2006 - Beijing to Bangkok overland (Part 11b - Siem Reap)

Day 2 exploring the magnificent Angkor complex.

Friday 8 December 2006 - Saturday 9 December 2006
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Friday 8 December - A day spent recovering in town. Lots of bars, restaurants, hotels and markets.

Saturday 9 December - Seven of us arranged with locals to do another day at some of the other temples. We were at Sra Srang for sunrise (and the obligatory coffee). This is a reservoir with a viewing platform and lots of local kids trying to sell you stuff.

Dawn at Sra Srang.

The sun keeps rising.

And keeps rising.

Tourists at Sra Srang.

Ben trying not to buy stuff at Sra Srang.

Opposite was was Banteay Kdei but we did not stop there for very long. Breakfast was at a small place overlooking Sra Srang.

Banteay Kdei.

Next was Preah Khan, a sizeable temple.

Our tuk-tuk driver.

Detail of Preah Khan.

Preah Khan.

Our next stop was Neak Khan, a small temple in the middle of a lake. It takes about ten minutes to walk around it and that's it.

Neak Pean.

Ta Som was our next stop and is similar to the others.

Ta Som.

To East Mebon and lunch.

Dave all templed out.

East Mebon.

Elephant at East Mebon.

Banteay Srei is about 16 km away and somehow I managed to fall asleep for most of the journey out there. Ben said I was snoring but I do not believe him at all. Snoring? Me? Anyway, this is a beautiful temple with delicate carvings all over it. It is well worth the trip out.

Banteay Srei.

Detail on Banteay Srei.

Banteay Srei.

The moat around Banteay Srei.

I managed to stay awake for the trip back and we got to Pre Rup for sunset. We sat on the top level and watched the sun go down over the forest.

Pre Rup.

View from the top of Pre Rup.

Sunset from Pre Rup.

More sunset.

Sunset from Pre Rup.

Our transport for the day.

Back to the guest house and to conclude our Angkor experience we had dinner at an Irish pub in the centre of Siem Reap.

Another great day. If you go to the outlying temples there are a lot fewer tourists around. They only seem to concentrate at the main temples. The tuk-tuk drivers were great. They will take you wherever you want to go and if I remember correctly, it was $US15 each for the whole day.
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Posted by nzhamsta 12:00 Archived in Cambodia Tagged temples angkor