siem reap day 2

Title: Siem Reap Episode Two
Starring: Sylviaorange, Lucyriver and Wee
Camera: Lucyriver and Sylviaorange
Director: Lucyriver

Woke up at 0400 to get ready to watch our first sunrise in Siem Reap. Braving ourselves to the cold water (the heater was still sleeping), we really hope that it worth the sacrifice.

Our CAR driver was already waiting the moment we stepped down from the guesthouse. Without hesitation, we got into the car and set off to our destination.

The moment we arrived, sylviaorange voiced out her puzzlement at where we were. The driver told us that it was Angkor Wat. We were supposed to see sunrise in Srah Srang as planned. He told us that we wouldn't be able to see any sunrise there as it would be blocked by the many trees. Although dissatisfied, we got off anyway.

There were tourist police checking passes at the entrance to Angkor Wat. Torchlight was extremely helpful at that moment as it was quite dark. If you don't have one, trail behind someone who has. It was quite a walk to the lake with uneven steps.

People were already crowded and armed with tripods around the pond as we reached there. We found ourselves a spot and started to experimenting with our camera. It was frustrating at first as pictures taken were mostly blurred.

Clouds hung thick in the sky. The sun had long arisen yet we still couldn't see the sun. It was rather a let down.

We were thinking perhaps the condition would be better in Srah Srang. It was definitely not a good morning to start with.

We returned to the guesthouse for breakfast before departing for Kbal Spean which is located 49 km from Siem Reap. It was a long journey and halfway the road was covered in red dusty soil. It was so thick that the moment vehicles like car or lorry passing by, the whole vision is dimmed by the gushing soil.

Kbal Spean is more like a trekking jungle. To reach the river, we trekked 1500 m uphill among the trees. There were signs along the track indicating our level of heights which could serve as motivation (not a long way to go) or de-motivation (still a long way to go).

You can see carvings on the stones in the river, depicting Buddhist images or....

Carvings of lingas (phallic symbol), dedicated to Shiva or...

Just marvelling at the wondrous waterfall.

Charlie's Angel at mission - capturing the sand shadows.

Upon close inspection, the sand is twinkling like diamonds. If only it is as precious as the gems, Cambodia would be rich.

Eateries at the foothill. Kbal Spean is worth visiting and might be interesting if you have a guide with you as sometimes you might not be sure of the path to be taken in the jungle.

We proceeded to Banteay Srey, 37 km from Siem Reap. Srey means woman/women in Khmer. The temple is graced with some delicate carvings.

Walking in from the entrance.

Delicated and detailed carvings on the lintel.



Tiny green survivors among the bricks.

Outside the temple, there were a row of souvenir stalls.

A beautiful 'puppet doll'.

Paintings of mostly sunrise or sunset of the ever famous Angkor Wat.

Our lunch : top left - chicken with black pepper and garlic and morning glory with other veggies. Take note; morning glory is not flower. It is "kangkung'. Perhaps the kangkung flowers look like morning glory, thus the name.

In order to visit Beng Mealea, you need to pay USD5. It is a temple in its most 'virgin' state as she hasn't been touched by intense restoration. She is still in a pile of mess.

Cubes of stones are piling everywhere around the temple. In order to venture around the temple, you need to really climb upon the piling stones and going up and down.

Dried leaves scattering among the roots.

We were just going around on the ground when a 'guide' approached us and leaded us up the track.

It was totally different compared to other temples as we were practically 'walking' on the piling stones the whole visiting. We were clambering and jumping from stone to stone among the narrow passage ways.

Lotus on the door.



Dancing apsara.

The temple has long intertwined itself with the nature.

Lucyriver would really like to see how does the temple look like when it was still standing proudly indestructible in the olden days.


Beng Mealea is also letting in very little light as it is surrounded by dense trees. Hence, you will be feeling like you are exploring and searching for the lost temple.

The pig and the cat, riding on the strong root tree.

Lotus pond at the entrance to Beng Mealea.

A boy posing for Lucyriver, holding his kite high.

Our car, Toyota Camry. We paid USD70 for it. Therefore we wanted to utilize it to the fullest.

After Beng Mealea, we were told by the driver that we were going back to the guesthouse. Wee retorted by saying that it was still very early. And we were supposed to cover Banteay Samre as well. The driver said that Banteay Samre was off the route. Bullshit. He was not following our plan.

We kept quiet the whole journey from then on. He dropped us at some of the temples in Roluos. We walked around just to pass the time as our mood was really completely tainted.


Children asking for donation for school. They greeted us in Mandarin - ni hao and xie xie.


With dampened mood, we went for our dinner, a real early dinner as our driver wanted to go home at 1700. It was definitely spoiling our day, with no sunset at Pre Rup.



After dinner, we paid USD1 to get a tuk tuk back to the guesthouse. Mad, mad.

Sylviaorange replanning our itinerary.

We had missed Srah Srang, Banteay Samre and Pre Rup today. It would be difficult to squeeze it into our next two days. We thought a car would help us to go faster but it turned out the other way.