Customer Reviews

Ancient Angkor (River Book Guides)

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A lovingly prepared compilation of superb color photographs, maps, history and scholarly explanations of the major world monument that is Angkor Wat. The authors thoughtfully include suggested itineraries ( ranging from one to six days ), sites ranked by interest, peak times and locations for photographing and even helpful suggestions for accomodations. A must for planning a visit to Angkor Wat or for preserving memories.

This book will guide you step by step (literally) through the magnificant temples of Angkor. And even if you weren't planning to go, you will want to for sure, after viewing Michael Freeman's superb photographs and reading Claude Jacques' expert commentary.

No matter where you wander on the very large site of Angkor, Freeman and Jacques are right alongside you, suggesting places to look and explaining what you are looking at. There are maps and temple plans, a glossary, and an index. For visitors with limited time, the suggested itineraries (from one to seven days' length) will let you make the most of your visit.

The book is especially helpful for photographers. Freeman, who has photographed professionaly at Angkor for over a decade, describes the best vantage points and subjects, suggests the best time of day to shoot, and provides itineraries that take you to each location just when the light is best.

The book is well designed and contains many helpful features. For example, a cross-referenced list of architectural features and mythological scenes makes it easy to locate temples that contain whatever the visitor is most interested in seeing.

In short, carrying this book with you is like having an expert photographer and historian as personal guides during your visit to Angkor. You probably won't even need to engage an actual guide, unless you want to pick up a bit of local color; everything you need is right there in the book.

This book is a fantastic combination of pictures and facts for people wanting to visit the Angkor temples. The pictures stir the imagination and the text provides the facts to go with the pictures.

In fact I recently used this book as my guide while visiting Angkor. It provides a section for each of the most-visited temples and will also give you information on suggested time to put aside for each visit and the best time to go. In fact, my guide at Angkor said this was the best guide book he had seen, and I saw other people using this same book to guide themselves around the temples like I did.

This book provides suggested itineries to the temples and the best times to visist for photography. whether you can actually manage to combine the two is debatable on a short visit. The books main downfall is not its content, but its weight which is quite heavy because of the good quality paper used.

The climate (extremely hot and humid - air conditioning is a worthwhile investment) can make visiting these monuments as trial at times, but they are worth the effort. All the buildings are unique, covered in exquiste carvings (which books can only hint at) and original. Some are still partly swallowed by the jungle. Straight out of indiana Jones.

Get this book, let your imagination wander and visit these amazing ruins if you can before too many other tourists turn up - for they are a world wonder not to be missed. And don't forget your camera - these are places begging to be photographed.

Bring this book with you to the Angkor temples. It has complete maps of all the temples with descriptions of how to find some of the hidden reliefs and sculptures in the temples. It also has suggested itineraries and lets you know the best time to visit each site for photography.

There are two authors of the book: Freeman is the photographer, and several of his stunning photos are on each page. I would be lucky if any one of my vacation pictures from Angkor come out as good as his. Claude Jacques is the historian, who wrote the background information. This part leaves a little to be desired - I recommend Michael Coe's book if you want historical background. Jacques is recognized as a thought leader on Khmer history, but his writing in English is not very informative. His introductory chapters did not give me any real understanding of the Khmer temple-builders. And some of the descriptions of the reliefs will state things like "on the south wall a warrior is riding an elephant." Well duh, I can see that. However, some of the descriptions are very good. They will describe the story from the Hindu Veda that the relief is depicting, like the story of the monkey army in the Ramayana seen on many temples.

Outside any of the Angkor temples, you will find hustling Cambodian kids selling pirated versions of this book for under two dollars. The pirated version is compact and lightweight, but you would be missing out on Freeman's amazing color photographs.

If you are lucky enough to visit Angkor, here are my suggestions:
1. Get a hotel or guesthouse in Siem Reap with AC and a pool. On your first day there, find a driver you trust that you will hire for the rest of your trip (twenty bucks a day is reasonable for a tuk-tuk, more for a car).
2. Wake up 4:30am every day and have your driver take you to a temple for sunrise (when the light is best for photography and temperature is reasonable).
3. Have your driver take you back to the hotel for a swim and a nap (so you will not be out at the hottest part of the day when the big tour groups come through the temples).
4. Have your driver take you to another temple for sunset.
5. Don't miss the Bayon or Ta Prohm temples, or the Kampong Phluk floating village.

Claude Jacques is an expert on Angkor, and has studied its history for 30 years. Photographer Michael Freeman has been taking pictures of Angkor for over 15 years. Together Ancient Angkor is the product of a partnership that has yielded over 350 color illustrations, and a well-written guide to the ruins of Angkor.

Included are detailed plans and descriptions,[even of lesser known temples not found in other guides]. The book is well thought-out -with suggestions of various itineraries, and information on hotels and other items pertaining to travel . This serves not only as a great tourist guide for travellers planning a trip to the ancient ruins but also a great book for armchair travellers with lush color illustrations and meticulous descriptions.

Buying this terrific Angkor temple guide book does not mean you shouldn't hire a licensed Khmer guide (not to be confused with a driver, who are not allowed to take tourists inside the temples) because the guides are schooled in the history of the temples, are fluent in a particular foreign language, able to advise on shopping, touring the countryside, cultural tours, but can take you to see temples when the light is best, the crowds the smallest & then explain what you are seeing. Buy this book, figure out what temples you want to see, read the history section & the sections on the temples you're going to see. Once you return, reread the sections on the temples you've seen, as it will give you a greater enjoyment of the incredible artistry & majesty of Ancient Angkor. This book does not replace a licensed guide, it enhances the experience. I also recommend Dawn Rooney's book because she writes about remote temples that are not in this book & in more detail, but I found her floor plans confusing.

It is a common preconception that you go to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, and that is is just one big site. This is far from the truth, and personally I found some of the other sites at least as interesting as Angkor Wat, if not on such a grand scale. This extensively illustrated book covers all the most important sites in the area which number about 45 and includes a plan of each as well as pictures and a detailed description. There are also suggested itineraries, notes on accommodation etc. However, for the latter you will find Tripadvisor of more use. When you are in Siem Reap, you will find that the easiest way to visit the temples is by tuktuk, which can be hired for about $15-$20 a day - the drivers are very knowledgable, and will take you to all the most interesting sites. (Sorry, a bit off topic I know, but if you are buying this book you will probably be visiting Angkor)

Like the other reviewer, I obtained my copy of this book for a few dollars at one of the temples, but this does not help you much if you want it so as to plan ahead! Its a thorough volume but not so bulky that you cannot carry it around on your visits and I would highly recommend getting a copy if you are going to this area.

This is a must have for anyone touring the ruins of Angkor. The maps are very helpful for finding your way around. But I would recommend buying one from one the many kids selling these around the ruins. I got mine for $5.00 which was a very low price even by Cambodian standards. I still look at it to this day and use it when I tell others about Angkor.