SCRIBBLING A LITTLE SOMETHING: Journey of 4 Pilgrims to Siem Reap-Day Four and Five, 18-19 August 2007

Day 4, 18 August 2007, Saturday

Huh, Sunrise Again?

By day four, both Mok and Ramnah were annoyed of waking up early to see sunrise. Nevertheless, not wanting to leave behind the excitement, they followed us another around to see our very last sun rise at Angkor.

Today, the weather looked good, no rain and no dark gloomy clouds. Unfortunately, there was no sign of sun at all. Feeling disappointed again, we headed to the our final temple tour called The Roluos group which is located at the opposite of grand tour. The Rolous groups, oldest of all temples, consist of 3 temples (Bakong, Preah Ko and Lolei) all located about 1-½ hours from Angkor Wat. The journey to Rolous was simply superb and unforgettable. We first drove to the other part of the Angkor bypassing busy little city with bustling locals especially in the market area and then road goes deep into villages with beautiful paddy field and village house.

This is how we travel early morning to Angkor WAt by tuk-tuk-we always let the other wonder how we four girls of different shades look like?

The First to be Built, Last to View!

Our first stop was Loleii, the smallest temple of all three. Unlike other places, this was the only temple that we didn’t hear the holly 1-dollar mantra. Instead, we heard children asking donation to help the mine victim. Not only that the children was extremely polite and nice, unlike the exposed devils in Angkor Wat. I was impressed. How ever, the temple was all ruined. The only thing left was the structures that was scattered all around. Despite being the first temple to be built in Siem Reap, no restoration has been made so far.

The small Loleii temple, despite being the first no restoration made! Typical Hindu temple.

Side view of the temple.

Up close and personal with the inscription on the temple wall. Looks like Sanskrit!

So we headed to the next temple, Bakong, the biggest and one of my personal favorites. It’s located in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by huge pond and an active monastery at the side of the temple. Similar to other temple, a long pathway linked to the main entrance that views the beautiful 3 set of gopura on high temple ground. The temple ground is very huge and has little gopuras all around the temple ground. The structure of the temple was a little like Banteay Srei. A little stairs lead to the second level where there were several small ruin gopura on both side. We walked around the temple and rested for a while enjoying the soft cooling morning breeze. Unlike Bayon or Phnom Bahkeng, there is nothing magical about the temple but it was indeed a nice place to rest and relax from the bustling crowd and the annoying kids.

The huge pond at the entrance of Bakong.

An active monastery at the corner of the temple.

Walkway through the beautiful Bakong temple.

Close up

Full view of Bakong with the similar sign board, "climb at your own risk"

The central gopuras

ME sitting behind the central gopura

The view from the central gopura. Below all ruin!

We then headed to the last temple, Preah Koh, which is all ruined and under restoration. But the beauty of the temple lies on the huge gopuras with beautiful carving and the Nandi’s sitting opposite each gopuras. By then, we were all done with temples and headed back to old market for our real shopping free.

The 3 gopuras of Preah Koh- currently under restoration!

Side View

Mega Sale!

We shopped and shopped and shopped till it was 1 o’clock and was time for lunch. We quickly headed back to our guesthouse, only to put or things and headed to our usual restaurant, the Angkor Famous. Feeling too stuffed but not satisfied with our shopping, we continued till it was 3.

The Perfect View, for Perfect End!

We rushed back to our guesthouse, quickly refreshed and headed to Blue Pumpkin, where our new young tuk-tuk driver (which we pre-booked yesterday) awaits us to take to Bakheng Hill to see our last sunset. Unlike Angkor Wat, Bakeng hill was crowded with twice the people. May be it best spot for sunset, may be its picturesque or may be its simply were not raining. Not wanting to miss the last opportunity to view the sunset, we rushed up to the hill as if we were in amazing race and spotted a nice perfect place. Instead, we ended up enjoying looking at people and the peculiar behavior as the sun never set.

By the time it was 6.30, the whole place was getting dark and the guard showed us out. Everyone was rushing down as they climbed up. Our tuk-tuk driver was already waiting for us. We then headed straight to the old market first to buy our usual stock of bread at Blue Pumpkin and then to our last shopping at night market, which was just around the corner. Since, it just around the corner, we paid him off and told him we would find our way back. The place was simply superb everything sold here was in high quality, had beautiful colors and design and was expensive. After shopping for sometime, we stopped at the restaurant to enjoy one last thing, the taste of local desert, which turn out to be quite nice. Satisfied with everything, we headed back home to do our packing.

The view of our last sunset at Bakheng:

How to enjoy watching sunset at Bahkeng Hill:

1. wear cool local scarf on the head

2. Pre book place in advance and dont even move inch ...its free..and first come first serve basis

3. You can sleep and view the sun set in wrong direction or simply use an umbrella to cover the sun

4. Or simply wear a colourful suits with matching head gear, face the sun and read a book

5. Or you do nothing above and take picture of your self!! He he he

Day 5, 19 August 2007, Sunday

The Return of Four Holly Saint!

It was our final day in Siem Reap and I could hardly sleep. We only woke up at 7 o’clock. No sunrise to Angkor Wat today as our pass was only valid for four days. We quickly repacked for the final time and headed to our usual Angkor Famous for breakfast. Instead, we ordered lunch. We had the taste of local bread, which turned to be better then our local French bread. Lingering to long at the restaurant we arrived late at the guesthouse and our taxi left. The owner was angry yet got for us another one. We said nothing. Quickly took the taxi to the airport to find out that our flight was delayed. However, miracle happened and it was rescheduled to the usual time. After 2 hours or sitting on the plane, it finally arrived at KLIA and our journey to Siem Reap ended.