Golden Zedi of the Upper Terrace

The construction of the Grand Palace was started in 1782 and it remains the residence of the Thai royal monarchy to this day. Not only that, there are also a number of government office within this complex as well. And just like any self-respecting Thai, the palace grounds also has its own set of temples, some of them for exclusive use of the Thai monarchy. It was King Rama I that commissioned the building of what is now known as the Grand Palace.

The Elegant Mondop

It has since grown into an amazing collection of Thai royal and religious architecture. It is a wonder to be walking along these grounds. Afterall it is not every day that you get to walk in a working royal palace. Upon entry into the Grand Palace complex one of the first structures you will see is the collection of structures known as the Upper Terrace. The most notable structures here are the golden zedi, a lot of which dot the entire country. A structure called the Mondop which keeps sacred Buddhist writings.

Miniature Replica of Cambodia's Angkor Wat

One of the more unique structures here is a miniature replica of the Angkor Wat found in Cambodia, this was commissioned by the order of King Mongkut. It shows how much admiration they Thai royalty had for the Angkor Wat. The buildings are distinctly Thai even though they are all Buddhist in nature. This was truly a place befitting a king.

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Angkor Wat in Miniature

One of the more bizzarre attractions in Siem Reap still has something to do with their famous temples, but on a much smaller scale. This is Angkor Wat in Miniature. As the name implied is basically a place where you can see the famous temples of Angkor all in one spot. If you thought this sounded a little lame, then you are not alone.

Bayon in Miniature

My friend wanted to see this bizzarre place, but I wasn’t the least bit interested. After all the temple exploring and wandering we did, I thought it would be a waste of time and money to visit this so called attraction. But then my friend really wanted to go, and as for me, I guess it would have been good material for things such as this blog.

Sign Says It All

Anyway, our driver drove us there, it wasn’t really that far from the center of Siem Reap. It had a big sign that really had “lame tourist attraction” written all over it. Anyway, there is a small entrance fee to see them. This is basically the work of a national artist, Dy Proeung. The miniatures were impressively carved out of stone and are more or less faithful to the real thing.

They have reproductions of Angkor Wat, Bayon and multitudes of other temples within their small compound. There is a viewing deck to the right where you can marvel at the carvings in all their replicated glory.

As expected, I wasn’t terribly impressed by this but at least it was something other than another temple. I guess people who have a little more time in their hands can drop by this small place. You can explore the whole area in half an hour.

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Sunrise At Angkor Wat

It turned out that the power won’t be come back within the night. So we spent the entire night in the dark. I felt a little cheated of my money since I didn’t get to use their cable TV that night. But then again, it wasn’t really their fault there was no power. Power or no power, I still managed to get a good night’s sleep.

Visitor Climbing the Temple

This time we really woke up early, this is going to be our last chance to catch the sun rise at Angkor Wat. Having missed it the first two times, we made sure to make it this time. It was also a little embarassing to keep asking our driver to keep coming at five in the morning when we never make it on time. At least this time we really made sure to wake up early.

Sunlight Filtering Through

We quickly did our morning routine and rushed down stairs. The sky was already starting to brighten but the sun had not risen yet. Our driver was already there waiting for us again. I guess he was relieved to finally see us this time. We quickly made our way to Angkor Wat. For a while there I was thinking that we may not make it since Angkor Wat was huge and we might not make it in time to the spot we wanted.

Really Steep

As expected there was already a crowd at gate of Angkor Wat. People were already streaming into the temple. Fortunately, the people aren’t as numerous as crowd you see in the afternoon. Nevertheless, there is still a crowd, but it was manageable. We quickly made our way across the moat and into the first enclosure. This is really a long walk, I was thinking, why does it have to be so huge?

Behind the Temple

The size of the temple though really worked to everyone’s advantange. Even though there is already a crowd at the pool with water. The size of the place really made it possible to have space for everyone. I got a spot near the edge of the pool hoping to catch a bit of reflection on the water. Seems like other people also have the same idea.

The sun will be rising behind the temple, I wasn’t sure exactly where but it was definitely behind it. A few hundred people waiting there can’t possibly be wrong. I was getting my camera ready when there was a commotion behind me. Someone just proposed marriage to their partner! It was a very unlikely spot for a proposal but it was still very sweet.

