Angkor Wat (and other structures)

Angkor Wat

So, I tried to witness the sunrise at Angkor Wat. The weather didn't exactly cooperate.



Ta prohm

I followed my host's advice, which was to rush to Ta Prohm immediately after sunrise, and thus beat the crowd. This was sage advice, and well worth it. What you can't tell from the pictures is how the half of the place smelled strongly of rotten fruit, and that I ran across a huge spider at one point (well, not huge... body was only as long as say, a joint on my middle finger and as thick as a pencil. Still, it was surprising to turn the corner and see that web above me).


First view of Ta Prohm. That tree sticking out of it is massive.


Another shot of the front of Ta Prohm. Luckily, I had the place almost to myself.


The massive tree from the other side.


There were a lot of places that looked generally like this: blocks of moss covered stone in front of partially broken walls.


There was still a lot of detailed relief work, albeit slightly damaged, adorning the walls and doors.


Another large tree destroying one of the walls.


Inside one of the hallways.


A shot from near the back of Ta Prohm.

Beng Mealea

Zane had recommended beng Mealea to me, as it is not often visited and you can explore it pretty freely (no guardlines or anything). My visit was marred by a guide who attached herself to me, and then demanded payment at the end of the "tour."


I believe this is the south entrance to Beng Mealea. However, I'm not entirely sure. Either way, it's the first one you come to when you enter the site.


Beng Mealea had a lot of different rooms you could duck into through broken windows.


Looking into one of many chambers at the site through a window.


Trees were wrecking havoc at Beng Mealea as well.


Closeup of some tree roots.


Relief work on one of the supports.


Mysterious doorway!


Bridge at one of the other entrances.


Side shot of one of the bridges at another entrance.


Looking down into another chamber from atop a wall.


One of the walls from the another chamber.

Other Castles...


While our castle may not have survived nearly a thousand years, we were still proud of it.


Look on our works, ye mighty, and despair!


So, this'll probably be my last entry before coming home. Tomorrow I'm going to try to explore a bit more of Angkor in the morning, then catch a plane back to Saigon. There (as I've mentioned before) I'm going to try to meet up with Zane, Khanh, Van, and Truc, before taking a midnight flight to Tokyo and, ultimately, the good ol' USA.