Back from a short holiday and was refreshing away from the madness but back to madness. Was a first for me to Angkor Wat and the Cambodians are serious in preserving and showing off their Hindu and Buddhist heritage and how great the emperors were and the magnificent monuments which they built and stand majestic even today.
Hired a tour guide USD 20 for the day and entrance to Angkor Wat was another USD 37 and USD for a printed photo for myself with Angkor Wat in the background. Not only the Cambodians but the whole of South East Asia except for Malaysia and Brunei are proud to showcase their pre-Islamic heritage and look at Indonesia when Majaphit or Srivijay is mention it is mention in Nationalist pride. Less talk about the countries ashamed of their heritage.
I left hotel at 5.30 am and when to the cultural complex to buy ticket and then another 20 minutes to Angkor Wat. The route was beautiful with a road without pot holes and the roads were lined with virgin forest with tall trees on both sides ( This area was the last stronghold of Pot Pol and expect to see the forest all destroyed but even the villains cared but the environment and the monuments.
Reach Angkor 6 am and there was already a huge crowd of tourist maybe anywhere from 5 to 10 thousand of them waiting was the sun to rise (Imagine the tourist dollars earned) the main event is when the sun rises and it is absolutely beautiful lighting up Angkor Wat. Did some exploration and took me 5 to 6 hours going and exploring the Temple and palace grounds. It was like a festive season and as the guide every day is like this……..
Tomorrow I will talk about the hotels food and the people and why everywhere you go all prices in USD and a foot massage only for USD 1 and a fresh fruit juice from the mobile fruit juice stalls only USD 1 and draft beer whole day only ½ USD
No comments:
Post a Comment