The second blog today, written after three hours in 32 C heat and humidity of about 85%.
Of course we knew it would be warm and of course we knew there would be temples and of course we knew there would be lots of people. But knowing it and experiencing it all are two different matters.
We were bussed to a Ticket Centre where we were photographed and acquired a Temple Pass that cost U$62.00 for two days. [Paid for by Ama.] Your pass is required at every temple you visit.
The first one was Bayon Temple, where the 'Temple of Doom' was filmed and the second, a few kilometres away was Ta Prohm Temple. Between the two visits we visited the Elephant Terrace.
The temples around Cambodia were built between the first century AD and the 9th century [?]. Built by captured slaves from surrounding areas as what is now Cambodia was the strongman of the region, very, very powerful and somewhat nasty methinks.
Some invaders from a surrounding area brought the Khmher Empire to a halt in 1431 and the surrounding homes were sacked and burned, except the stone temples, maybe only defaced, but burning and killing is much easier than dismantling 300,000,000 tons of stones that had been placed during the previous centuries. They were abandoned and lost until rediscovered around 1863. Restoration began in 1908 and is still going on.
Numerous wars and occupations have devastated the country for most of the last 100 years. The Khmer Rouge period in 1975 was when Pol Pot, the Marxist despot leader killed 2,000,000 people. Doctors, teachers even anybody wearing glasses was killed. They basically slaughtered the intellect population and the country is still feeling the results to this day. It is only now recovering. Doesn't history keep repeating itself!!!
The above is likely not exactly what happened, but it is the best I can do from taking notes from our guide on the bus this morning and a little help from Google on this free Smoking Hot Internet...
The crowds were overwhelming, this morning, the footing and stairs were very challenging, dare I say unsafe, and the heat/humidity was something we have never experienced. Near the end of the tour I had drunk over three bottles of water yet my urine looked like Lemon Jello in colour. So, in the interest of health, seriously, we opted out of the afternoon tour to see another temple. I was Gung Ho until that time but when I became a bit wobbly, we both made the same decision to chill out in the afternoon.
We had a very pleasant afternoon on the ground floor patio, listening to the birds that sound the same as Maui, there was a touch of a breeze that made it more pleasant out there. We had a dip in the tepid water and regained our equilibrium and prepared for another day.
Tomorrow, Angkor Wat Temple with a 4:15 AM rise to see the temple at sunrise. I suppose it is one of those things that you are supposed to do the 'Get the most out of the experience." I think I see a morning nap on the horizon tomorrow after that, around 10:30 AM.
We had a very pleasant afternoon on the ground floor patio, listening to the birds that sound the same as Maui, there was a touch of a breeze that made it more pleasant out there. We had a dip in the tepid water and regained our equilibrium and prepared for another day.
Tomorrow, Angkor Wat Temple with a 4:15 AM rise to see the temple at sunrise. I suppose it is one of those things that you are supposed to do the 'Get the most out of the experience." I think I see a morning nap on the horizon tomorrow after that, around 10:30 AM.
Great experience today, no doubt about that.
In line for a Temple Pass.
Bayon Temple entrance.
Inside is a Maze of rooms, walls, steps and courtyards.
Unbelievably, some of the original carvings are still legible, and also unbelievably, some countries, like Japan, India and now China are paying to have them refurbished. This one had a recent fix-up. Two sides of humanity, one defaces it, then another era decides to restore it!
Our guide, so proud of each stone and carving.
Some people opt for an elephant ride, no time in our group.
I deliberately did not publish pictures with the teeming crowds. This shot took some doing.
Our guide was an absolute expert with his ability to take pictures with any and all cameras and phones!
The place abounds with stacks and stacks of fallen or knocked down walls.
Some, with carvings carved centuries ago, some refurbished, some not.
My one 'monkey picture', almost like India. The temples are a mix of Hindu and Buddhist.
'Temple of Doom' territory. That tree may only be 130 years old.
We wish the crowds were that light!
The stairs and lack of handrails were a challenge to most. The footings required extreme caution everywhere for all.
Reading on the deck to recoup from the morning temple trip.
The pool beckons.
Refreshed after doing some laps.
The laundry came back and my shirts look brand new.
The rest of the goods were as well pristine. In less than six hours!
No comments:
Post a Comment