Awestruck at Angkor Wat

Our usual ecologically sound ethos prevails and we fly to Cambodia, specifically Siem Reap. Apropos of nothing, this translates as Thailand Defeated, so that's nice.

Siem Reap is a booming tourist town fuelled by our main reason for being there - Angkor Wat.

The largest religious structure in the world was buried in the jungle until a french explorer Henri Mahout tripped over it in 1860. We arrived just before sunrise (Paul barely bleated) at Angkor Wat itself - the main temple where we watched the sunrise and then explored in relative solitude. The sheer size of the place is difficult to convey and, as usual, our photos fail to do it justice. We then break for breakfast before moving onto the Bayon Temple with it's columns of eerie faces.

Our last stop was Ta Phrom with its spectacular trees and crumbling temples. This will be familiar to fans of Tomb Raider.

Some people buy a two or three day pass but the Corcoran's in typical style are back by 10 am! I know it seems like we have glossed over our Angkor Wat visit but there I can't really find the words to say just how truly awestruck we were at the sight. The experience of just being there was one we won't forget in a hurry!

A random place I would recommend if anyone is ever in Siem Reap and that is the Butterfly Bar and Garden. Here is a garden oasis of calm and tranquility in the busy town with, yes, you've guessed it - butterflies. It was difficult to believe we were in the middle of a busy, dusty town and we whiled away a few hours there. Then it started raining so then we had to stay a bit longer!

The centre of Siem Reap town caters very much to the hoardes of tourists that visit there. So much so there is a street named "Bar Street". Of course we went there and sampled the fine wares on offer. We went with Sarah and Andy who were staying at the same hotel as us. We even found a Gourmet Burger equivalent - hurray! The burgers weren't quite as big as your head as they are in the aforementioned Gourment Burger but they were mighty fine all the same.

I was struck down by....a cold (poor me) and took a couple of days to recuperate in Siem Reap before we headed off to Phnom Penh (you will be pleased to know that a bus was involved rather than an aircraft.....!)

P.S. We make no apologies for the number of photos that are on this entry. It was hard to pare down the pictures of the mighty Angkor Wat!!

---

---