Srah Srang - Cambodia

  

Srah Srang (also known as The Royal Bath) and was a beautiful place to visit when 

we visited Cambodia.
   

It is a reservoir from around the 12th Century 

and is a place to stop 

     
- opposite here are more temples to visit - 

which were quite busy.
     

Well worth stopping.

Cambodia - Day One.

Cambodia - Day Two.

Banteay Kdei - Cambodia

         

Banteay Kdei was a wonderful place to visit 

- you do need to have a Temple Pass please remember. Wikipedia and SiemReap has a wonderful amount of information about visiting here.

There was a degree of renovation here and I do not know what it is currently like - but get a driver and circle the temples - here's our visit

 (day one / day two).

    
So many places to stop and pay respect.

   
Remember to walk around the outside.

  

Angkor Wat - Cambodia

One place we were eager to visit was Angkor Wat when we visited Cambodia.

An early start and we saw that it was also somewhere popular or other people to visit. 

Wow - it was vey busy here and the sun rises at different places which are dependent on the month of the year.

It is certainly somewhere to visit if you are in Cambodia.

Then there are other temples which you can enter.

A lovely place to visit. 

Say hello to the monkeys.

 Click here for - Day one in Cambodia.
 Click here for - Day two in Cambodia.

A trip to Cambodia - Day Two

It was an early start for us today - we needed to visit Angkor Wat (one of the Seven Wonders of the World) for the sunrise - so it was a very early start.




AND it was a little chaotic in the morning - there were a lot of people. 

Then the sun-rising was not directly over Angkor Wat but on the left hand side. Remembering my Geography lessons from school it is quite clear that the sun does not always rise in the same position, I should look for an App to tell me that and if we went again we would check where it would be. It was still lovely but to visit.

After that we needed breakfast - we found croissants and coffee somewhere.

Then it was time to visit Baksei Chamkrong.  Baksei Chamkrong is a small Hindu temple at in front of the South Gate to Angkor Wat - and it was blissfully deserted - after a couple had come down from climbing to the top and struggled to get down. Some similarities with another property in Guatemala.

Then we crossed the South Gate Bridge - 

there was also wonderful bridge across the river leading to the gate- with stone heads on either side - really beautiful.

Then on returning there was a wedding couple in the water having their photographs taken - lovely.

Then it was back onto the Motodop.

Then it was the main part of Angokr Thom, somewhere known for all of the heads in the stone work - fascinating. And a lot more photographs.

Patience was needed here because there were a lot of people and a lot of building work happening today!



Then it was time to move to Phimeanakas - a pyramid construction. 

Another special place.

With stunning buildings.

Then adjacent to this is the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King - fabulous.

Over the road from this were the Suor Prat Towers - fantastic - a set of 12 towers around on the East - but I could find nothing regarding their purpose. 

I do need to read this book 'Ancient Angkor' that I purchased for $5 from a local.

Then it was time for a swim at West Mebon Dam - this is where we met a local fisherman with his net and family. Unfortunately I now read that there is somewhere in the middle of the lake there is a construction.

Then it was time for some sushi - at the Safari Sushi Bar - very nice. We would visit Cambodia again.

A trip to Cambodia - Day One

The airport in Cambodia was small from what I had previously been used to - a lovely change. 

We left from the airplane directly onto the runway and it was a short walk to the terminal area.

Then onto one of the popular Motodop (a motorbike taxi) - remembering to get a Sim Card at the airport if that is what you want - there were less WiFi spots than I had been used to in Bangkok.

Our first classic car drove past us as we left the airport - think that it was a Chrysler....

The trip was wonderful - the breeze was consistent and a wonderful change from the intense heat of Thailand. The Viroth Hotel was where we were going to stay - does very well on TripAdvisor - the Number One Hotel in the World.

There was a collection of nice old cars outside the property. We arrived early so the staff took care of us extremely well and we were looked after by the staff with cappuccino and hot chocolate.

The room was swiftly ready and we were taken to it - a very nice hotel.

Then it was time for some places to visit - our first stop was Srah Srang.

Lovely place - and peaceful with it, it is the West Gate of Angkor Wat.

Then we turned around and we were faced with the Banteay Kdei Temple - an impressive entrance into Angkor Wat.

Looking at the maps that I can find on the Internet you find that there is a very long stretch of ruin - a wonderful.

I will need to write about Banteay Kdei temple on another post. 

Then onto another temple - but this was not peaceful at all - not the same feeling here.

So it was time for lunch - the Temple Cafe - a nice spot.

After a swim at the Viroth Hotel it was time to visit the Night Market. Almost felt as if we were back in Thailand and a night market there. Strangely I found the people trying to sell me stuff were more polite to a no thank you and they did not try to be your friend - like they do to me in Phuket / Patong. I can't remember where we ate that night but it was very nice and not expensive. 

We did not have a scorpion (or snake) though.

However we did have the fried Ice Cream.