We came to Siem Reap, the gateway town to the temples of Angkor, in the late afternoon and I for one was pleased to find a touristy centre with an array of tourist cafes, tourist bars, tourist shops and tourist acommodation. Sometimes in the quest for exploring untread paths, we backpackers forget that we are after all just pesky tourists. If the truth be known I think I was in need of some home comforts again and Siem Reap was able to produce the goods. Not a very authentic Cambodian experience but this tourist was perfactly fine with that!
Our three day pass meant that we had plenty of time to explore the many temples of Angkor. We rented ourselves some bikes for our first day and pedalled first thing straight to the piece de resistence - Angkor Wat. We cycled around the vast moat which surrounds it and, as we turned the corner leading to the entrance, Angkor Wat came into view. "Its nice but much smaller than I expected" I said out loud in my own mind. I then realised that it was just the entrance gate I was looking at as the massive spires of Angkor Wat sprung into view behind. It's so strange to see all these sights that you've seen so many pictures of in books. Angkor Wat is as huge, amazing, powerful and beautiful as it is in pictures.
Bayon was next on the agenda so on we pedalled. Bayon was for me equally as impressive as Angkor Wat. A bridge of stone soldiers leads the way and then large imposing faces start to peer down at you from just about every corner of the temple. Legend has it that the faces are modelled on the King who had Bayon erected so that he could keep an eye on his subjects. I would have been a very good boy with all these faces glaring at me all day I must say! As the light changes throughout the day the shadows make for some eerie portraits. Bayon is a maze of little corridors all in view of the kings beady eyes.
Our pedalling feet wheeled us along for about 20 kilometres during the course of the day. We stopped off at some and just wheeled passed others. Ta Phrom was another highlight, it was used to film some of (one of) the Indiana Jones films and has been reclaimed by the jungle. Massive roots curl through the walls and windows and gravity defying trees grow just about everywhere, very cool!
Up at 4.30 on day two to catch the sunrise and it was so worth it! It had already started to get bright when we got there and it looked a bit cloudy for our liking. The clouds broke however and we were treated to a most pleasurable rising of the sun thank you very much. Hawkers nearby offer cups of coffee and plastic chairs on which to enjoy them. Having not had my morning coffee yet, I took them up on the offer and I do not believe I have ever had my morning coffee in the face of such splendour!!! What an incredible experience, another one that I'm so so happy we got to see together. Sunrise at Angkor is a must for all I think. For the remainder of the morning we hired a tuk-tuk and temple-hopped til we were all templed out. Saw some more very impressive ones but having started with the sun rising over Angkor nothing could even begin to compete.
On day three we returned to Bayon for the sunset and that concluded our slow, easy, and wonderfully touristy Angkor visit.
2 comments:
So great to read the new blogs guys - thanks! Angkor Wat wow! Seems amazing and I love the pics of the gravity-defying trees you saw as well!! It's a shame about the too quiet, boring trip to Kampot, but the sunset picture is gorgeous .. I love being able to see pictures of you two boys as well - can keep up-to-date with the comings and goings of suntans, stubble, beards, hangovers etc
:-))))) Have a wonderful time in Australia and New Zealand and see you soon Jxx
Now that's what I call trekking. Bicycles, ancient temples rapped up in gigantic roots of huge, old trees and a coffee flavoured sunset...ah, someday.
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