Thursday, March 5, 2009

Day 2 (Part 1): Angkor Wat

Early in the morning, at 5am, we set off for the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Songpiak, our tuk tuk driver will be with us for the rest of the day for the temple tour. Arrange with Jasmine Lodge for your transportation for the day. US$12 for a tuk tuk for the whole day. The entrance ticket (US$20) was bought on the previous day.

We arrive at pitch dark. Slowly the sky become brighter. But where is the "egg yolk"? Angkor Wat is not as pretty as before. The ugly scaffolding is very obvious even from afar. The original five towers has become six (incl of scaffolding). Restoration works have to be done to preserve this majestic architecture. It has been a long time since I get a chance to see the sky slowly brightening up.
Though there were many people catching the sunrise together, the atmosphere is surprisingly very peaceful. Everyone waited patiently to catch one of the most renowned sceneries of Cambodia. The sunrise at Angkor Wat.


Still waiting for the "egg yolk"?


People from all over the world gather together.



Yes...this many people from all over the world together, just to catch Angkor Wat's sunrise. While waiting for the sun to rise, the person sitting next to me started meditating.



Yes, the "egg yolk". But it's not outside the Angkor Wat. It's from inside. We should have waited outside at the original place till 7am.





The carvings inside Angkor Wat.

Happy to see the "egg yolk" even though it is not the postcard view.