Angkor

There are things worth getting up at 5 O'clock in the morning for: the sun rising over one of the many lakes in Angkor is one of those moments in life that you never forget. The temple complex, built in the 12th Century, is much larger than I would have expected. Buildings and ruins are scattered throughout the jungle - you climb old stairs to the top of the temple and get a view of the jungle, get lost in stone hallways, marvel at the various relief sculptures, while butterflies flutter about showcasing all colors of the rainbow.

The jungle ambiance : the smell of fresh rain, the noises of unknown animals in the canopy. Witnessing the fusion of architecture and nature is indescribable. It's definitely one of the most beautiful experiences I've had.

One thing that does slightly hamper the experience : I need to correct what I said in the previous post... It is actually very hot!

Tomorrow we will go back to Angkor and this time we will visit the most famous temple there: Angkor Wat. It will probably be very busy, as many tourists from all nations abound in this region. The advantage this morning was the early time - Imke and I were almost entirely alone at the temples, which made the visit all the more enjoyable. According to Tuk-Tuk drivers Angkor Wat is pretty much packed at all times of day. A tip for any reader who might want to go someday: follow the tourguide or the tuk-tuk driver's advice, and do the visits in reverse order! Then you will get the first sights all to yourself.

Another addendum to yesterday : I lost $2 playing pool against the locals. An interesting variant in which all players (in this case, there were four players) get a certain number of cards. Each card represents the value of a ball (jack = 10, etc.), and the objective is to sink the balls corresponding to your cards - after each ball you sink you "play" the corresponding card. If an opponent has already played that card, it's worthless. Whoever has played the most cards wins. The next game is started by the winner of the first round. The order of the following players seems to be guided by the cards. For more detailed rules, the language barrier was too great and my budget too small.

The Cambodians in general are very friendly. You'll do well if you like smiles! Here you can reach agreements in prices, trades or other daily situations, with a winning smile. And since the Cambodians smile so much, I am doing it too!

I does feel a bit like India, when it comes to city structures, sensory impressions and the type of communication. But there is one crucial difference: The rickshaws here are called Tuk-Tuk :)