tuesday, august 8, 2006

our first full day in siem riep started with a bit of controversy. we really wanted to take out bicycles instead of riding motos, both for fun factor and safety reasons, but when we came down to the lobby of the hotel in the morning, the moto drivers were there with a schedule and a map. we tried to say that we didnt want to use them, but they kept saying that wed promised yesterday (which was true) and that it would be their only work for the week (which was probably true). plus, they just looked so sad when we said no.

we took pity and decided to work out a compromise...today, wed take the motos with them to explore the far away temples, and the next day wed take bicycles to explore the closer temples. good thing too...the first temple they took us to took about 1 hour by motorcycle to get to. that wouldve taken an eternity by bicycle. the drivers said it was beautiful and it was...much smaller than angkor wat, but much more well preserved and with very few tourists. we even had some cocunut curry and cocunut milk (served in actual coconuts) after viewing it.

in the next few hours they took us to several temples, the names of which are blending together but the images staying apart. one was a former giant swimming pool with a massive fountain at its core...another was on a high terrace with a good view of the city or possible invading troops...another had its back door completely envoloped by a giant tree. just fantastic sightseeing, i could write about it but pictures would be so much better.

at the end of the afternoon, they took us to a mountain temple that you can either hike up to or take an elephant ride up. since the elephant was 15 bucks we decided to take the hike. a bunch of tourists gathered at the top waiting to glimpse the sunset. after an hour up there, though, clouds obscured any possible view (with memories of mt. fuji last summer still in our heads). we headed down and got to the motos just as a torrential downpour started. the drivers were kind enough to pull over under a tree and give us rain ponchos but it did little to prevent us from getting soaked on the way back to the hotel. its rainy season, so its going to rain every late afternoon from the building humidity...what can you do?

we had a really nice dinner and for the second straight night went to a place called the buddha bar for drinks after. we met another couple and talked to them about cambodia as well as an older british man whod spent alot of time on ko samui...he got us pretty excited for the beach vacation that awaited us in thailand. before that, though, one more day at angkor was in the cards.