#25: Angkor on the Big Circuit

09.02.2020

Today we are going back to Angkor, but this time on the Big Circuit and at a more human time. There are seven temples on the grand tour.

After breakfast, at 9 o'clock, we set out to find a trustworthy-looking tuk tuk. We take a driver 'off the street' as they are cheaper than those provided by the hotel. We quickly find one in the neighborhood, negotiate the price, and off we go.

We only make a short visit to Angkor Wat today, as we have already visited the temple extensively. We skip Bayon, where Martin was almost robbed by a macaque last time. On the way, we quickly realize that it is the hottest day of the trip so far, at least it feels that way. We can't drink enough water to compensate for the amount we are sweating. And we had considered doing the tour on rented bicycles! Fortunately, we didn't do that because the only relief we get comes from the breeze of the tuk tuk.

Then we visit a series of new temples, each impressing us in its own way. Some with their decorations, others located on small islands, and others built with different materials. These temples are also between 1,200 and 800 years old.

We finish our tour around 5 o'clock, thoroughly exhausted. You might think that visiting Angkor after the tenth temple would be boring. However, that is not the case because each temple impresses us with its attention to detail, the individual atmosphere, the proximity to the jungle, and the sheer size each time.

After work, we quickly end the day with an Angkor Beer and dinner.