After Phnom Penh, we endured a honk-fest of a bus ride. To overtake a bicycle, tuk-tuk or even a car, the bus driver would just lean on his horn to let them know we were passing. Cars coming in our direction were expected to see us coming and cede to the larger vehicle. We finally made it to Siem Reap, although even listening to music wasn't enough to drown out the honking!!!
The next morning, we started to visit Angkor Wat, which actually is just one of several ruins / temples / monuments in the area. Angkor Wat is the most famous, but actually there were other places I preferred more.
Ta Prohm was my favorite. I didn't realise, but it was used in the film Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie - shame I haven't seen it recently, as the DVD is buried in my storage room. Anyhow, the really great part about these ruins is that they haven't been restored, and so there are massive trees growing around, over, and through the massive stone walls. It was so wonderful, Raquel and I went back later to see it again, early enough so that there were far fewer tourists around.
Ta Prohm was my favorite. I didn't realise, but it was used in the film Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie - shame I haven't seen it recently, as the DVD is buried in my storage room. Anyhow, the really great part about these ruins is that they haven't been restored, and so there are massive trees growing around, over, and through the massive stone walls. It was so wonderful, Raquel and I went back later to see it again, early enough so that there were far fewer tourists around.
One of my other favorites was a temple called Bayon, which had 54 separate towers, each with four faces. (I forget the Hindu explanation for the four faces... one of their gods I think)
The final stop on the first day was Angkor Wat itself, which probably needs no introduction, however with scaffolding on some of the towers, and at the end of a looooonnnnnggggg hot day, it impressed me less than the other two.
The next day, we visited some more temples. In the afternoon, we were free, so a few of us from the group went to visit the "floating village". Because the nearby lake of Tomle Sap is quite large in the rainy season, but drops several metres in depth in the dry season, the locals have adapted themselves by living on self-made houseboats of a sort. The village has floating restaurants and bars (perhaps more for the tourists!) and a Catholic church of all things. (in a country 90%+ Buddhist)
After the second day, the rest of the group flew to Bangkok for a final day there. Since we were flying to southern Thailand in the afternoon of the following day (i.e. today - in fact I've got a great wifi connection at Bangkok airport!!) we asked the tour company to change our flight from Siem Reap to Bangkok to this morning, and they did. So we managed to have an extra day in Siem Reap.
So, we got ourselves a tuk-tuk and driver for the day, and went to re-visit Ta Prohm, as well as other temples. At one of the minor ones, which had a Buddhist monastery and orphanage nearby, a young monk named Yat came up to us for a chat, to practice his English. So that was interesting, even if perhaps he was just looking for a bit of money as well. (monks can't work obviously, so depend on donations from tourists and locals)
The final temple of the day was called Bakong, where we watched the sunset, before heading back to Siem Reap.
The final stop on the first day was Angkor Wat itself, which probably needs no introduction, however with scaffolding on some of the towers, and at the end of a looooonnnnnggggg hot day, it impressed me less than the other two.
The next day, we visited some more temples. In the afternoon, we were free, so a few of us from the group went to visit the "floating village". Because the nearby lake of Tomle Sap is quite large in the rainy season, but drops several metres in depth in the dry season, the locals have adapted themselves by living on self-made houseboats of a sort. The village has floating restaurants and bars (perhaps more for the tourists!) and a Catholic church of all things. (in a country 90%+ Buddhist)
After the second day, the rest of the group flew to Bangkok for a final day there. Since we were flying to southern Thailand in the afternoon of the following day (i.e. today - in fact I've got a great wifi connection at Bangkok airport!!) we asked the tour company to change our flight from Siem Reap to Bangkok to this morning, and they did. So we managed to have an extra day in Siem Reap.
So, we got ourselves a tuk-tuk and driver for the day, and went to re-visit Ta Prohm, as well as other temples. At one of the minor ones, which had a Buddhist monastery and orphanage nearby, a young monk named Yat came up to us for a chat, to practice his English. So that was interesting, even if perhaps he was just looking for a bit of money as well. (monks can't work obviously, so depend on donations from tourists and locals)
The final temple of the day was called Bakong, where we watched the sunset, before heading back to Siem Reap.
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