We were cruising along the highway in the hot hot sun.....when we hit something. Wholly smoke! No idea what it was but now we are going at snails pace. With any luck we will make it to Siem Reap by nightfall.
After having a quick stop to change the tire, which has a huge gash in it we are back to full speed.
We drive no more than 5 minutes down the road and we stop for 30 minutes - lunch break.
Within 15 minutes of starting again I start to smell petrol, not at all pleasant. 30 minutes later someone at the back of the bus complains and we stop yet again. The bus is leaking something, and it's awful!
40 minutes later we are off, the bus assistant (no idea what else to call him) is covered in petrol or oil. His washing person won't be pleased. 94kms to go, fingers crossed we get there without any further stops. At least the a/c is working.
We finally arrive in Siem Reap 7 hours after leaving PP, a very very long trip!
Arriving at the hotel we are greeted with a lovely oasis in this very busy city.
After chilling out for a bit we head into the centre for some dinner. There is a street called Pub Street (I kid you not) which is packed with places and people. So many options - so little time to try them all.
I was feeling pretty tired from the bus ride today and yesterday so headed back to the hotel for sleep. A long day but boy it's good to be here.
Wednesday morning I had a small sleep in before starting at the Temples.
We hired a tuk tuk driver through the hotel and set off at 8.30am.
First thing we come to is the South Gate - wow! I do know that I'll be using that word alot today. Of course we aren't the only ones who are here admiring it, and I know the number of people will increase tenfold as we get around the sites.
I sort of expected our driver to offer us some insight into what to see and when but alas no - a shame as I've heard stories from people raving about their driver.
First stop was the South Gate of Angkor Thom. The gate is 20m high, in front of the gate stands giant statues of 54 gods (on the left) and 54 demons (on the right). The statues here have all been restored.
The next 4-5 temples we visit I was so overwhelmed I focused on the sites -- Angkor Thom - Bayon / Baphuon / Phimeanakas / Terrace of Leper King. WOW WOW WOW.
After a quick bathroom stop, which we had to force our driver for we headed back to the Temples.
Ta Keo is our next port of call. This temple is undecorated but looking around and reading the information it would have been an amazing site if it was ever finished.
There are SUPER steep stairs, which were made for people with tiny feet (actually children’s feet), taking you to the top. Going up wasn't easy and I know coming down will be harder. The views from the top were well worth it though, and given the stairs there was only a handful of people here which was even better.
Money (our tuk tuk driver) took us to a place for lunch, I stupidly through it would be a small place with not that many people but alas no - a restaurant for tourists. The food was tasty though.
Ta Prohm seems to be another very busy temple. Everywhere I look I see trees growing out of the ruins, something that is not found at any of the other temples. For those of you who have seen Tomb Raider, you will have been fortunate enough to see Ta Prohm temple.
It was now time to head back to the hotel - 7 hours of being in the hot hot sun was taking it's toll. We chilled out for a bit then Tony and I went with our tuk tuk driver to the supermarket to get a few supplies. Straight back and into the swimming pool to cool off and clean me feet and legs - super dirty after being in the Siem Reap dirt all day.
Was great to have a couple of hours relaxing as tomorrow it's going to be another big day - starting before the sun. The things you do to see sunrise at Angkor Wat.
Thursday (6 January) I was up well before my alarm went off, so much for sleeping! Our tuk tuk driver was waiting for us at 5.15am - nice and early. We are heading to Angkor Wat to see the sunrise. The 6km ride out there went quickly with so many other tuk tuk's and cars on the road there was always something to look at.
We arrived just after 5.30am and I knew we had around one hour before the sun was to make its appearance. Walking along with everyone else was entertaining, only peoples torches as light. Unfortunately for me my torch decided to give up the ghost. We found a seat and sat waiting for the sky to change from night into day. There is something very mysterious about sitting here; knowing we are at one of the most famous sites in the world yet can't see a thing.
Once the sky started to get light we started to explore. Unfortunately the actual sunrise wasn't anything to write home about, just the clouds changing from dark to light. It was still an amazing experience to be here to experience night turning into day.
