4.15am wake up was needed to catch the Sun rising up over the most well-known and, arguably, the most beautiful temple.
Our normally laid-back tuk-tuk driver, Mr Sak Sak was putting pedal to the metal and overtaking everyone else, in order to get us to the temple as early as possible. It was interesting to see the city’s nightlife winding down, at the same time as shop owners were setting up their stalls for the day ahead. The air was refreshing, and, at 25 degrees C, this was the coolest temperature we would likely experience for a few weeks.
Sunrise was due for 6.12am, and temple access is available from 5am, which explains our driver’s determination to get us to the front of the queue.
We got a pretty good seating (on rocks) and viewing position. Our photos won’t do the temple justice, but here they are. As a brief historical note, the Ankgor Wat temple is built on a square man-made island (surrounded by a literal square moat). The island is approximately the size of Manhattan! It is really huge. It dates back to 12th century and believed to have been built as a mausoleum (it is one of the only temples to face West, where the Sun sets). Amazing, really geometric layout, symmetry- quite stunning. The towers are supposed to be the same height as Notre Dame in Paris.
And did we say this is all in the jungle?
Note the matching Cambodian linen tops, decorated with elephants (cool) and flames (subtle).
The temple is huge, and we will be back tomorrow to explore it in more detail, and also see other temples on the ‘small loop’.
Planning to spend rest of today lounging on the sunbed... it was a very early start after all!
Our normally laid-back tuk-tuk driver, Mr Sak Sak was putting pedal to the metal and overtaking everyone else, in order to get us to the temple as early as possible. It was interesting to see the city’s nightlife winding down, at the same time as shop owners were setting up their stalls for the day ahead. The air was refreshing, and, at 25 degrees C, this was the coolest temperature we would likely experience for a few weeks.
Sunrise was due for 6.12am, and temple access is available from 5am, which explains our driver’s determination to get us to the front of the queue.
We got a pretty good seating (on rocks) and viewing position. Our photos won’t do the temple justice, but here they are. As a brief historical note, the Ankgor Wat temple is built on a square man-made island (surrounded by a literal square moat). The island is approximately the size of Manhattan! It is really huge. It dates back to 12th century and believed to have been built as a mausoleum (it is one of the only temples to face West, where the Sun sets). Amazing, really geometric layout, symmetry- quite stunning. The towers are supposed to be the same height as Notre Dame in Paris.
And did we say this is all in the jungle?
Note the matching Cambodian linen tops, decorated with elephants (cool) and flames (subtle).
The temple is huge, and we will be back tomorrow to explore it in more detail, and also see other temples on the ‘small loop’.
Planning to spend rest of today lounging on the sunbed... it was a very early start after all!
Comments
Beautiful photos and an even better write up.
Nice and responsible tuk tuk driver you have to bring you on time for the sunrise.
So the air was a refreshing 25°C! :-)
Were there many tourists to view the sunrise?
Learned a lot from the write up. Amazing.
Thanks for the update.
Take care, have a good rest and stay safe.
Lots of love. Dad
Yes it really is called a tuk-tuk!
After all the work stress of the past days, it must have been a welcome holiday.
Hope you both are having a wonderful time relaxing and winding down.
Keep updated with photos and news and feel free to contact.
Much love.
D