Here They Come

Moments later another commotion to my right, but this time it was from the tourists waiting for the sunrise. The sun was finally coming up behind the temple! It was coming up from the far left of the temple, and my spot will only capture the trees on that side. So I quickly moved out and set up in another spot where hopefully the sun will have a better view.

The sun really came up very fast, I was taking shots one after the other and continuously adjusting my settings. I didn’t have a filter with me unfortunately, but I would have wanted to darken the sky a little bit. A few a few moments it was already over, the sun was too high up and it was too bright for me to be taking pictures of it, lest my CCD would die on me.

Crowds Streaming In

We then proceeded to explore more of Angkor Wat, this time without the huge crowd. Sad as it may seem, it seems like the best time to visit Angkor Wat is early morning, way before the main crowd comes. It is very true, since in some parts of the temple, there were hardly any people there. This is how you experience Angkor Wat.

I climbed the steep stairs of the inner enclosure and just sat there admiring the scenery. You can see that the crowds are already starting to come. We are fortunate to have come so early. Even when I sat at the far end of the temple you can already see crowds come in from the other direction.

Sultan of Brunei Visits Angkor Wat

It was really worth the effort to see the sunrise here. The colors of the sky and the temple are really a sight to behold. Add to the fact that there are relatively lesser people early in the morning. But alas, the crowd is already getting to me so we made our way back to the entrance. But lo and behold, there was a VIP just coming in – it was the Sultan of Brunei! I hardly ever see country leaders but I was lucky enough to see him. He was wearing a simple Polo shirt and is escorted by his hosts. I was kidding that he might like Angkor Wat so much that he might just buy it from the Cambodians.

After our brief encounter with royalty we continued on our way to our driver who was again fast asleep. And for the last time we bid Angkor Wat farewell.

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Sunset at Phnom Bakheng

Angkor Wat from Phnom Bakheng

After a whole day of temple exploring and wandering, it was already late afternoon. Our driver had exhausted his list of temples for us to visit. Most of the temple we visited were the further ones like Banteay Samre and Banteay Srei. So we were all tired. Our driver asked us where we wanted to go. For lack of better ideas, we thought of going to Phnom Bakheng to see the sunset.

Ready for an Elephant Ride to the Top

Upon hearing this, our driver strongly advised us not to go there. “Very many people.” I guess it would be quite crowded at the top since it is a popular spot, but we insisted since I’m also interested to see the sunset from the top. Phnom Bakheng is a temple built on top of a small hill.

Crowded Enough?

By the time we got to the base of the hill there were already quite a lot of people milling about. Most of them were tourists waiting to go up the hill. There are two ways of going up to Phnom Bakheng: the easy way is to take the elephant ride at the foot of the hill and the second is to slog it all the way up the hill yourself. I didn’t really like the idea of riding the elephant to the hill but it seems that it was a pretty popular way to go up. The queue to ride the elephant was quite long but the tourists did not seem to mind.

Sunset at Phnom Bakheng

So we went the cheap way up, by foot. It took us around 20 minutes to get to the top. The slope was very mild and the path was not paved, but rather just a foot path trodden by countless tourists. There were also a lot of cheapskate tourists who didn’t want to go up by elephant so we had plenty of company.

At the top was the Phnom Bakheng itself. Phnom Bakheng used to serve as the capital of an ancient city. Now it is nothing more than a viewing deck for tourists. Honestly, I couldn’t really explore this temple that much since I was too busy jostling for position. The temple itself is already filled with tourists from all over the world. All of them waiting for the sun to set.

Tourists Occupy Every Spot on the Temple

Once I got a good spot on one of the highest points of the temple, we waited. Be warned that it is not allowed to stand on the walls of the temple. Just when you think you have a good spot, you’ll be asked to come down. From our spot, I have a great view of the Angkor Wat. The setting sun casting a nice orange glow to the magnificent temple. My camera doesn’t have a powerful zoom so I was reduced to using the digital zoom to get a better view of Angkor Wat.

My spot was good enough to avoid having to take a picture of someone else’s head. As I was waiting for the sun to set, I discovered that the wall I was leaning against had some crawling insects – the type I’ve never seen before. I quickly brushed them off and made sure that none of them got inside my clothes.

