Climbing up and the view and getting back down!

So I decided to tackle one of these temples. Straight to the top. If you look closely at this picture you can see that I am nearly vertical and my foot hardly fits on the step! So slowly I climbed to the top expecting such large rewards!

Here is me at the bottom looking up!

So, the top. There are wonderful Buddha's throughout the temples. They aren't naturally where they are now. Instead, they are local worship places put together for a local audience. They were still lovely and it was worth the climb.

The view wasn't half bad either.

And now for getting down. Slowly. Slowly. One foot in front of the other!

Carvings (Cambodia)

In case you were thinking I was kidding about the intricacies of the carvings on these temples, I have included a few close ups on these designs for your viewing pleasure.

This is the elephant terrace. Different from the temples that are built high above the grounds, the terraces are low-lying a currently right off the road. Their architecture is just as unique though. The columns on this particular terrace are actually elephant trunks. It was incredibly cool to see!

And finally, the big daddy! Just look at these carvings.

More money shots and a prayer. (Cambodia)

The post card money shot. It seems there are so many of these!! We are back at Angkor Thom, it is the second stop on a tour of the Angkor Wat park.

Only this time we had to get in to the shots. It was like have our own post cards to send around!

I am walking up to a different temple in the Angkor Thom complex. I love how incredibly detailed the temples are. There are so many different levels, carvings and designs to each of the temples.

And finally a prayer. An incense offering to Buddha and bowing three times is said to bring good luck to you. Of course, I had to try and so far -- well, I would certainly we have had good luck!

Angkor Wat and Surrounding Areas

We went wandering around Angkor Wat. The really cool thing about the whole area is that there are hundreds of temples. Of course some are rubble and others are really well preserved, but its nearly almost impossible to walk in any direction with coming across another temple. What's really important about this takes me back to the land mine conversation. Angkor Wat is all forest/jungle. There are paths around the grounds, and its very safe. This is of course because the land mines have been removed. You could see though how easily you could be harmed by the mines. They aren't in remote areas of the country. They are next to the towns and villages, by tourist sites -- everywhere. We felt so incredibly safe roaming around, but I did think about land mines everywhere we went.

Jason is standing in the entrance to a temple just down the path from Angkor Wat. Not on our guide of temples, it was impressive nonetheless.

I am inside this "unknown" temple.

Back at Angkor Wat -- this is an example of the intrinsic carvings. This is a Hindu carving telling the story of the "Churning of the Milk Sea". There are two walls of these carvings on the opposite sides of the temple.

We are ready to head a different part of the national park now, so this is our late in the morning (9:00 am) shot!

This is a new destination. Bayon Temple within Angkor Thom. Next to Angkor Wat is Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom is nearly twice the size of Angkor Wat, only its a series of buildings, terraces and temples, where Angkor Wat is one large structure. Angkor Thom has loads of carvings as well, only many of these are larger and lots more faces carved into the high points of the temples.

Angkor Wat (Take Two)

As the sun was rising higher and higher, I noticed that more and more people were arriving at the temple looking incredibly more well rested than I, so I have made an attempt in these photos to spruce myself up a bit!

I am thinking about my hair, and of course Jason is thinking about the stunning temple and all that happened here for hundreds of years during Angkorian rule.

The carvings on the temple walls, halls, floors and ceilings are amazing. For the most part they are very well preserved. Most likely because Angkor Wat was overgrown with jungle for a couple of hundred years. The carvings are so unique -- representing Hindu and Buddhist religions.

This is a picture from behind the temple. The scaffolding is evidence of the preservation efforts by the governments of many nations.

Angkor Wat (Take One)

The money shot. The one all the post cards are duplicating. And hey, we only had to get up 4:00 am to get it! The sun is up, and we have moved from our sunrise perch to go exploring.

Since it was so early, we are a bit sleepy still. But its okay, so was everyone else!

This is Jason standing with Angkor Wat behind him. The sun is just starting to rise above the temple.

This is what Jason is looking at as I am taking the picture. The entrance to the temple!

We are inside the temple now. There were many rooms, corridors and passageways. We are in an open courtyard near the main entrance.

Before I continue...

It would be remiss of me to discuss all of the wonders of Cambodia without mentioning the very real issue of land mines and land mine victims. It has only been about 10-12 years since the jungle around Angkor Wat was cleared of land mines. There are many victims in Siem Reap, and most are working with charities and other international organizations. If you would like to learn more about these charities or contribute their organisations, here is a link to the Cambodian Land Mine Museum Relief Fund.

http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org/organization.html

Sunrise and a temple. (Cambodia)

Sunrise over Angkor Wat. A chronology.

The following morning. Yes, its 4:30 am. No, I am not a morning person. Yes, the sunrise was amazing. No, I don't need to get up at 4:30 am anymore. I am immensely pleased about that!

