Disneyland of Cambodia

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If I win the superbowl, I'm going to disneyland

We've hardcore touristed Angkor Wat for the last two days. Sunrise to sunset (with a three hour nap in the middle), with shrunken hours today.


While not housing sacrificial civilizations, I like to think that the architects favored a slightly smaller population (check out pictures of the stairs for any further explanation).

You can buy a three day pass to Angkor (which we opted for) or longer, with most of the profits going to an oil company (to help keep gas cheap). At every stop before entering a temple- we are greeted by kids runnng around selling postcards, scarves and cold drinks. This greeting soon builds to a full on assault. Most are incredibly charming with a few whiners. But actually it is quite amazing to watch as most can sell their goods in 5 or 6 languages.

The novelty of digital cameras lives on. I find shooting a picture of the kids that try to sell me stuff then sharing it with them on my camera viewfinder an effective means of eschewing a hard sell.

Sunrise

Sunrise goes something like this


Four hours of sleep many nights in a row
Incoherent tuk tuk ride to Angkor.
Thousands of tourists taking pictures (with flash) of the same skyline
The grounds clearing and people rushing to the next attraction before the best light hits

sunset

Same Same But Different

More tourists tripoding
Police kicking everyone off the temple before the best light hits

My first and final photo rant

I may come off as a cynic- and maybe I am, but the spectacle of everyone thoughtlessly snapping pictures made me want to chuck my camera off the top of the temple (in some dramatic fashion, maybe right-handed followed by an architects casualty on the front steps) Alas my camera survives.

There is this photo contagion led by the man (really any man) with a decent camera and a tripod leading a bunch of salivating photowhores to the next attempted Anselesque shot. I am guilty sometimes of excessive photo taking, but the sunrise photoshoot was ad nauseum.

Cost benefit analysis

A full day of taxi-ing costs 12 dollars U.S. Plus food (1 dollar a dish after bargaining) and admissions (40 dollars/3 days) makes this one sweet trip. Benefits self explanatory-

Currently

Enjoying a thunderstorm, prebloggin followed by some post bloggin followed by a third and final day at Angkor. Followed by tattoos commemorating the trip with the word 'wanderlust' in Thailand. We figure it encompasses the desire to travel the world- this is just the start of our travels. Not sure yet where we are getting the tattoo- maybe on the arm or on the back of the calf, or the underforearm. Possibly between the shoulderblades. Maybe we'll get two tattoos. I'm thinking maybe a sun around my bellybutton. We may also get a topographical map tattood that raps around our entire back to be accurate to the curvature of the earth. The best prices we're told are at massage parlors. And if anyone wants us to pick up ciggarrettes they are 2-3 dollars a carton here.




Salud

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Photos

Angkor at Night
Excellent- empty finally- but the police kicked us out-

Crazy Tree
This is Ta Prohm, a temple chosen to stay in its original state- so much of it is taken over by trees-

spectacle at sunrise
almost as interesting as the sunrise

A sample
This is just one of tens of thousands of intricate rock carvings at Angkor.

Sales-
Five people trying to sell you stuff all at once is commonplace

Cute kid
Trying to sell flutes- I admitted I wasn't musical and just gave him a little Riel instead (Cambodian Currency)

Spectacle at sunset
This time honestly better than the sunset-

Sam fell-
But not down these stairs as they are killer

Comments

[g-ma]

Patrick Timothy Harlin (danger) get down from there! g-ma

[b.jenk]

temple pictures
Wonderful. Detail amazing. Social Commentary informative. I envy the adventure.

[John]

Hello
Pat & Sam hows it hanging? hope all is well! It seems like you have had one hell of a time so far. I'm jealous of your trip. Sorry I haven't been on-line sooner, very busy at work. so my adress is p.o. box 684145 P.C. ,Utah, 84068 drop me a postcard if you get the chance. continue to have a great time, (the bus accident looked cool by the way), and ill see you guys later. john jenkins

[Mom]

tatooin'
Hey, might as well get a full body tatoo while the prices are good-get it over with- while on your brothel guide- book fact finding tour.

[Jeff Renner]

Comment on Trip and House Sitting!
I've been enjoying your blogs guys...looks like high adventure. Especially the 4 hour trip cross river without working sanitation. Have a great remainder of your journey...will look forward to hearing more upon your return... Sam...wanted to check if you still wanted to house sit in between your return and your trip to California (I think) the end of that week. If you'd rather just sack out at your house...I understand...we have someone who can cover (actually the same person covering the earlier/later periods. We'll be needing house sitting again soon...so no worries about that. Just let me know your preference. Happy travels and no full body Thai massages! Jeff

[Eric Renner]

Hey hope you guys haven't been getting harassed by any more transvestite hookers.

[Hannah]

WOAH
I have totally seen that tree! YAY Cambodia!