Colorfully Garbed Monks

The sun sets opposite the entrance of Angkor Wat, which is directly behind us, this helped distribute the tourists a little bit. Some would look at Angkor Wat on one side, another group would be looking at the sun set. We happened to chance on some Buddhist monks touring the place and got a few snaps of them.

After the sun set, it was quickly getting dark and everyone started making their way down the hill. The path is not lighted but with enough people it should not be difficult to follow the path. We quickly found our driver and made our way back to town.

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Banteay Samre

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Banteay Samre

Following the main road from Pre Rup, we took a long road to one of the contemporaries of Angkor Wat. Banteay Samre was probably built by Suryavarman II according to scholars, and like Angkor Wat, it is horizontal in its orientation.

Another View of the Temple

Banteay Samre was built on a relatively elevated part of the land so it might take a little more effort to climb up towards the temple. Your efforts will be rewarded since there is hardly a soul here. You would probably have the temple all to yourself.

Sandstone Walls of Banteay Samre

The temple is relatively well preserved. In fact you can consider it a compact version of Angkor Wat since the design of the two temples are very similar. Quite noticeable is the liberal use of reddish sandstone, which gives it a nice color. One thing I noticed about this place is that since the structures are so close to each other, it would be difficult for photographers to light the subject they way they want them to.

There is a small market right outside the temple, so anyone wishing to refresh themselves with cold drinks will be relieved. However, other than Banteay Samre, there isn’t really anything much to see in thie area. After a few refreshments we were on our way again.

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Angkor Wat

It was already afternoon when we left Ta Prohm. As we exited the main Ta Prohm complex, we were greeted by vendors selling “cold drink” and kids asking for “one dalah”. This will soon be a famliar scene since every major temple has a strip of vendors right outside it, ready to quench the thirst of the weary tourist.

Crossing the Moat

Our driver asked us where to go next since it seemed like he doesn’t have any more on his itinerary. So we decided to go to Angkor Wat to see the sunset. Angkor Wat isn’t really that far from Ta Prohm, after a few minutes we reached the moat surrounding the temple mountain.

I had no idea how vast the area of Angkor Wat was until we started going around the perimeter of the moat. It took us some time to cover one side of the moat. No wonder, it was a full kilometer long. In fact the entire Angkor Wat complex occupies two square kilometers. The moat itself is very impressive since it is wide enough to be a small river. Fortunately, this moat has water since it is fed by the Siem Reap River.

Wide Moat of Angkor Wat

To cross the moat, visitors needs to go to the main entrance. Our driver dropped us off at the entrance and we quickly made our way to the bridge crossing the moat. As expected, there were a lot of people here. Busloads of tourists all trying to get in the temple. Fortunately, Angkor Wat is huge enough to accomodate all those tourists.

Bas Relief at the Entrance

The name Angkor Wat means “royal city that is a monastery”. It was built by Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. This is the most famous monument of Cambodia and is featured in their national flag. It originally was for the Hindu religion but was later turned into a Buddhist monastery.

Tourists Everywhere

As expected Angkor Wat is really a sight to behold. It is impressive both in size and style. Bas-relief seem to adorn every nook and cranny of the temple. Elegant carvings can be seen in the most insignificant pillar. It is worth to spend a whole day exploring every inch of this majestic temple.

Angkor Wat by the Pool

After crossing the moat, and in the first enclosure. A field of opens up to greet the visitor. It would have been a really fascinating expierence if it weren’t for the hordes of tourists that are there. In the far distance it the main temple itself. Looks like it will really take a while for us to get there. Halfway to the main temple, are two sets of pools one on each side of the walkway to the temple.

Inside the Temple

The temple reflected upon the pools makes for a really picturesque scene. I’m sure the tourists on the shores of the pool would agree with me. It seemed to be great time to go since the sun is already behind us. The sky will not be overblown.

Monks Minding their Own Business

After a lot of photos, we continued our way to the main temple. Here on could explore the long hallways of the temple. There were actually monks there and their bright clothing really shows against the drab grey of the the temple walls.

