We had debated going very early to the Angkor Wat temple for the sunrise, but decided 5:30a was perhaps too early a departure. In hindsight it turned out to be a good decision, as early morning downpours would have made it a pointless doing.
By 8.30a the tour buses and minivans were already coming in. Full marks to our Siem Reap tuk tuk driver, Sambath, for his impeccable driving under pressure today.
The temples were crowded with tourists. Sort of took the edge off the grandeur, in my opinion, but the weather was nice for shooting; overcast with soft light. A nice couple from Newcastle-via-Kuala Lumpur explained that the morning moistures on the stones was fantastic for pulling the details out of the temples facades. They were on their third day at the complex.
The stone walkway to the Angkor Wat complex.
This portico (right word?) is part of the initial entrance to the complex itself. I spent about 20 minutes photographing in here before Dad pointed out that maybe I should save some for the big show.
This was the main course, and fortunately there was a Japanese tour group posing for a photo as I took this. Thank you.
I'm fairly certain we saw this guy at the hotel bar last night...
Norm, my dad wanted to know if you wanted a few of these for your driveway.
The reliefs along the outer walkway of the Angkor Wat temple were once covered in gold, apparently, accoridng to my Newcastle0cum-Kuala Lumpur transplant friends. We didn't see those two again, but I hope they stayed hydrated, he was sweating like a spigot.
Mom I know you and Dad have a charcoal relief of part of this relief somewhere, but they were very extensive and impossible to photograph them all.
Within the temple there's a central terrace/courtyard that rises to a higher level...
Up another steep staircase, the uppermost temple was accessible. It was quite a climb and was the part of the temple that required no hat, long pants, and shoulders covered out of respect. So needless to say, I had to throw a few layers on over my European-style bikini to be allowed access up.
Our driver asked if we wanted to go to the next temple complex, and not to be perceived as makeweights, we agreed. Initially we reached this decision with a degree of skepticism. We'd spent nearly two hours in the heat around one temple; to have several more complete complexes to visit seemed daunting. But does the man above look like a quitter? Onwards!
Our tuk tuk driver took us ten minutes to the next complex, Angkor Tom, to the northwest, through this lovely stone gate. Achtung: beware of school children on bikes, they have very little fear of cars or tuk tuks.
They were almost as bold as these fellows we passed...
Angkor Tom is sprawling, indeed it was where the king took his residence, so we decided to focus just on the first temple, Bayon.
BAYON
Although rebuilding was underway, and elements of a previous ceremony were still being removed, it was much quieter and very beautiful.
Guys like these bored gentlemen checked tickets at every temple, and when asked to show ours, I said "Wat Ticket?" He replied: "The ticket for the temple." I didn't bother to explain. Perhaps it wasn't funny.
This one's for Norm. See? Not all governments are restrictive. Cambodia lets you fall down and break your neck in their state parks...
TOMB RAIDER
Experts on Angelina Jolie would recognize the last Angkor temple we visited, Ta Prohm. famous for not just for Tomb Raider shooting there, but it's also famous for the 400 hundred and 700 hundred year old spung trees that have grown over the walls...
This guy walked up to us and wanted to show me every setup that the Tomb Raider production made. He really knew where all the good angles were. Oddly, he made a quick exit when security approached him. A slow-speed chase took place as he walked around a corner with uniforms in tow. The guard came back with our informal guide's flip-flops in his hands.
After that, it was back to the Villa Siem Reap Hotel for lunch; an Angkor Beer and some Pho Bo soup.
