Earl visits Angkor Wat

[Mr Earl]

Been wanting to go for many years.

Got up and out 0500 for the requisite sunrise picture.



You might think that buy getting there that early you'd beat the crowds, right! No way, Jose. The hoards were there early, Koreans, Chinese and Japanese by the hundreds maybe thousands!



There were moments were I was in danger of being trampled...



Thankfully they are like cattle and stay in their herds and clustered mainly around the lotus pond in front of the big temple, leaving most of the site relatively unmolested.








The limestone is deteriorating pretty badly.
























more to come, I went wild taking pictures!

[khmen]

Nice to see you managed to get a few shots without the hordes spoiling the view Earl. I always seek out the quiter spots when I'm there too. Last time I spent an hour or so right out the back with a joint, watching a group of monkeys and their babies repeatedly climbing up a tree and divebombing into a pond. Hardly anyone hangs out at the back of the main Angkor complex, nice to take in the scenery in peace for a bit.


Looks busier there than I've ever seen it before, the Asian tour groups a a major annoyance there nowadays eh?


Look forward to the rest of your pics.

[Mr Earl]

Inside the outer wall

























at 0740 we were allowed to climb the tower.






still lots more....

[rebbu]

I went there for new years with the wife and kids. Far to many people at all the temples.

[Boon Mee]

Good pics Earl. Have been wanting to go for a few years as well but what's put me off are the crowds. Seems like everybody these days is 'pai teeow-ing' non-stop, 365 days of the year.

Give us some pics of the mongering we're sure you're gonna indulge in while you are over there!

[Mr Earl]

The crowds were indeed fierce, but I still managed some decent pictures. I would have liked to visit Ta Phrom with fewer folks but still it was very much worth the visit.
I regret not going in 2007 when I first visited Cambodia.

More shots of inside the tower:
















































Still lots more to come....

[Bobcock]

Nice one Earl, hard not to take thousands, I have been twice.

Ta Prom at 5am gives you just enough time to get something before the crowds arrive but at the outer temples they come in droves and if you are patient you can get gaps.

Both times I have been you have not been allowed to go up the top levels due to renovations. Might have one more trip before I leave the region.

[Mr Earl]

For the most part I managed to evade the hoards. Took a walk to an outlying library and walked the outer wall along the moat.
















A gentle little reminder how the jungle is ready to eat you up!





































































Some more temples next............

[Loy Toy]

I looks majestic, spiritual and based upon your pictures a place worth visiting.

Great photos mate.

[Mr Earl]

Yea It's a pretty amazing place, huge with so many temples. I really just scratched the surface.

I forget the name of this one.
I ran out of battery for my big camera an took these with the smart phone!



















You were under a constant assault from these enterprising sales ladies.
I bought a bunch of worthless crap!




to be cont.

[slackula]

Great stuff! Are you in Camb for the charity bike ride thingy?

[Cujo]

I've seen loads of pictures of this place, but quite frankly these are the best I've seen. great job.
You have a knack of catching the experience of being there.
It showed in your Alaska to argentina thread too.
You should do a book.

[Mr Earl]

Great stuff! Are you in Camb for the charity bike ride thingy?

Yea, but I bailed after a week, I broke one of the Daelim Scooter fork springs and rode 200kms with no suspension, killing my back and neck. I limped back to PP, now recuperating and enjoying some decent internet.

Stay tuned for my report on Preah Vihear, I had an incredible visit there.

[Bobcock]

Thanks Koojo.... I'll know not to bother next time.....55555

[Cujo]

Thanks Koojo.... I'll know not to bother next time.....55555

Sorry mate, Although yours are technically better, somehow Earls pics manage to convey a really 'there' sense. (to me anyway)
(got a link to yours?)

[draco888]

Excellent sense of scale in the pics.

How many kms do yo do on 2 wheels per year?

[Bobcock]

5555...just kidding you are welcome to prefer Earls pics.....

[Chairman Mao]

Great stuff Earl.

So you rented a scooter from PP for one week and spent the time touring the country?

An overall report would be great. It's something I'd like to do in the near future. But with something a bit bigger. I'm not entirely sure that I want to bring my bike over there tbh.

[Chairman Mao]

btw, $25 a day for an XR250 or XR250 Baja.

rent a motorcycle or a mountain bike in Cambodia phnom penh - motorbike or dirt bike bicycle cycle rental or hire in Cambodia
Two Wheels Only - Tours & Rentals - Phnom Penh. Cambodia

A 7-10 day ride around could be on the cards.

Did you have any hassles with coppers or anything while there Earl?

[Mr Earl]

btw, $25 a day for an XR250 or XR250 Baja.

rent a motorcycle or a mountain bike in Cambodia phnom penh - motorbike or dirt bike bicycle cycle rental or hire in Cambodia
Two Wheels Only - Tours & Rentals - Phnom Penh. Cambodia

A 7-10 day ride around could be on the cards.

Did you have any hassles with coppers or anything while there Earl?

Actually I bought a Daelim scooter for $600.00 with a guaranteed buy-back for $550.00. So far I've spent $57.00 in repairs and maintenance.
Te XR250's rent for $100.00 a week. You gotta spend $40.00 to convert to Cambo DL and hope you don't have any major repairs. One of our guys blew out a front tyre of an XR and cost him $75.00+half a day. The XR also use twice the fuel of the Daelim. At a $1.00 a liter that adds up.
The scooter suspension beat the shit out of me, that was my only gripe. Next time I'll throw some knobby's on the GS and go. I need my comfort by god! Still it was a good experience.
Zero copper hassles.

[Mr Earl]

Thanks Koojo.... I'll know not to bother next time.....55555

55555, my style is different. You're seem more of a marksman where I'm a shotgun type of shooter. Many of my shots are from the hip!

Also except for one or two none of my shots are enhanced. I walk around looking for good light, which also takes me away from the crowds.

[Phuketrichard]

been going since 2002 and its still an amazing place; I was lucky in 2009 and was in SR an they opened Angkor at night . Only did it for a month before they stopped it before the lights did more damage than worth it. The night i was there , couldn't have been 25 people there!!! U had 2 hours to wander around and than they had dancers perform for us. Being up there at night was magical and was one of the best Asian experiences i have ever had

Richard Reitman Photography | Angkor Wat Night show

[Rural Surin]

I looks majestic, spiritual and based upon your pictures a place worth visiting.

Great photos mate.

Indeed it is!
The greater complex still holds up to the modernities thrown at it.
One of the truly magnificent ancient wonders.

We're only a few hours drive away....made easier since the new [and improved] highway was built.

Great images, Earl!!
Kudos extended...

[Bangyai]

Great pictures Mr Earl. Like others, I've always wanted to go but been put off by the crowds. Maybe one day.

Imagine what it must have looked like when the first Frenchmen saw it and visibility was only a few metres , being completely covered in thick foliage !

[Rural Surin]

Great pictures Mr Earl. Like others, I've always wanted to go but been put off by the crowds. Maybe one day.

Imagine what it must have looked like when the first Frenchmen saw it and visibility was only a few metres , being completely covered in thick foliage !

More so, imagine it's appearance during the height of the Khmer Empire of the Angkor period!!