Day 6 – Siem Reap

December 30th 2008

Woken at 8am by someone wishing to make up our room – will give him the benefit of the doubt today, maybe the Do Not Disturb sign had fallen off – have a snooze before heading down for Breakfast which unusually, but very welcome, for this trip is included in our stay.

As I'm still feeling a little fragile we decide to limit our movements today so as to see much more tomorrow. So around lunchtime we venture out of the hotel to head for Angkor Wat itself.

We immediately flag down one of the official Tuk Tuk (not quite the same as Thailand, more of a motorbike towing a small carriage on the back) drivers and are heading off on some of the worst roads imaginable to Angkor Wat.

When it does level out though this is a great way to travel. Again, nobody's going too fast so it's just a case of allowing the cooling breeze to wash over you. Our driver, who's English, like most people we've encountered here, is incredible, points out various things on the way and helps us get the correct ticket from the booth.

So, Angkor Wat. Well, it is of course spectacular but... The but is that given all the guidebook and general hype we're expecting something that could never actually meet our expectations and so while it seems almost crazy to say this we're perhaps a little disappointed. Angkor Wat is vast, and given its age that alone is incredible. What's left of the carvings etc are fascinating and you can only imagine what it must've been like when it was built. Unlike the Golden Palace of Bangkok though it isn't a feast for the eyes and while I'm taking photos of course there isn't the variety of things to actually look at.

We managed to come during the quiet part of the day so when we do leave a few hours later the whole place is teaming with people. Remarkably we find our driver almost straightaway and it's back to the hotel. Different route, slightly better roads! Before he goes we book him for tomorrow.

Evening in the hotel to catch up with journals. Big day tomorrow going to Angkor Thom and perhaps some other places, we'll see. Oh, and it's New Year's Eve of course so hopefully we'll be able to party a bit too.