Temple Day ... 3.4.11

Today Chloie and I decided to finally be proper tourists and do the whole Temple thing that apparently you can’t come to Cambodia without doing.

We got up at a bright and early 4.30 because our trusty Tuktuk driver, Mup, was coming to pick us up at 5. Chloie had read in her book about one of the temples where it was spectacular to see the sunrise. Most visitors see the sunrise at Angkor Wat … the main and biggest temple … so we decided to go to Bayon because there would be less people … turns out there was no one but us! Which was awesome. Unfortunately we didn’t really get much of a sunrise because it was such a muggy, hazy day. But we did enjoy feeling like the first people to explore Bayon!

The whole area has I don’t even know how many temples … too many to see all in one day! It costs US$20 to get in to the area for a one-day pass and that pass gets you in to all the temples in the area.

We explored Angkor Thom, which is where Bayon is, and then went and explored some of the other temples, had a late breakfast and finished the temple visit at Angkor Wat. Afterwards, we felt very deserving of a massage considering the climbing and hiking we had done all morning so we found a nice little massage parlour, which also did foot reflexology. It was very nice! The second best massage in Cambodia so far! (I’ll tell you about the first later!). My girl was hilarious! She discovered that I was ticklish and kept tickling me saying that I was only ticklish because I don’t have a boyfriend!

Bayon

Peek-a-boo!!

So apparently the things we all want to do in the toilet are not allowed anymore!

Elephant Terrace

Way of Visit

End of Visit

Anyway ...

Breakfast of champions!

East Gate coming out of Angkor Thom

Along each side of this gate are statues of men holding up a dragons tail - this is Chloie attempting to help them.

Some of the Other Temples I can't Remember the Names of!

This Monk tried, but failed, to convert me :D

A couple of random Kiwi's we bumped into at every temple we visited that day!

Ta Prohm

Yes, I know, wrong country, but who can resist!?

Lunch

mmm delicious protein :D (the caterpillar, in case you can't spot it!)

Angkor Wat

The most amazing part for me today, particularly at Ta Prohm is the fact that despite all the efforts Satan put in to build places to worship him, God has been able to use it to create some very spectacular examples of His awesome wonder! Seeing the way that the trees have overtaken the temples is incredible! Especially where the trees are growing on the top of walls and roofs, which is seemingly impossible considering the fact that their roots are so far from the ground!

But for God, all things are possible!