Angkor Wat Christmas
Trip Start
Jul 13, 2009
1
30
35
Trip End
Ongoing
Siem Reap, Siĕm Réab, Cambodia
Friday, December 25, 2009
Get a 3-day pass to explore the ruins.
Then bus it back to Thailand to hit the beaches.
Update, 23DEC2009:
I'll try to call my family during Christmas from a computer using Skype.
I may not be updating this blog until after i get back to Thailand as the internet here is very slow. Actually, I'm "typing blind" right now. I cannot see what I tyup e until about 10 seconds later (or half a sentence). So I wish everyone a happy holiday, and i'll talk to ou soon.
Mike
Update, 24DEC2009:
The following describes the view from a hill called Phnom Bakheng, overlooking Angkor Wat:
"This is the most solitary place in all Angkor - and the pleasantest...for it is at sunrise and sunset that you feel its most potent charm. To steal out of bungalow an hour before dawn...then clamber up the steep buried stairway on the eastern face of the hill...to emerge from the enveloping forest on to the cool high terrace with the stars above you - is a small pilgrimage whose reward is far greater than its cost in effort.
"Here at the summit it is very still. The darkness has lost its intensity; and you stand in godlike isolation on the roof of a world that seems to be floating in the sky, among stars peering faintly through wisps of filmy cloud...The dawn comes so unobtrusively that you are unaware of it...Soon, in the east, a faint pale-gold light is diffused above a grey bank of cloud that lies across the far horizon...And then, as the light strengthens...the tremendous towers of Angkor Wat push their black mass above the grey-green monotony of foliage..."
That was a quote from H.W. Ponder, early 20th century.
Update, 25DEC2009:
This morning I got up before dawn to see the sun rise at Angkor Wat. That was nice.
I saw an even more amazing and moving event. After I had walked around the famous temple complex, I went back to where my tuk-tuk driver was parked and waiting for me. This is also an area where there are many locals trying to sell you cold drinks, food, postcards, and souvenirs. Among the crowd was this monk in the dark orange robes. As it was early morning, it is their time to ask for food donations, and then give blessings to those who donate. The person donating then gets down on knees and assumes the praying position as the monk recites a Buddhist blessing. Well, no sooner than I had put my camera away and climbed into my tuk-tuk, this little girl of about 4 or 5 approaches the monk. She cautiously places something in the monks pocket - food I presume. Then, incredibly, she assumes the prayer position and receives a blessing from the monk. I mean, she looked like she was 2 years old! But being Cambodian, I assume she was more likely a 4 year old. I was amazed. As my tuk-tuk drove away from the scene, over the bumpy dirt parking lot, I knew reaching for my camera was a lost cause. I could not know if the little girl knew the significance of her act, or perhaps seeing and encouraged by her mom, she just mimicked it. Never-the-less, it touched me in a way that made my eyes water a bit.
Merry Christmas
Update, 27DEC2009.
Well I've concluded my 3-day tour of Angkor. It was well-worth it. I cant beleive some people only stay here one day! There is just too much to see. I know I want to come back here again. Next time hire a guide to walk thru the ruins with me and explain everything. They cost $20 per day, in addition to your driver! Also, there are some nice hand-made teak string instruments I'd love to get. I met this guy selling them outside of Ta Prohm for only $10. Wow. He originally asked for $25, but I was a tough customer. Even at $10, I could not afford it, nor would I want to risk damaging it on a bus ride to Thailand. I was skeptical that his dad actually made them by hand, until he walked me a few hundred meters to his home and I met his family and they showed me everything. So I got his name and promised him to return someday to buy those instruments. That was definately an experience off the beaten track!
I would have liked to be on a bus back to Thailand by now. But I'm sorta stuck here. I've drained my Thai bank account. I'm down to just the money in my wallet, and I cannot check out of the guest house here because I owe them for 5 nights stay. I realized yesterday (saturday) that I cannot get cash from MoneyGram until it opens on monday. So I'm stuck here for now. Errrrrr! I've actually been walking the 1/2 mile to the restaurant street because I dont want to spend the one dollar they charge for a tuk-tuk ride. Thats how tight I am right now, lol.
Its OK. I befriended a local tuk-tuk driver named Sros. He said he will drive me around for free until I get my money. We shared some beers last night. He wants me to meet his wife and newborn baby today. Its a bit difficult to understand him sometimes, but like all Cambodians I've met, he's a really nice guy. He also said that if I cannot afford food, he will make food for me.
Comments
Wow!! What a Christmas. unlike any other for sure. Merry christmas Brother.try to find some amaretto, Cheers!
Awesome Mike....I hope you got the voice mail we sent you at Christmas from Eric's house. Your writings and pictures are incredible.
Oh, yes! That was such a great message! I logged onto Skype and played the message. It was perfect! It really made me feel good to hear all of you - all at once!
Skype is an awesome service...and best of all, its FREE! Pretty much every computer in every internet cafe has Skype loaded. And if not, you can just upload the program yourself. So most travellers are using Skype a lot.
(Did I just make a commercial for Skype? Haha.)
I just viewed all the pictures. W O W ! ! ! ( If you would like to sponsor mikes oddessy please send money to.....) no joke maybe you should put that in there.
They actually have that option on this website. They link it thru Paypal so anyone can use their credit card to "make a donation". I guess I should give it a try... Maybe I'll be able to afford a bus ticket out of here so I can take more photos someplace else.
OK, Kris. You got your wish! I just set up the PayPal thing so people can donate to my blog! Click on the "support my travels" button on the upper right, I put a funny message there.
thats hillarious!