Saturday, August 20, 2011

Angkor Wat

We came, we saw, we took photos... And so did thousands of other people..!
It was somewhat crowded at the temples to say the least, and since I was there 4 years ago, unfortunately, the increase in tourists is showing in the wear and tear on the amazing structures.

Even with roped areas cordoning off parts of the temples, and new boardwalks and photo-platforms, the hoards of Korean and Chinese tourists that swarm through, en masse out of coach after coach, still clamber and climb all over the walls, trees and buildings. Ta Prohm, the wonderfully overgrown, untouched temple was particularly bad, looking significantly more damaged because of people than on my previous visit.

Their rude, pushing, shoving, me-me-me attitudes wore thin fast... After being barged by one same guy for the third time I had had enough, and as he tried to push past me again, (he'd got past me each time, but id wander ahead... But he kept overtaking as he rushed to be ahead again) he got a well-placed elbow in the solar plexus, which finally gave him the message...

But for the most part, we just bade our time, waiting until a moment of peace, and took our photos and enjoyed the momentary serenity.





Tom, waiting for his moment...

Our break in Siem Reap was good though, giving me a chance to rest my bastard sore sciatic right hip, and to replace both my wheels.

I'll tell more about that shortly, but for now, here's a few more images from the temples;





"Postcard, postcard? One dorra, one dorra!"... One of the many children that want to sell us things... I didn't need ir want any postcards, bracelets, books or mouth-twanging "musical" instruments... But I did buy pineapple a few times... Partly because I wanted to give them some business, and partly just
'cos I like pineapple!


























So now we are about 40 km's away from Poipet, and the border crossing to Thailand.
We are about to have dinner, so mill sign off, but I PROMISE, I'll update more about the events that got us into Siem Reap a bit faster than anticipated, and the fun time we had there, meeting and making new friends...

Cheers!

RWK.
OUT.


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