Angkor Wat Part 2

Day two we did not get a guide but we printed notes and had a great driver.  We visited some of the further temples around the outsides of the "park" some of the temples being up to 20 minutes in our tuk-tuk a part and into the jungle. Although the temples were significantly busier this day, it did not affect our visit negatively. There is so much to see and so many paths to take, it is not like visiting Notre Dame or a cathedral as there are no line ups to a main entrance and you are fairly free to explore as you choose.

5 girls in one Tuk Tuk

 

 The road into the other section of temples (not Angkor Wat or Angkor Thor) depicts evil one side with demon gods and the good gods on the other side. It is not tug of war but a serpent in their hands.

This is a bathing site temple where pilgrim would have come to pray and splash themselves with holy water.

Note: today we were much too hot and decided to dress a little more  weather appropriate or culturally inappropriately. We did bring sarongs and scarfs however, for the certain temples that require women to cover their shoulders and knees.

I was blessed by a nun in and given a red rope bracelet. This temple used to function as a Buddhist university or school. There was even a section that had once been the library. It was really sad however that a lot of the Buddha's heads had been stolen although I really love how the trees have grown in and around the stone, confusing mother nature's beauty with man-made architectural beauty.

Headless Buddhas

Not to worry though, my little peanut head easily replaced Buddha's.

These temples almost looked like the pyramids. It was a good 15 minute drive away from the temples we had seen earlier that day but we were so exhausted from climbing the day before that we did not climb all the way to the top.

 

Some of the typical steep stairs you have to brave if you wish to see the highest point's view. Usually the king, or religious figure would have a less steep set of stairs for only his use we learnt as we felt like we would have died without the hand-rail if we had been ancient Cambodians.

We then went to the other most famous section of temples- Ta Prohm. This temple has not been fully restored like some of the others and natures reclaiming of earth is really evident. Trees grow all over and around the structure. This big beautiful roots were incredible.

Some info on Ta Prohm:
The temple's stele records that the site was home to more than 12,500 people (including 18 high priests and 615 dancers), with an additional 80,000 souls in the surrounding villages working to provide services and supplies. The stele also notes that the temple amassed considerable riches, including gold, pearls and silks.Expansions and additions to Ta Prohm continued as late as the rule of Srindravarman at the end of the 13th century.

 Trying to remember why else this looks familar...well it is also where Angelina Jolie filmed Tomb Raider. 

That night, we all got $ 5 massages and relaxed eating and drinking on Pub street. Yet again worn out by a day of walking in the heat. I also decided to "woman-up" and try a foot spa.

 As you can see "foot or fish spa" is when small fish eat all the dead skin on your feet. It is a really popular thing in Asia and I never had the guts to do it. (It was also the cheapest in Cambodia). I have to say it was the weirdest feeling I have ever experienced in my life -ticklish, uncomfortable, itchy, relaxing...

I think my face says it all.

 I rewarded myself with a delicious pancake/crepe with condensed milk, chocolate sauce and bananas.

I also went to the night market and bought a few things.

At the market, I found a movie theatre that was playing a documentary on the Genocide, as the next day we were taking the 6hour bus to Phenom Penh we decided to splurge and pay $1 to see it. It was the weirdest movie theatre I have ever seen and the subtitles were delayed, although we did become more educated on the history of Pol Pot and the Khmer people.

The third morning we woke up at 5:30 am to watch the sunrise. We had heard great things from other traveler so we dragged our sore feet out of bed and to the temples. The sky was black when we arrived but it did not take long for the sky to brighten up. Unfortunately it was cloudy in a way that did make it quite as spectacular as we had hoped. Regardless we took lots of photos.

 

Then we were off to the capital via at $9 bus ride that was the worst, dirtiest "coach" bus I have ever been on. We almost didnt get seats and I would have cried if i had to sit on the floor for 6 hours (may have also got carsick). 

 

Just so you get the idea of how lovely our bus was, the bathroom included no light and a whole to the road below...