Short trip across Cambodia Part II Temples of Angkor
JetCrocodile
Registered Users Posts: 134 Major grins
Hi!
Here is a second part of my story telling about first two days in Siem Reap, Actually I spent most of my time in Angkor
<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CSvenka%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> As I stated in the previous part Temples of Angkor were the main attraction for me. So next three days I spent nearly all my time exploring Angkor Archeological park. Usually I avoid guided tours, simply prefer to explore everything myself. But this time, I had just three days and decided to buy two guided tours. First of all it was not expensive at all, second it was really comfortable, and finally I have to admit that tours there were well organized. Group consisted of three tourists, guide and a driver.
<o:p> </o:p>
First tour started around 7 or 7:30 in the morning, does not matter, I still felt a jetlag. First we acquired passes to <st1:place w:st="on">Angkor</st1:place>, they have different options 1, 2,3 days and a week. I was expecting that we would start the tour in Angkor Wat, but instead of it first stop were made near the Southern Gate of Angkor Thom, where we spent some time walking around and taking pictures.
<o:p>
</o:p>
From the gate one can take a ride on elephant to the Bayon temple.
Yes this is tourist attraction with all necessary elements of it, souvenirs, restaurants etc. While temple itself looks quite compact it takes some time to explore it.
<o:p>
</o:p>
It is well preserved and attract may tourist and in spite of it sometimes you can find that there is no one near you.
<o:p> </o:p>
Then we continued to the Terrace of the Elephants,
followed by Baphuoun , Phimeanakas
Hard to believe that those are ruins of place...
<o:p></o:p>Remaining time before lunch were devoted to the quick overview Prasats Suor Prat in front of the Elephants terrace.
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
And only after lunch we went to see great Angkor Wat.
True, I was expecting it to be a bit bigger, but anyway, it was really impressive.
<o:p> </o:p>
Many tamples of <st1:place w:st="on">Angkor</st1:place> archeological park surrounded by manmade ditches, but in case of Angkor Wat it is hard to believe that it ws really man made.
<o:p>
</o:p>
For the first day guided tour was over. And we returned to the hotel. I took a rest and then decided to go back to take a few pictures after the sunset.
<o:p>
</o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p>
</o:p>
This concludes the first day.
<o:p> </o:p>
Second day started even earlier since, sunrise in Angkor Wat was the part of the program.
It was still dark, but streets of SiemReap were full of tuk-tuks rollers and cars.
<o:p> </o:p>
In the evening some illumination were installed in Angkor for some show, but in the morning before the sunset it was switched off, so lamp in my cell phone appears to be very handy, also our guide had a small pocket lamp as well.
<o:p>
</o:p>
Can’t say that I was lucky with pre sunrise colors but I was not alone.
<o:p>
</o:p>
Before the breakfast we took a short walk around, just to feel morning mystery of the place.
<o:p>
</o:p>
And finally I got nice sunrise colors!
<o:p>
</o:p>
Coffee were so-so, but banana-pancake was nice and we continued our exploration now taking so called external circle.
<o:p> </o:p>
The first <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">temple</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Preah</st1:placename></st1:place> Khan
impressed me even more than Angkor Wat, here some parts looks better preserved
and some completely destroyed by the trees, which makes it even more scenic. I think I like this temple most of all!
<o:p>
</o:p>
Then we visited many temples some were better preserved some less, some had big water pools
and some were looking like simple chapel in the forest, have to admit I can’t
remember all names, perhaps Preah Khan was too impressive for me to….
<o:p> </o:p>
But this temple is well known to avoid it.
<o:p>
</o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Tour ended about four but I decided to stay until the sunset and bit after. So I took more time to explore Angkor Wat. In the entrance I saw local wedding.
Then I went to see the main temple.
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p>
</o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
And finally took a couple of after sunset photos.
End of Part 2
Regards,
Sven
Here is a second part of my story telling about first two days in Siem Reap, Actually I spent most of my time in Angkor
<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CSvenka%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> As I stated in the previous part Temples of Angkor were the main attraction for me. So next three days I spent nearly all my time exploring Angkor Archeological park. Usually I avoid guided tours, simply prefer to explore everything myself. But this time, I had just three days and decided to buy two guided tours. First of all it was not expensive at all, second it was really comfortable, and finally I have to admit that tours there were well organized. Group consisted of three tourists, guide and a driver.
<o:p> </o:p>
First tour started around 7 or 7:30 in the morning, does not matter, I still felt a jetlag. First we acquired passes to <st1:place w:st="on">Angkor</st1:place>, they have different options 1, 2,3 days and a week. I was expecting that we would start the tour in Angkor Wat, but instead of it first stop were made near the Southern Gate of Angkor Thom, where we spent some time walking around and taking pictures.
<o:p>
</o:p>From the gate one can take a ride on elephant to the Bayon temple.
Yes this is tourist attraction with all necessary elements of it, souvenirs, restaurants etc. While temple itself looks quite compact it takes some time to explore it.
<o:p>
</o:p>It is well preserved and attract may tourist and in spite of it sometimes you can find that there is no one near you.
<o:p> </o:p>
Then we continued to the Terrace of the Elephants,
followed by Baphuoun , Phimeanakas
Hard to believe that those are ruins of place...
<o:p></o:p>Remaining time before lunch were devoted to the quick overview Prasats Suor Prat in front of the Elephants terrace.
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
And only after lunch we went to see great Angkor Wat.
True, I was expecting it to be a bit bigger, but anyway, it was really impressive.
<o:p> </o:p>
Many tamples of <st1:place w:st="on">Angkor</st1:place> archeological park surrounded by manmade ditches, but in case of Angkor Wat it is hard to believe that it ws really man made.
<o:p>
</o:p>
For the first day guided tour was over. And we returned to the hotel. I took a rest and then decided to go back to take a few pictures after the sunset.
<o:p>
</o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p>
</o:p>
This concludes the first day.
<o:p> </o:p>
Second day started even earlier since, sunrise in Angkor Wat was the part of the program.
It was still dark, but streets of SiemReap were full of tuk-tuks rollers and cars.
<o:p> </o:p>
In the evening some illumination were installed in Angkor for some show, but in the morning before the sunset it was switched off, so lamp in my cell phone appears to be very handy, also our guide had a small pocket lamp as well.
<o:p>
</o:p>Can’t say that I was lucky with pre sunrise colors but I was not alone
.<o:p>
</o:p>Before the breakfast we took a short walk around, just to feel morning mystery of the place.
<o:p>
</o:p>And finally I got nice sunrise colors!
<o:p>
</o:p>Coffee were so-so, but banana-pancake was nice and we continued our exploration now taking so called external circle.
<o:p> </o:p>
The first <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">temple</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Preah</st1:placename></st1:place> Khan
impressed me even more than Angkor Wat, here some parts looks better preserved
and some completely destroyed by the trees, which makes it even more scenic. I think I like this temple most of all!
<o:p>
</o:p>Then we visited many temples some were better preserved some less, some had big water pools
and some were looking like simple chapel in the forest, have to admit I can’t
remember all names, perhaps Preah Khan was too impressive for me to….
<o:p> </o:p>
But this temple is well known to avoid it.
<o:p>
</o:p><o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Tour ended about four but I decided to stay until the sunset and bit after. So I took more time to explore Angkor Wat. In the entrance I saw local wedding.
Then I went to see the main temple.
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p>
</o:p><o:p></o:p>
And finally took a couple of after sunset photos.
End of Part 2
Regards,
Sven
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