Sunday, February 24. Very warm, 32 C, but no too much humidity it seems.
Well, we were up drinking coffee at 3:45 AM this morning getting ready for the adventure to be at Angkor Wat for the sunrise. Part of 'The Total Experience"
We hopped on the buses around 5:00 and were at the 'Site' in about five minutes, but the Temple Pass Check and a few other starts and stops took some more time.
We then disembarked and all 28 of us on that bus started the 1000 yard trek in total darkness to who knows where. I thought to myself' 'We are being led by a Khmer guide in the darkness to???' just for a moment because some terrible things took place in this country during the Khmer Rouge period in the1970's.
I found it amazing that we all arrived safely at some spot after not being able to see anything except in the beam of a small flashlight that two people shared.
I think the highlight of the Trek in was the sloped ramps, up and down, on a floating bridge that the Japanese erected across the moat in front of Angkor Wat as the original stone bridge undergoes very long and very expensive repairs.
We were advised to stop in what I thought was the middle of a clearing but as my eyes adjusted to the slowly-breaking dawn I realised there was small lake there with hundreds of tourists seated on the ground facing a forest.
As visibility improved more I saw that it was not a forest but the Temple Angkor Wat itself. The early arrivals were there to get the mirrored-reflection photograph of the temple in the lake. Of course!
Eventually after considerable time for good conversation with our fellow travellers, about every subject except Angkor Watt, the orange sphere, the sun, started to rise from the real forest beside the temple. In a matter of minutes it was done, over and full daylight! We then started the actual tour around and in the temple.
This temple was built in 1100 and is in far better shape than the ruins we saw yesterday, built centuries earlier.
The cause of the Angkor empire's demise in the early 15th century long remained a mystery. But researchers have now shown that intense monsoon rains that followed a prolonged drought in the region caused widespread damage to the city's infrastructure, leading to its collapse. It remained hidden and forgotten about until 'discovered' by the French I believe and restoration started in the early 1900's.
It will never be finished, in my opinion, there is just not enough money in the world available for this type of project.
We ascended, via a set of wooden stairs at an angle of 70 degrees, a route to the uppermost level of the Temple and did a panoramic walk around the whole thing.
I was proud of some of our group who did the round trip even though it was beyond their comfortable ability, but their determination won out and they did it.
The cause of the Angkor empire's demise in the early 15th century long remained a mystery. But researchers have now shown that intense monsoon rains that followed a prolonged drought in the region caused widespread damage to the city's infrastructure, leading to its collapse
.
Around 8:15 AM we started to walk the same 1000 yards in daylight that we had walked a few hours before, back to the buses, and there were hundreds of buses.
During this time hundreds, if not thousands, of Chinese tourists arrived for a more sensible hour tour of the Temple. The rising Chinese Middle Class, now has the money to travel and they are changing the face of tourism around the world, literally.
We were back at the hotel shortly after nine, washed up a bit and headed for a very, very, welcome and hearty breakfast! We certainly got our exercise and steps in today, again!
Pre-dawn picture of the Temple, you can see why I mistook it for a
forest in the dark
Four of our group having a pleasant chat as dawn broke. I took this picture in complete darkness, hence the fuzzy picture. You get the sense of adventure that some of us older folks have from this photo. No complaints, 'go with the flow' Canadians left from Victoria, Brits Right, from Yorkshire.
Waiting for the sun, for light, it was already muggy! Fellette on the left.
Not Stonehenge, but Angkor Wat at sunrise.
Just a cool shot across the lake,
The sun rises!
Fellette and a fellow traveller whose husband was lost somewhere in the crowd taking pictures.
A set of steps, restored, leading to a platform. That restoration was done with US money I believe, likely costing millions. Admirable I suppose, but there are better causes...
Up we go into a jungle of rooms, side rooms and stairs.
One little wall, with thousands of carvings in the stone, some restored, some not.
A Buddhist Shrine in there, with an Alms Box.
The original stairs were of course, stone, at 70 degrees! No handrail!
A balloon ride is available, $20.00 six minutes.
Barely visible within slot.
Four delightful beauties.
Typical tower.
Our Motley Crew of 28. Fellette and I front right.
This is a floating bridge about 400 yards long that was an absolute riot to walk over in complete darkness. It did bounce and wobble considerably. Japanese money.
The very refreshing sight in the men's washroom at the hotel. These are neatly folded hand wipe towels with a flower to add a Touch of Class!
A young waiter brewed a pot of Ginger Tea for Fellette as we were seated at a table for two tonight when Fellette mentioned that she had a cold. Thoughtful.
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Fellette and I spent the rest of day lounging and relaxing at the hotel. Fellette's cold is progressing not too bad, but she is more comfortable here, than touring in town.
What a Wonderful Day We Had Today!!!
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I just have to add this as we start our journey tomorrow down the Mekong river that runs over 2700 miles from Tibet in the north down to the South China Sea below Vietnam.
We have had Vietnamese guides and tour leader for several days now. When we landed in Siem Reap, Cambodia, a couple of days a go I thought I detected a different feel to the place. Our Ama Waterways Tour Leader, a Vietnamese, is with us all the way, from start to finish, every day. He is a wonderful and personable smart man
The 'Local Guides' were Vietnamese in Vietnam and are Cambodian in Cambodia. The Vietnamese Tour leader is on our bus, [there are three main buses].
I have been catching up on historical and current affairs regarding Vietnam-Cambodian relationships. It is far from good. Strained would be a modest term.
These two nations have been fighting and killing each other forever. I will not go into details, but I find it interesting that business and commerce seems to be able to forget about past issues and provide us tourists with 'A Most Wonderful and Magical Vacation', in spite of that historical and inbred hostility and mistrust between them.
Nobody has mentioned a word of this and I have not brought it up in conversations. [My wife says that I thinks too much, I wonder...]
