This was my view in the early hours of the morning.
Wonderful pinks from the rising of the sun. Taken from the upstairs balcony. I wish I had been able to get a more panoramic photo, but it wasn't possible with the balcony building outline.
Monday
67. The Last Sunrise
My last morning in Siem Reap and I had trouble sleeping, so I went upstairs to the balcony and sat in the cool morning air and waited for the dawn. As the light slowly changed, I watched my last Cambodian sunrise - it was a bittersweet moment. I was leaving and wanted to stay. The past coulpe of days had been the most meaningful and rewarding of any and I didn;t want it to end. I felt at one with this place and could easily have stayed for a very long time.
Above: Balcony view
This was my view in the early hours of the morning.
Above: The Last Sunrise
Wonderful pinks from the rising of the sun. Taken from the upstairs balcony. I wish I had been able to get a more panoramic photo, but it wasn't possible with the balcony building outline.
This was my view in the early hours of the morning.
Wonderful pinks from the rising of the sun. Taken from the upstairs balcony. I wish I had been able to get a more panoramic photo, but it wasn't possible with the balcony building outline.
66. Sunset at Angkor Wat
As I said in my earlier post, as I didn't have a guide it was a case of keep your eyes and ears open. I looked and listened and if I thought I saw a guide, I unashamedly listened in! Not knowing where the "best" spot was to witness the sunset, or indeed, nor knowing what to look for and where I should look, and what I was "supposed" to be seeing, I wandered around listening to people talk.
Realising the only way I could face was west, I set about trying to find the "best" spot.
Above: Peeking through
The sun was getting lower in the sky and here is the silhouette of one of libraries I think it is with the sun peeping between the posts.
Above: Orange glow
The sun just before it started sinking below the horizon. The halo around the sun had changed from yellow to a salmon pink.
Above: Balloon Sunset
The sun and the hot air balloon.
Above: South west
Moving to the other side of the causeway, the sun is surrounded by a pink sky.
Above: Fireball
The last photo I took - anything more would have been not worthy.
Above: Reflections on Water
The moat around Angkow Wat. This view is facing south west.
The trip back - Nightride
After watching the sun sink below the horizon, it was time to head back. It was strange to be driving along the road in darkness, when only a few hours earlier it was bright with the heat of the day and the glow of the sun. There were police posted along the long avenue back (the only road into and out of town to Angkor Wat) every 100 metres or so. Some were in twos, some alone. No thieves or baddies would dare make trouble with the local constabulary in attendance!
Night Stalls and Bright Lights
As we drove into the darkness, I spotted a few night stalls here and there. One place advertised "Happy Hour" - 3pm to 10 pm with Draft beer at 50 cents and Cocktails for $1.50. That's waay cheaper than back hom in Australia - you couldn't even buy a box of matches for that price. I was surprised at the number of people out and about, then again maybe I shouldn't have been. This after all is Siem Reap and it is after all a very big tourist attraction, not to metnion when the sun goes down, people come out when the air is cooler.
Night Scenes
A collection of different scenes and spots along the way on the ride through the night.
Realising the only way I could face was west, I set about trying to find the "best" spot.
The sun was getting lower in the sky and here is the silhouette of one of libraries I think it is with the sun peeping between the posts.
The sun just before it started sinking below the horizon. The halo around the sun had changed from yellow to a salmon pink.
The sun and the hot air balloon.
Moving to the other side of the causeway, the sun is surrounded by a pink sky.
The last photo I took - anything more would have been not worthy.
The moat around Angkow Wat. This view is facing south west.
The trip back - Nightride
After watching the sun sink below the horizon, it was time to head back. It was strange to be driving along the road in darkness, when only a few hours earlier it was bright with the heat of the day and the glow of the sun. There were police posted along the long avenue back (the only road into and out of town to Angkor Wat) every 100 metres or so. Some were in twos, some alone. No thieves or baddies would dare make trouble with the local constabulary in attendance!