Angkor Wat. The money shots are in the sunrise. Everyone knows it, and although I don't think anyone else got up nearly as early as we did, by sunrise, the place was packed. There were many ooooos and ahhhhhs, and well, it was kind a dreamy morning. (Either that or I wasn't fully awake!) I also had the delight in watching a group of women in front of me celebrate one of the friend's birthday. As the sun rose, they popped the cork of a bottle of champagne and now there were oooooos and ahhhhhs, but this time they were filled with laughter and jealousy! Myself included! We were all having a great morning!

Sunset and a Temple (Cambodia)

,Our first night in Cambodia. A very rainy sunset. After purchasing our park tickets, our taxi driver took us to a temple on a hill to watch the sunset. We have been in Southeast Asia long enough now to know that the sky was getting ugly and the evening rain was coming. It stayed away long enough, though, for us to get a beautiful view of Cambodia, Angkor Wat and of course the sunset. It was also an introduction to just how popular the temples are. We have been virtually alone in our travels -- but not here. Everyone is here. And rightly so, its an amazing country.

Obviously, I have not climbed Mount Everest, but from every book I have read, or tv show I have seen, the backlog in getting to the top always comes up. After climbing the temple, I now understand a little of that mentality. The stairs at the temples are so small. You can barely put one foot on the step, and even then it has to be almost perfectly sideways to even begin to fit! (And I have big feet -- which doesn't help!) Add to this -- the stairs are nearly vertical, making hand and foot placement and coordination key. Top it off with some hilariously dressed tourists, both in their fashion sense and their belief that it might just be okay to wear high heel flip flops to the top, and well, you can see the problem!

But in the end, its worth it. Even if there is lots of laughter and eye rolling getting to the top!

The mighty thunderstorm! But isn't the countryside just beautiful?

Angkor Wat. Absolutely why we are here!

Ahhhhhhh Cambodia!

Upon arriving Cambodia, we absolutely no idea what to expect. None at all. Our friends Duncan and Niki really enjoyed Siem Reap (and gave us some good tips), but beyond that we were clueless.

We were pleasantly surprised at the airport -- its nearly brand new, totally efficient and super clean.

And then to our hotel. I was stunned. Not knowing what to expect from our internet booking, we were rewarded with one of the best hotels yet.

We were waiting in the bar before checking in as our room wasn't ready yet.

On to our room. Its very lovely with a gorgeous terrace.

And it is a lovely terrace. The only problem is that the mosquitoes are rampant here and well, no one needs to tempt fate and enjoy a sit outdoors. Or for that matter, putting on all that bug repellent!

The Landmark.

The Landmark. The sister to the Landmark London, is well, the Landmark Bangkok. Of course, we just had to stop by. We went for a drink, and well, the best I can say is, well, um, hmmmm -- maybe there isn't a best I can say. Its in a very touristy part of Bangkok, but where we really hadn't seen the "sexy" side of Bangkok, guests staying at the Landmark (and a number of other lovely hotels in the area) certainly do. But that's not really the point of this. Its an odd place. Unsure of who it wants to be, or who its customers are, it was simply an odd night out. Upon leaving, we just had to laugh at the fact that the strangest place we went was the one place we thought would be the least odd! Ha! In fact, we were so hilariously thrown off our game, I could manage a final parting shot as we ducked in the taxi home!

Thai Cats.

Just because. I happen to like cats.

108 Coins (Bangkok)

At Wat Pho, there were a number of locals paying their respects to Buddha. In a wonderfully elaborate ceremony, they were dropping coins in 108 buckets in honour of Buddha and the auspicious number of 108. I was delighted. The noise in the Temple was so loud, the coins were clanging every time another one was dropped. So Jason bought me a bucket of coins and I joined the queue and set off dropping my coins. I was trying to be exceptionally polite and not make any mistakes in this delightful ritual, when low and behold a small child cut in front of me! She was in the processed of being duly instructed by her mother on how to put the coins in the buckets. Granted they were speaking Thai (and I don't), but my luck had struck, and her mother (unknowingly) became my teacher as well!

The man behind me was well versed in this ritual and therefor had no patience for either myself or the child! But we had a good time anyway!

Wat Pho (Bangkok)

From the guidebook: Wat Pho, the oldest and largest wat in Bangkok, was built in the 16th century during the Ayutthaya period and then almost completely rebuilt in 1785 by King Rama I. It features the largest reclining Buddha and the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand and was the earliest centre for public education.

The feet of the Buddha are inlaid with mother of pearl. Its an awesome sight. I also overheard a guide telling his clients that the building that houses the Buddha is too small for the building. It was a mistake when it was built and accordingly the top of the Buddha's head has to stick out the top of the building.

Looking down the length of Buddha.

The bottoms of his feet!

A close up of the Buddhas on his feet.

Pictures of Jason and I so you can understand just how large this Buddha really is.