17 December 2015. Day of Temples

I decided to join the throng for dawn at Angkor Wat. We left just after 5.00 in the pitch dark to join a steady stream of tuk tuks and other traffic on the way to Angkor Wat. Once dropped off, I made my way along the causeway to where most people seemed to be heading - one of the small lakes/large ponds in front of the temple. There was soon the faintest light of dawn in the sky and people were constantly clicking away - a sea of smart phones confronted the temple as it woke up.

I stayed until the sun was clearly up behind the temple. I must confess it was not the most staggering experience but worth doing if only to see the spectator phenomenon. Like many others, I made my way into the temple complex and took advantage of the early light for some photographs.

I also went right round the outer gallery looking at the bas reliefs, reading up on them as I went. Most engaging were the depictions of hell and heaven, with the damned dropping through a trap door for their fate.

On my way around the perimeter I came across some monkeys who were doing their early morning visit and provided a nice diversion.

After Angkor Wat, we carried on up to Angkor Thom, starting with the Bayon that I'd seen yesterday.

Angkor Thom is a large complex, describe in the guide book as one of the largest of all Khmer cities. Besides the Bayon, the visit includes the Bapuon, a vast temple mountain. It has been restored over the years and the guide book shows it in its previous sorry state.

Next was the Phimeneakas with its lakes - this being being within the boundaries of an old royal palace.

I then headed for the Preah Palilay (a Buddhist sanctuary)

and the Tep Pranam (a giant seated Buddha), before finishing off with the Leper King terrace and Elephant terrace in front of the palace.

By now it was about 11.30 and the heat was beginning to build. Our next stop was Ta Keo. This is a giant temple mountain with three distinct towers. I decided to forego the climb, having been satisfied with my climb of the Phimeneakas. I'm glad I did, as the going up seemed a lot easier that the getting back down. I observed one poor girl who seemed paralyzed by the endeavour and slithered down one step at a time on her bottom.

Next was Thommanon and the adjoining Chao Say Tevoda. The former is described by the guidebook as 'minor but elegant'.

After lunch, Ta Prohm was the first port of call. This extraordinary wreck is large but dilapidated with enormous trees enmeshed in the buildings. An extraordinary sight and impossible to understand how the buildings have largely stood up to these enormous forest trees piggy-backing on them.