We first went to another Tomb raider movie-scenes related temple - Ta Som. Ly pointed out many locations within the temple where the movie was filmed.
Quiz: Why is there a missing brick in the temple wall?
You have to give it to the guides. They can handle the SLRs better than all of us. The above photo was taken by one of the guide effortlessly. Within 0.5 seconds, single hand and we didnt even tho he was already done.
After the big 3 yesterday (Angkor Wat, Angkor Tom and Ta Phrom), we kinda set our expectation low today. So when East Mebon appeared in front of us, we were kinda stunned.
Aren't the door frames look like a National Geographic Magazine cover border?? And to think that this temple exist earlier than Angkor Wat and yet preserved in such a state, is totally mind bogling. I love East Mebon. It is such a well-preserved temple.
There is this beautiful lady who asked me to photo her when she sat on the door frame. I couldnt resist but have to pass this opportunity to EK who is much better than I with SLRs. She literally made the door frame came alive. Purple is always a nice colour to go with East Mebon red bricks. I dare not use my digital to capture her and the door less I get into trouble that i least prepared for haha. At the top of the temple, you can see the top of Angkor Wat.
If you have East Mebon, you surely have West Mebon, eh? Read on and you will know where it is.
It was such a hot day that I ordered a coconut.
This coconut is the sweetest i have ever tasted in Siem Reap. We went on to the restaurant for lunch. Passed by a moat which the driver told us has a submerged temple ruins, now left only the base, only visible in dry season where the water level is low.
It was here that we have our lunch and nua (relax) until 3 plus. I almost fell asleep under such intense heat and lazy afternoon atmosphere.
We went on to visit the smallest and the oldest temple that most tourists from Angkor Wat will just zoom past without even stopping.
Dog with two noses
Tree with my name.
After that we went to our last destination today: Phnom Bakheng, THE place where everybody gather to see the sunset.
We need to walk up a hill (or take elephant).
So many peep sat on one corner of the temple that i fear for the stability of the temple honestly.
We can see the Angkor Wat temple from one corner.
West Mebon in the middle of reservoir.
We were chatting with Ly about the dark years under Khmer Rouge while waiting for the sunset that will only come 1.5 hours later earliest. From 7 million peep, the population of Cambodia dwindled to 4 million from 1975-1979, barely 4 years in power. 3 million people killed by these basterds omg. Mostly intellectuals and intelligent people. Ly also pointed out that scenes depicted by the movie The Killing Field were inaccurate. There were being dramatised. It wasn't like that in real life. The Khmer Rough people managed to con the city folks out of Phnom Penh within days because they told them a lie: that the americans will bomb the city and they need to leave the house for 3 days. Since it is only for 3 days most people just lock their house and leave. Most of them never get to return to their house in the city.
Nick managed to get himself a good location and we joined him. From where we sit, we can see Siem Reap Airport which is at the west. Sunset was magnificent, like a red giant fireball went down the horizon. There were these 2 groups of people in front of me that quarreled in front of me over sitting location, hilarious.
Nick suggest that we walked down before the sky turn entirely dark. Mass exodus once the sun has set.
We went back to town for dinner and beer. I told the van driver no need to wait for us tonight. Nick is leaving for Phnom Penh tomorrow. We will be our own tomorrow as Ly is definitely not with us. We went for foot massages after the dinner. Ek was not too impressed with their massage skills. Took tuktuk back to hotel, only 1 US dollar each.
No comments:
Post a Comment