Night Stalls and Bright Lights
As we drove into the darkness, I spotted a few night stalls here and there. One place advertised "Happy Hour" - 3pm to 10 pm with Draft beer at 50 cents and Cocktails for $1.50. That's waay cheaper than back hom in Australia - you couldn't even buy a box of matches for that price. I was surprised at the number of people out and about, then again maybe I shouldn't have been. This after all is Siem Reap and it is after all a very big tourist attraction, not to metnion when the sun goes down, people come out when the air is cooler.
A collection of different scenes and spots along the way on the ride through the night.
65. Return to Angkor Wat
After leaving Banteay Srei, it was time to head for home. Arriving at my accommodation, it was a quick lunch, shower then a long nap. The heat of the day had fair knocked me out. I awoke refreshed ready for my next stop - Angkor Wat to see the sunset. Below is a selection of photos taken while I walked around waiting for the sun to set.
Above: Angkor Wat in the afternoon
I arrived, showed my pass (you have to do this every time you visit a temple) and started walking through. As I didn't have a guide, it was a case of keep your eyes and ears open!
Above: South east
Above: North east
Above: Aspara
As I walked along the causeway, I could see dancers (Aspara) in beautiful coloured costumes. I asked could I please take a photo. Yes, madam, but it'll cost you! Two dollars to take photos with my own camera, but still it was very worth it - I'd have paid $10 if I had to. (I probably would have grumbled to myself about you even have to pay for that! but I'd still have paid up!)☺☺
Above: Aspara
The figure in the middle in white is the monkey god, Hanuman; the figures in green are Garuda (large mythical birds or bird-like creatures). With the female costumes, Apsara characters often wear Plumeria obtusa flowers tied along the back of their hair and this can be seen on both the dancer on the left and the figure on the far right. The female dancers are also wearing a phuŏng (a flower tassel made from Jasminum sambac and Michelia alba or Michelia champaca blossoms) on the left side of the crown.
Above: The Library
North library of the outer enclosure - Angkor Wat One of two 'libraries' situated inside the outer wall of Angkor Wat.
Above: The white horse
This white horse with its gaily coloured saddle hadn't been there when I was there earlier in the day, I took it to have something to do with the Aspara.
Above: Man's best friend
This was one of the few dogs I saw during my time in Cambodia. He was sitting in the shade and didn't even move away when I approached to take this photo.
Above: Afternoon glow
The temple and towers had this lovely golden hue with the afternoon sun in the west shining upon them - a far cry from my sunrise visit that morning.
I arrived, showed my pass (you have to do this every time you visit a temple) and started walking through. As I didn't have a guide, it was a case of keep your eyes and ears open!
As I walked along the causeway, I could see dancers (Aspara) in beautiful coloured costumes. I asked could I please take a photo. Yes, madam, but it'll cost you! Two dollars to take photos with my own camera, but still it was very worth it - I'd have paid $10 if I had to. (I probably would have grumbled to myself about you even have to pay for that! but I'd still have paid up!)☺☺
The figure in the middle in white is the monkey god, Hanuman; the figures in green are Garuda (large mythical birds or bird-like creatures). With the female costumes, Apsara characters often wear Plumeria obtusa flowers tied along the back of their hair and this can be seen on both the dancer on the left and the figure on the far right. The female dancers are also wearing a phuŏng (a flower tassel made from Jasminum sambac and Michelia alba or Michelia champaca blossoms) on the left side of the crown.
North library of the outer enclosure - Angkor Wat One of two 'libraries' situated inside the outer wall of Angkor Wat.
This white horse with its gaily coloured saddle hadn't been there when I was there earlier in the day, I took it to have something to do with the Aspara.
This was one of the few dogs I saw during my time in Cambodia. He was sitting in the shade and didn't even move away when I approached to take this photo.
The temple and towers had this lovely golden hue with the afternoon sun in the west shining upon them - a far cry from my sunrise visit that morning.
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