Impressive Bas-Relief

At the innermost enclosure, visitors can climb up the very steep stairs to explore the temple itself. However, the builders of the temple seemed to be quite a small people since each step was not even as big as my foot. This led to an interesting predicament. You will see people crawling up or down the temple using their hands and feet, since it really is quite scary going up the temple. If you want to climb up the temple, use extreme caution, I don’t think the authorities would take care of you if something happens.

No Tourists Here

Behind the temple is an awesome bas-relief of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. The second half of the bas-relief is one depicting Vishnu fighting against demons. This part of the temple is relatively quiet, receiving only a handful of visitors. It is here where one can actually absorb the atmosphere of Angkor Wat. In fact, I could just sit down and stare out into space with no one bothering me. It is a good thing the tour groups do not reach this far. That had me wondering, with the way tourist come and explore the temple, there might become a time when most of the temple has already been replaced because of wear and tear.

Some Peace and Quiet

At the other exit, visitors can get a great view of Angkor Wat without the crowds. It was also at this time when the sun started to set down behind the temple. While probably not as amazing as a sunrise, it is nonetheless an beautiful sight.

Sunset at Angkor Wat

We walked the whole lenght of the temple complex back to where our driver would meet us. With the hordes of tourist also going back, I feared we might not be able to find our driver. Fortunately, he was smart enough to position himself at a visible place so we found him immediately.

Angkor Wat, despite the huge number of tourists flocking to see it, is truly a sight to behold. Yes, the tourists will get in your way a lot of times but it one small price to pay to see one of man greatest architectural marvels of all time.

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Kuala Lumpur From the Air

Mention Cambodia and immediately, the image of immense complexes of temples known as Angkor Wat comes to mind. This is exactly what happened to me when my friend proposed that we go there. Although I prefer nature trips rather than historical/cultural stuff. The chance to visit one of humanity greatest accomplishments was too good to pass up.

Batu Cave from the Air

My friend will be coming from Manila, but there doesn’t seem to be any point for him to go all the way to Singapore to meet up then go to Siem Reap, so I had to make an overnight trip to Kuala Lumpur and meet him at the airport there and take a flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. At least it would be cheaper since I do not need to fly to meet up with him.

It was my first time to the Kuala Lumpur airport and honestly, I wasn’t even absolutely sure how to get there. Fortunately, the mass transit system in Kuala Lumpur was easy enough to understand that I managed to get myself to the airport in no time.

Mighty Mekong Winds its Way through the fields

Since we will be flying with Air Asia, a budget airline. We will have to check in from the Low Cost Carrier Terminal or LCCT. The LCCT is quite big for a budget airline. Although it seems that there is still not enough space for everybody. Some counters seem to be out of place and seemed to have been placed there as an afterthought. As with all budget terminals, there isn’t really much in the way of entertainment. There are a couple of eating places there, but that’s it. I was getting hungry so I chose to go with the safe one. McDonalds. Can’t go wrong with that, right?

Fields All Around

Although, I feel terrible from that grueling overnight trip from Singapore, I was too excited to be tired. Soon, we were boarding our plane. It is not my first time on a budget carrier. I have tried Tiger Airways and Jetstar Airways from Singapore and Cebu Pacific from the Philippines. My first impression on Air Asia, was that the planes seem to be old. Well maintained but old. The seats are leather seats but a little cramped. I’m not a really big person but I feel cramped sitting on their seats. Well, it is cheap… The last time I felt this cramped was when I took Jetstar.

Houses in Cambodia

As we were on our way to Siem Reap, I managed to get a good look at Kuala Lumpur from the sky. There unmistakable figures of the Petronas Twin Towers and the Kuala Lumpur Tower stood out. In fact, from the air, they look no more than toys.

The trip took around two hours. Soon, the fields of rural Cambodia spread before us. Muddy rivers wind their way through the rice fields. Our plane seems to be flying low enough that I can see the individual houses. Seems like we are already quite near. From the map, it seems that Siem Reap airport is built right beside the complex of temple ruins. But strangely enough, I didn’t get to see any temples from the air. Anyway, who cares, I’ll get there soon enough!

By the way, if you have been wondering what happened to the pictures, yes, they have been edited. Did you seriously think I can take pictures through the window of an airplane?

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