After 4 days of driving around the former Khmer Empires capital, I covered only about two thirds of the sites. The former Khmer capital is believed to have covered up to 3,000 sq km during its peak in the 12th century. The city and surrounding area supported half a million people and it has now been suggested that deforestation, over population, topsoil erosion could have contributed to the population's sudden disappearance. Did I just see that in Laos?
The only parts left now are the decorative and ceremonial sites, which are amazingly well preserved, and you can see the outline of old irrigation channels, dams and fortification walls. My favorite site was Beng Mealea with the forest grown over the top and with only a few tourists and staff around, I was able to climb all over the site – like a kid exploring his first adventure playground.
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