THE temples

Trip Start Mar 27, 2007

Trip End Jun 10, 2007

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Flag of Cambodia Siem Reap, Cambodia
Thursday, May 3, 2007

Arrived in Siem Reap with disappointing results. I originally hired a tuk tuk driver to drive me to a guest house, but as soon as I told the tuk driver that I was not going to hire him to take me to the temples, he kicked me out and I was transferred to a moto. The moto spoke about two words in English and had no clue where I wanted to go. He asked a few people and we figured out where the guesthouse was- but it turned out to be full, as was the guesthouse's recommendation for another hotel. So he took me to a 3rd place (despite my insistance that I would just walk around) and they had spaces for $6/night. The lady there was nice enough but she didn't speak English either. I asked where the bathroom was: she gave me a blank stare. Is it downstairs? "Yes." Okay... whatever, it's a room. So I get back after paying and discover that while the room is nice enough and has a window, the bathroom is indeed in the far corner of the room, hidden from my initial sight. When trying to open the window, I discover that it only opens about an inch

back view

. NOT this again! And when looking over to the bathroom, I discover there is no sink or mirror and the toilet is of the squat variety. Given these options, I immediately decide that I will spend the night here, but that I will check out in the morning and find another place to stay. I found one down the road- $12 for a hotel standard "villa." A bit on the pricy side, but it was what I expected to pay at the guesthouse I originally wanted. This villa came with it's own brand of amusement (in the form of a propositioning receptionist), but was otherwise perfect.

So I am in Siem Reap for one purpose and that purpose is to see the Temples of Angkor Wat and the surrounding area. I'll let the photos speak for themselves and just say that it is a truely remarkable place.

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

banteay srei	banteay srei2	banteay srei3	bayon faces
bayon from afar	bayon through a window	blue sky 50	blue sky at angkor wat
border crossing back to thailand	brick reliefs	buddha	buddha, nun, halls
cambodia countryside house	closeup at banteay srei	closeup under terrace	cool reliefs
elephant terrace	elephants	entrance to baphoun	entry to angkor wat
from the top	leading to the gate of angkor thom	local bus	local gas station
monks visiting angkor	monument in bangkok	more blue sky at angkor	more tree at ta prohm
mud roads on the way to bangkok	not ta prohm	poipet	puppy buddy
reliefs at angkor wat	reliefs closeup	siem reap alley	street vendor in bkk
sun on the temples	sunset at angkor	ta prohm1	temple in the sun
trench beneath a terrace	very steep