Ta Prohm, Ta Keo, Phnom Bakheng

Next up was Ta Prohm. This is one of the most famous Angkor sites, renowned for the trees that have grown around and on and in the walls. And it is maintained so as to preserve this ambience (at other sites trees are killed to prevent them further damaging the stonework).

We were at Ta Prohm around 2pm and the strong light and resulting shade/sun contrasts made some photographs awkward. It might have been good for photography early in the morning — and it might be more atmospheric then, too.

Richard had a nap in the tuk-tuk while I climbed Ta Keo. This was built around the year 1000 and was never finished, so the surfaces are mostly undecorated and rather stark and angular; the effect is quite imposing.

It is also rather steep. There were young German women on their hands on the way down and I heard some comments about "free climbing". It was hardly that difficult, but falling wouldn't have been much fun.

I explored some small sites between Ta Keo and Angkor Thom: the Chapel of the Hospital, an old bridge Spean Thma, and Thommanon, a small temple to Shiva and Vishnu probably from the early 12th century.

the Bayon in evening light

We drove back through Angkor Thom, stopping for a photo of the Bayon in evening light, and headed for Phnom Bakheng.

The elephant ride was $20 per person, so we ended up walking up the road that spirals up the hill. And then Richard managed to climb to the top of the Bakheng!

The top was full of people there to watch the sunset. I wangled a decent vantage point until someone stuck their head in the way.

Getting down in the dark was a bit tricky and my torch came in handy. And the drive back to Siem Reap was scary, as not all tuk-tuks have rear lights and there were roadworks involving trenches dug across half the road without any warning...

We had dinner in a Pizza Company restaurant and then sundaes from a Svensens icecream outlet, in a mall with shops selling fashion clothing, perfume and cosmetics, and mostly English language books. There were no tourists at all here; just Khmer families with screaming children, obviously pretty well-off going by the prices.

And I finished off the day with a Cambodian massage, which concentrates on the feet and hands. (The masseuse asks permission before touching your head.)

Next: Chong Khneas + Phnom Krom
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