Amazing Angkor

So they say it's better late than never. Here's some pictures from my not-so-recent trip to Siem Reap last May.

To me, the ruins of Angkor being a UNESCO world heritage site is a must do in one's lifetime. A great experience! but unless you have an immense interest in Khmer history, culture or architecture, two days exploring this ancient city is sufficient to appreciate it fully. A great tip - if you arrive after 5pm and buy a ticket for tomorrow (USD20), you can enter Angkor today for free.

Do buy a guidebook to Angkor - but only at Angkor itself - there are swarms of child peddlers offering guidebooks and souvenirs for sale. So bargain! I bought mine for USD5 but was later offered the same book for USD2 at the end of my trip.

To get around the Angkor cities, we hired a tuktuk for USD10 a day which took us from one site to the other. A tuktuk decently fits 3 persons.

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Phnom Bakheng

This is where i begin my journey. At the foot of the hill which at the top stands the temple Phnom Bakheng. Great sunset views, apparently

After an arduous climb uphill, finally - the sight of the temple

Only 1001++ more steep steps to go!! I hope the sunset waits for me. These steps are narrow, steep and high. Quite a challenge for someone like me (ie. not a fan of heights)Sunset! I've seen more beautiful sunsets out of my office room window. The sun sets overlooking the Tonle Sap
Devata (female deity)

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Angkor Wat

The world's largest religious monument and said to be the grandest of all Khmer temples which was also a city. An architectural masterpiece.
Bright and early at Angkor Wat. It's not even 6am yet.

bas relief - Khemr art on the walls depicting scenes from Hindu epics. the walls are completely covered with carvings like these Angkor Wat is a pyramid of 3 levels. The steps are steep and narrow. Makes me wonder if people then were smaller and had smaller feet.

at the top of the stairs. I have made it!

A nice pic of Angkor Wat taken with the point&shoot function of my Sony camera

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Bayon

the complex of face towers.

The Linga. Stylised image of a phallus representing the essence of the god Shiva. Hmm...

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Preah Khan

Temple & university built 1191

The heads of these guards crudely hacked off and probably now being displayed by 'collectors'

root of life amid the ruins

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Ta Prohm

it's now about 3.30pm. By now, if you've seen one temple, you've seen them all...

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Banteay Srei

The exquisite ' Citadel of the Women' is a small and unique temple 20kms north of Angkor. We had to pay the tuktuk driver an extra USD5 after much haggling.

Siem Reap - out & about

Where to Stay? of course Siem Reap has its fair share of Sofitels and Le Meridiens on sprawling lush spaces, but USD20 buys a large double room at a conveniently located bed & breakfast complete with ensuite bathroom, TV and aircond.

What to do? Shopping at Old Market. Clothes, knick knacks, jewelry, artwork, you may even be able to buy things that used to live at Ancient Angkor.

Don't feed the crocs! The crocodile pit at the Dead Fish Tower restaurant

To Get Around? Central Siem Reap is so small it is walkable to almost everywhere. But you can tuktuk it for a few USD per ride depending on distance.










Where to Party? What to eat? Central Siem Reap is littered with restaurant & bars catering to the tourist. The food there is just so-so. Unfortunately, i couldn't find an authentic Cambodian restaurant frequented by locals to try out. Saw a couple of roadside stalls but looking at the way the food was prepared, trying it would be a gamble for a tummy upset later. The grog though, was a steal! A can of imported beer (asahi) is USD35cents at the local minimart. The local
Angkor beer is only USD40cents a round!

Amok - The famous cambodian dish of fish prepared with coconut and spices

Pub Street - so aptly named. The street filled with hotels, restaurants and bars filled with tourists.

The Khmer people, although smiling, appear to lead such harsh lives, as if shouldering the weight of their sad history. Beggars litter the street begging for money, but often settling for food. Many of these are limbless amputees, children and mothers with babies. Market traders and tuktuk drivers appear pretty desperate for business. Hanging out in the centre of Siem Reap made me feel really homesick.

Hilary's Full Moon

Lovely baby Hilary... welcome to life!

Livin' La Vida

It was the firm's Annual Dinner & Dance over last weekend. The theme was Livin' La Vida ... (think i saw some matadors, zorros and flamenco dancers scurrying about) There wasn't much of an ADD feel around the firm this year and I was not too excited about attending the Dinner but I had to be there since i was coerced into participating in the Top Guns team's talentime performance. In the end, it was heaploads of fun and I had a great time partying with my friends and colleagues.

pre dinner drinks at the dinner table - chili anyone?Top Guns preformed a 'Story of Dance' a series of 5 different dances that moved through different aspects, themes and times.

This is the tribal cavemen dance which kicked off the performance

FAME! (or so we thought)

presenting... my supergroovy FAME outfit! complete with psychedelic shirt, yellow leggings and polkadotted headband

some afterpary/party shots


trying to act cool/cute at the end of the night

F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S!!

Recently i met up for a fabulous time with the FABulous ms. frou f r o u. Had a good time catching up over a bottle of wine (*hic!*) at LunaBar. frou f r o u whipped out her camera and took this fab pic.