Temples galore!

Despite my best intentions to cycle round here the temples are a long way apart in some instances plus it is far too hot for me so have Sari again to take us around in his tuk tuk. Got up about 05.15 to be taken to Sra Sreng for sunrise (which happens just before 06.00). This is a man-made lake which the sun rises over and has a great reflection with relatively few tourists. We are joined by kids trying to selling us bracelets, coffee etc. After this we visit the temple opposite 'Banteay Kdei' a Buddhist monastery. After breakfast we then go onto 'Ta Keo' an unfinished temple. Then go to 'Ta Prom' the next most famous one (where tomb-raider was filmed a lot of the time) as there are tree roots over the structure. This was amazing with stone carvings covered in huge roots and often precarious-looking stone bricks. These are all pretty quiet still since most of the tour groups do their tours at a more civilised hour!

1 - Sunrise at Sra Srang

Dave was running out of photo space plus it was incredibly hot to be going up and down temples so went into town again to put photos onto DVDs and have some lunch (Thai at the central market - v good)

2 - Tomb Raider 3 - This time she's serious

After our break, we went onto 'Thommanon' and then 'Bayon' - part of the 'Angkor Thom' group (don't expect these names to mean much to people esp if you haven't been here but is partly to remind ourselves what we did!!) Bayon looks pretty unimpressive from a distance a square wall with towers inside which look like they are falling down. However, when you go inside you can see the towers are actually faces - 4 on each which look very imposing. At the middle is the main tower with the buddha and shrine where monks wave incense and sometimes chant. It feels very mystical and peaceful (again few tourists fortunately) and there is a small shaft of light there beams through the tower which makes it feel even more spiritual.

3 - Tree roots at Ta Promh

We then moved onto our sunset viewing place, 'Phnom Bakheng' (a temple at the top of a hill) which as anticipated was a major viewing site. There were loads of coaches at the foot of the hill and people clambering up, or getting an elephant ride to the top. The temple is pretty ruined itself and has 3 levels which go pretty high - with more dodgy looking steps! We find a viewing place among the hordes and watch the sun go down again - very impressive over the countryside (have yet to find somewhere where you get the temples in the foreground). Back into town behind the coaches (lots of dust and dirt esp on a tuk tuk - sunglasses def needed to protect your eyes). We go into town and have dinner at a bar which does cheapish beer and, more importantly, is showing the Newcastle v Man Utd match. We go somewhere else for the second half hoping that it may change Newcastle's fortunes. Needless to say we lose. We then start to watch the England v France rugby which is even less enjoyable particularly as we realise we are surrounded by French people. We decide to leave before it gets too embarrassing.

4 - Ta Promh

5 - Ray of light - Bayon

6 - Bayon - Budda

7 - Bayon Faces

8 - Man selling incense

9 - Angkor Thom South Gate

a1 - Angkor Thom South Gate (2)

a2 - A Quiet Spot for sunset

a3 - Sunset Hill