Angkor Wat, Part 4/4 Siem Reap, Cambodia

Apart from the Angkor Wat (Angkor Temple) complex, there are others like the Bayon Temple complex seen here.

Look closely and you can see the faces of the god-kings.

Here is one of them.

The god-kings' presence is everywhere.

Buy some souvenirs and help a Cambodian family.

Angkor Wat Part 3, Siem Reap, Cambodia

More highlights from Angkor Wat:

Dancing ladies in their outlandish headgear.

When faced with a climbing opportunity, people never fail to respond. But climb at your own risk. Ask whether your athritic joints can take the journey down.

Others are more prudent to remain earth-bound.

Intricate patterns awaiting your admiration.

Wandering around, every corner of the vast temple complex had something interesting for me to enjoy.

Angkor Wat Part 2, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Here are some of the friezes and bas-relief in Angkor Wat. If they whet your appetite, there is no shortage of reference materials you can dip into.

 

Angkor Wat temples are scattered over a vast area. It reminds me of  Bagan in Burma where I saw thousands of pagodas.

A 1-day, 3-day, 1-week pass costs US$20, 40 and 60 respectively.

I bought the 1-day pass. For me it was enough. With my bicycle my range was extended but to cover the whole area would have taken me days.

(BTW, have you booked your ticket to Siem Reap? Seems air tickets from Singapore at least are selling out very fast.)

Angkor Wat Part 1/3, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Locals making their way to the temple complex.

The causeway to the temple complex.

One of the many balustrades lining the causeway.

The most famous image in Cambodia.

The courtyard in the temple.

I'm no expert in Angkorian history. The basic facts are that Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century, and gradually expanded with each successive king.

Angkor Wat  is only one of the several temple complexes in the area which is really huge. A bicycle or motorbike is the ideal way to move around.

For the casual observer one day is enough.

Cycling to Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cycling to Angkor Wat gave me the rare opportunity of observing the Cambodian way of life. I was quite nervous about taking this shot of these two Cambodian cops, fearing I might be sent to the killing fields. Here they were simply gazing at the river and gossiping.

Cambodian kids tried to sell bananas to passers-by on the road to Angkor Wat. No, not for you but for...

your long-lost cousins. At the sight of monkeys people always get excited. Perhaps, this has something to do with the fact that monkeys remind them of their ancestral roots. To demonstrate my empathy with them, the monkeys I mean, I bought a bunch of bananas. NO, not to feed them but to feed myself since after all that cycling I needed the carbo!

Road to Angkor Part 2,Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cycling to Angkor Wat gave me the wonderful opportunity of observing the Cambodian way of life, Here are some snapshots. I'd stop riding the moment I spotted anything interesting.

A no-frills barber shop.I almost wanted to have the experience.

A "shopping mall" by the dirt road. Dust is part and parcel of the shopping experience so don't fret.

A Siem Reap High School.

A busy Cambodian village outside town. Small businesses have mushroomed along the roadsides. A slice of Cambodian life not seen by those on packaged tours. No problem for me to pretend I was a Cambodian as I looked just as scruffy.

Road to Angkor Part 1, Siem Reap, Cambodia

I cycled on this lonely road to Angkor Wat, 5.5 km from town.

There are three ways to get to Angkor Wat  5.5 km from town.

Tuk-tuks in town

The most popular way is by tuk-tuk. I was the only crazy foreigner cycling to Angkor Wat. Westerners in tuk-tuks gave me pitiful looks as they roared past me, leaving me behind in a cloud of dust and exhaust fumes.#*!@

Barely 12 years old, and already a seasoned rider.

Or rent a motor-bike.

Hey, that's not me!

The best way in my view is to rent a bicycle for about US$3 a day. It was slow but it gave me the opportunity to observe the places and the Cambodians at close quarters. Besides, it was excellent exercise for me. Pay less, see more!

A funeral procession in Siem Reap

Cycling around the town of Siem Reap (US$3 for whole day's hire of bike) I saw this huge funeral procession. Apparently, a revered monk had passed away. In the procession were monks, soldiers, police officers, students and other mourners. A large gong was carried, and every now and then its booming sound could be heard across the town. BTW, Siem Reap is easily explored on foot but a bicycle enables you to cover a lot of ground much faster. I even cycled to Angkor Wat, about 10 km away.