Angkor Wat - Day 1

Trip Start Sep 01, 2005
1
148
163
Trip End Dec 04, 2006


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Cambodia  ,
Saturday, October 21, 2006

Ashley, Steve and I were waiting on the side of the curb at 4.30am for the tuk tuk that we organised the day before. He never showed and we were on the hunt for another one when the Hotel who had offered us $35 (and lied to us on numerous occassions about everything) for the day suddenly cut that down to $15 so we decided to give them a go anyhow. The scene at Angkor Wat at sunrise was filled with hundreds of anxious people with cameras poised to take the perfect photo. Unfortunately for everyone the clouds were heavy and not much could be done about it. It was magical nonetheless and afterwards we decided to set off to the farthest temple, Bantreay Srei and work our way backwards along the big circuit finishing at Prea Kahn.

Known for its intricate stone carvings it is said that Bantreay Srei has one of the most if not the most beautiful stone carvings on the planet 01 Sunrise at Angkor Wat with Angkor Horse
01 Sunrise at Angkor Wat with Angkor Horse
 . The tranquil surroundings was a good to get away from the crowds of Angkor Wat and we counted ourselves lucky as on the return trip we passed numerous busloads of tourists heading towards Bantreay Srei. The amazing thing about the ruins in Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples was the attention to detail on every stone and every doorway. The attention to detail in the Incan and Mayan ruins visited earlier on my trip was not in the same leauge as the Khmer's and what they produced in these ruins.

Finishing the big circuit we were stopped at the gates by a herd of tourists riding elephants from Prea Kahn to Ta Prohm. A totally pointless mode of transoprt as it was not comfortable, more time consuming, held up traffic and ten times more expensive then a tuk tuk. The view was not any better either as the road was lined by silk cotton trees and other tall trees that hid the rest of the jungle from view.
Slideshow Print this entry Siem Reap hotels