A huge number of people made for the exit, perfect to us! What a massive impressive site this is - I know my photos won't do it the justice it deserves.
We had finished the second level and was about to head back down to level one to keep exploring when I saw the stairs open to enter the third level. Talk about perfect timing. I was told I couldn't enter as my shoulders weren't covered (I'm wearing a sleeveless t-shirt) however Tony came to my rescue. I used his towel to cover and was allowed to enter – thank goodness for that! The stairs were super steep, although unlike Ta Keo these were recently added stairs for the tourists, so it was slow going but well worth it when we got there.
We headed back to the hotel at 9.15am, as we were leaving the family that had been sitting next to us for the sunrise was just arriving along with busloads of people. I'm so glad we stayed around and explored when there weren’t that many people around.
After a 3 hour break Laurelle and I headed to Pub Street for some lunch. Brought our boat ticket for Saturday (we are off to Battambang) and was told it would be 4 hours - yeah right only time will tell. We have heard stories of it taking anywhere between 4 and 11 hours.
We gave Money (tuk tuk driver) our left over lunch, although I did think the two boys walking with us were going to steal it. They were far from pleased we didn't buy anything from them then demanded we give them the food - a few nasty words was said to us but hey ho.
We had a long drive out to the Temples but that suited me fine, was nice to kick back and take in everything around us.
First stop was Banteay Kdei, from getting out of the tuk tuk to when we left we were constantly saying no to the children and adult sellers - not nice when it's so constant.
There weren't that many people around which made exploring fun. Also means we got photos without other people in them, a lovely plus.
Banteay Kdei is a huge Buddhist monastery from the 12th Century. There are many locals around selling their goods, however hardly any tourists. This has its positives and negatives, positives we can wonder around the temple and feel like we are the only ones there. The negative is that we are constantly being “attacked” by the locals trying to sell us their goods.
We crossed the road to visit Srah Srang, where more sellers were waiting. One girl asked me where I was from and when I said NZ replied with Wellington is your capital and John Key is your Prime Minister - wholly smoke she is definitely onto it! And I know she knows a lot more about my country than millions of people.
The Srah Srang temple is set on the edge of a lake, very beautiful and very soothingly. There were a few children playing who ran up to us to take their photo then see themselves on the screen - so cute.
Prasat Kravan was built for Hindu worship in AD 921. There are 5 brick towers, with images of Vishnu carved into the wall of the middle tower. This is the least impressive temple that I’ve seen.
We ended our time at the famous temples outside Angkor Wat - I decided we needed to end on a high note as the last two we saw weren't that impressive. Was lovely standing there taking it all in again and seeing at least 10 monks walk towards the entrance.
Time to return to the hotel - a cool beer is needed and to put my feet in the swimming pool. To say they are dirty is an understatement - I have half of the Angkor dirt on them.
Laurelle and I head out for drinks and dinner, we decided on a Mexican restaurant which had been recommended to me from Claire and Jess (thanks!). Yummy margaritas and Mexican food washed down with a game or two of cards - lovely end to an awesome day!
Friday I have a well-deserved sleep in before retiring to the pool with a book for the day. Wonderful way to spend a day :)
Early evening we head into Bar Street for a delicious Cambodian dinner. On the way home we notice a big food market, a shame we are leaving tomorrow morning so can't experience this one night.
Saturday morning (8 January) I'm woken at 5.15am with a wake-up call that I didn't order - thank goodness my alarm is going off in 5 minutes. Reception was constantly getting my room confused with Tony's and Laurelle's room.
We are heading to Battambang today on the 7am boat, which can take anywhere from 4 hours to 11 hours. Let's hope the lesser time wins!
After being collected late we set to and started to pick-up more people. In the end there were 12 of us in a van, doesn't sound like many but when one of the bench seats was taken up with all the bags it's a lot. If we were Cambodian I know we could have fitted in a lot more people.
Finally arrived at the boat, albeit late. Thankfully it was still there.
Goodbye Siem Reap.
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