We're going to do something different for this post. I'll just put up the pictures and you write the captions, explanations and the smarty-pants commentary. Deal? Deal. Can you tell I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information I'm going to have to suss out and then pass on?
Enough whinging (for my British readers). On with it!
Vivian and I, well, actually more I, decided that we needed to go see Angkor Wat before they roped it off from the tourists. Since Vivian was not exactly thrilled with the prospect of visiting temples, temples, temples and more temples, we compromised by throwing in a side trip to a beach in Viet Nam.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd be typing a sentence like that.
So this is what we saw and did during her school Easter Break.
Read on Mcduff.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd be typing a sentence like that.
So this is what we saw and did during her school Easter Break.
Read on Mcduff.
Travel is SO exhausting!
Poor Vivian!
Poor Vivian!
Guess what this is?
O.K., just kidding. I will provide explanations and commentary.
This was the cool drink and refreshing towel that greeted us
in the lobby of our hotel, Tara Angkor Hotel, in Siem Reap.
The aforementioned lobby
The best part of an Asian hotel?
Tropical flowers.
Our room
Bathroom...
...replete with hose for spraying off your naughty bits.
Oh, the possibilites for mischief!
View of the courtyard
The fountains down at ground level.
I am a sucker for water features.
Display of elephants in a nook in the lobby.
Spot the ones who are being frisky.
The Tara Angkor's pool
Courtyard in the day time,
looking towards the hotel.
Another water feature
One of a pair of elephants in the courtyard.
Vivian, bright eyed and bushy tailed for our first day's adventure.
We were picked up by our guide and set out for the first of the sights.
The moat that surrounds Angkor Wat.
We went in the back way.
This was the unobtrusive entrance booth.
Another shot of the moat.
Spot the monkey.
Believe you me, I kept my distance from this primate
and his little furry friends.
Now the real brain exercise begins...what in the world was this?
The first of many buildings that make up Angkor Wat.
While I'm remembering, here is everything you could possibly want to know and more, courtesy of all my friends at Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_wat
Mr. Monkey again
Closer to the first building with Vivian on the right.
Full frontal
Detail of one of the carvings on the building.
It was lousy with them.
If memory serves me correctly, which would be a first,
these are celestial dancers.
I know for sure they're called devatas (guardian angels or spirits).
Look at that detail!
The following are all shots of that first building.
Vivian framed
One of the devatas and damage inflicted from bullets fired during one war or another.
Ouch!
If only these steps could talk...
The back of the building
That's odd, it looks a lot like the front.
Approaching the main temple building of Angkor Wat, from the back.
Getting closer...
Spot Vivian
Angkor Wat is still an active temple.
Slightly closer...
Yes, I did take a ridonculous number of photos.
Mr. Monkey and his friends immortalized
Again, look at this detail!
Carved doorway
Up very close
Looking back down into the grounds
Sideways view
Yes, I know. These photos seem out of order to me, too.
Oh, well. You guys are bright. You'll piece it together.
Recognize this hand?
Columns (duh)
Corridor (duh #2)
The item of more interesting note is the carved mural that goes the length of this wall.
Don't worry, you'll see it soon.
Again, the level of detail just blew me away.
OK, here is some of that mural detail I was telling you about.
Battle scenes replete with elephants...
and mythical beasts.
Looking back
Continuing forward...
PG rated
On to the next building in the complex that makes up Angkor Wat.
Cambodian versions of Inukshuks?
More buildings
Former spot of a statue, removed during one of the numerous conflicts.
I hate seeing stuff like this. Such a tragic legacy.
Yep, another building.
Looking down...
...and around...
...and up.
Fortunately, it wasn't that crowded.
Up we went
Yeah, just a tad steep.
Glad I wore a skirt!
Was this preparing me for the Rope for Hope rappel?
View from the top
Made it back down safely to see even more buildings.
Feel free to just zip through these photos. I know I would!
As I mentioned earlier, still an active temple.
Miss Vivian dwarfed
Another angle
This was the building where we took the ladder stairs.
Same building, side view
OK, even I'm starting to get bored, and I was there!
You know it's bad when the blogger herself starts removing photos so she doesn't have to comment on them, not that I'm doing that, oh no!
Almost at the end, folks.
Leaving Angkor Wat by the front and looking back.
Iconic view
Vivian gettin' while the gettin' was good.
Looking back at one of the side buildings.
Note moat.
Wedding party!
How it was that they didn't melt was beyond me.
On our way to another temple.
The bumps atop this wall once were little Buddha statues.
One building waiting to be put back together like a puzzle.
Outbuildings
Once again, detailed carvings
An iconic shot
And another...
I love how the trees just grow wherever THEY decide.
Glad I'm not the one to put this back together.
More buildings in the temple complex
Another "Tomb Raider"-esque photo
Still an active temple
Look at that tree!
Guess who?
Elizabeth Patel, Tomb Raider!
Vivian Patel, Tomb Raider in training
Tuk tuk drivers waiting for their next fare.
Remember that moat around Angkor Wat?
Here it is again.
Angkor Wat again, different angle
Off to another site, Angkor Thom, former royal city of the Khmer Empire.
We had to cross a river to get there.
Water buffalo!
What a terrific bridge!
Looking back at the entrance gate.
Note the face.
You know the blurb by now,
detailed carving of celestial dancers.
The Bayon Temple, renowned for its many carved faces of a former king.
Touching noses!
More faces
Can you find them?
More buildings
View from the top
A little steep
Steps leading up to the Elephant Terrace, which served as a platform from
where the King could welcome back his victorious army.
Yes, that's an elephant.
See how their trunks form the pillars?
Bring on the victorious army!
Note the Acrobat Towers in the distance.
Yes, I found my notes! Hooray! The name describes their function.
Yes, I found my notes! Hooray! The name describes their function.
A narrow, winding passage way which holds detailed carvings
(there's that phrase again!) below the Terrace of the Leper King.
I really enjoyed this section.
I think it appealed to the hide-and-seek-playing child in me.
The Leper King, but he wasn't really a leper.
I can't recall how he got that name.
The victorious armies
A real live elephant!
The kids were huge fans of the pachyderm.
That night, Vivian and I went into "downtown" Siem Reap for dinner and a look around.
Before I forget, here's a shot of some Cambodian money.
Yes, this is considered legal tender in Cambodia!
