Reached at 6.45am and just in time to capture the sunrise. It was spectacular.
By 12pm I was back in Siem Reap for lunch after covering my main itinerary in less than 5 hours. Yes I'm damn quick as I move fast alone and I have my bike to travel between the temples which are spaced kilometers apart.
1) Angkor Wat
2) Bayon temple
3) Ta Phrom
I've learnt that the way to have a good parking space for my bike (guarded) is to approach a drink vendor within the temple grounds and order a drink from them (fresh coconut for USD$1). After the drink just tell them that you will leave the bike there for a while and visit the temple. I did this twice and was happy about it.
I feel that although these ruins are magnificent and spectacular, there are far too many tourists moving around the grounds (like ants). This is likely to speed up the deterioration of the ancient attraction. Perhaps more can be done to control the number of visitors allowed to the attractions each day.
Lunch was Khmer beef curry and 2 pineapple shakes at 'Special Khmer food restaurant'. The curry was surprisingly very good. Cost: USD$3.50
After my afternoon nap, I went back to Angkor at 4pm to visit the fourth temple of my visit:
4) Ta Keo
When I was at Ta Keo, a little girl tried to sell me many items such as post cards, bangles and things that ladies hang on their bags. This time I relented and bought a set of post cards for USD$1. Very good value I thought to myself. The view was beautiful from the top of Ta Keo.
After the visit to Ta Keo, I went to the nearby man made reservoir to have a break and take some pictures. Another little girl came up to me to sell post cards. Why not? I thought to myself since I pretty liked the first set. And so I agreed to buy some from her.
Pretty soon, I was swarmed by a whole army of cute little children. I was surprised not knowing where they suddenly appeared from. I ended up buying 9 sets of beautiful postcards.
There way no way I can buy everything that they try to sell me. There was an ice-cream seller nearby so I offered to buy all of them ice-cream. They were overjoyed!! I ended up paying USD$3.50 for 14 ice-creams (USD$0.25 each) This could very well be my dinner for tonight but it's alright since I made 14 little children very happy.
I really do feel that these children are extremely pitiful having been exploited; having been 'forced' to sacrifice their education and childhood to 'chase' the tourist dollar. It a pity that I am powerless to help them even though I would very much like to do so. Life is such.
Thus, I rode back to town with a million thoughts in my head. I'm beginning to hate myself for being a tourist in Cambodia and would like to leave this country soon.
Dinner was Nachos supreme set and fish taco at the 'Viva Mexican restaurant' Cost:
Guess I shall pack and leave Siem Reap tomorrow. Maybe to Anlong or Preah Vihear or maybe I shall go back to Thailand.
Expenses:
Hotel - USD$13
F&B - USD$5.50
Misc/Shopping - USD$12.50
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