of Bronze.” Its monumental causeway leads to a massive three-tiered pyramid, which in the 11th century stood as one of the largest structures in Angkor. Although much of it collapsed over time, its partial reconstruction reveals the sheer ambition of the Khmer builders. Around the ruins, daily life unfolds naturally: I saw a villager leading his cow across the temple grounds, a timeless scene that seemed to echo the centuries-old bond between the people and these sacred stones.

The day ended with the golden light of sunset bathing Baphuon, its terraces glowing warmly against the darkening sky. If the first day was about encounters with monks, roots, and monkeys, the second day revealed the grandeur of Angkor’s most celebrated temple and the enduring strength of one of its oldest pyramids.