AlexBlog

Angkor Wat and around

Category : Vietnam

Our new moto driver arranges to take us everywhere over the next 3 days. I think we were over-charged a bit but he was really nice and has taken us everywhere. The first day we went and got our $40 entry pass to the temples and went to angkor what where we walked up steep steps to the towers, got nearly scented to death by incense, and then watched the sunset of angor wat. Wasn't much of a sunset it was just the sun and it's glow making wonderful shapes behind the clouds with the temples in the background.

On the way back the kids I had met that were trying to sell me stuff before we went in the temple were rude and aggressive because I wouldn't buy anything. I felt awful, so gavin said the glowing pens he brought for the children would be given out tomorrow so they wouldn't hastle.

We had a great meal in a place called the soup dragon. It sold all sorts of south east asian dishes. I had a cambodian chicken curry served in a coconut which was fabulous and gavin had a form of barbequed beef which was all good. Plus I have got him into the beer drinking which he has now become better than me at.

The next day our moto driver picks us up at 9 to do the temples, we do the monkey one (it actually has monkey climbing all over it, but not that day), next various other temples we stop for lunch, then do the jungle temple. This is not the most famous one in cambodia, but it is in the west because of the tomb raider film, and I have to admit it really does deserve the title. A greenish tinged building a bit how you would imagine the emerald city in the wizard of oz (well my version anyhow). It has great delicate structures all with a green moss growing over it then giant trees over hang (like the creature that comes out the egg in the film aliens), the roots a pale yellow colour holding it together.

It was wonderful we went everywhere but by the end of day one we were feelign no more temples they had all started to look the same.

We got back early had a sleep and shower, then went out for an evenings cambodian dancing and buffet. We should have know better, the buffet was the worst ever and we are both suffering today from it. Mind you, it got to the fruit course and we just went for it... the nicest bit but the dancing was excellent really enjoyed seeing that bit of culture... even if the only way to see it is a naff meal shared with bus loads of OAP tourists and paying an arm and a leg for it... well worth it.

We then had a beer in the red piano and walked back along the river to the hotel. I love cambodia the food (local) is great, you can spend a fortune but parts are really strange like a south east asian version of the french riviera with fairy lights on all the trees etc.

Today our moto driver took us all the way out to Banteay Srei (10km) out. The tuk tuk journey was great even though his tuk tuk wasn't working properly, as he put 2 stroke not 4 stroke in so it was a slow journey, but we got to look at the locals and scenery.

Anyhow, we got to the temple which was like a miniture angor wat with loads of minute details which was wonderful to see and an elephant on every corner.

The driver than took us to several other temples all of which were wonderful but we were now tired and suffereing from yesterdays lunch meal if you know what I mean so we were glad that after lunch the tour finnished.

And what a way to finnish we went to a bar in Siem Reap again, the piano, and ordered a tombraider cocktail each, which was delicious. It's green tastes like bitter lemon, but much more alcoholic.

Now I sit here in the internet cafe while I listen to gavin on his mobile try to book our trip to kao tao for the day after tomorrow and listen to him explain everything in pidgeon english its the funniest thing ever. We go to bangkok tomorrow. Wish us luck as travelling in their new year, which is a bit busy, to say the least, yet alone, whatever gavin is saying on the phone we could end up in china.

Posted by alexd at April 9, 2004 12:14 PM