Day 2,
22nd July 2011 (Friday)
Waked up at 7.00am, and had our breakfast at Mother Home Inn Mother Café. Today’s journey was further from Siam Reap Town, it was about 1 hour drive. Along the road, there is long and never ending paddy field.
First destination is Banteay Srey which was built in 2nd half of 10th century. Here, I get to know there was Asian Mona Lisa on the wall of Banteay Srey who was known as Apsara – beautiful dancers who were hired by the King to give dance performance to all the workers who were tiring to do all the art and hard work to build the building. With the beautiful dancers’ performance, the workers would forget about their tiredness during day work. Actually, there is a lot of pretty Apsara on the walls at all the temples that we visited, only today I heard from one of the tour guide while he was explaining the history of Banteay Srey to his customers.
We proceed to Beng Melea with about one and half hours drive. Four of us were slept in the car, we were still tired as we did not have enough sleep since yesterday. Beng Melea is managed by the other company called Kham Someth Co. LTD. Therefore, it is not included in the tickets of USD40. We have to pay USD5 for the entrance. Here, Pete was allowed to enter the Beng Melea together with us. He told us that ‘Lotus’ is the Nasional Flower of Cambodia. And he explained all structure of the temple and how did it build. We had to climb over the rock to pass through the buildings.
The 5 heads of snakes was known as ‘NAGA’, which is found at every entrance of temples or buildings. Pete explained to us that door which is not able to open is the door for ‘GOD’. Only ‘GOD’ will know how to enter in the room without door open.
And there is a ‘buffalo’ sitting facing the door to ensure the ‘GOD’ is inside the room. Pete also said that it was the idea of the KING to build all the temples after the majestic received the command from the ‘GOD’. It is really amazing that I could not figure out, how the people in 900 years ago were able to build such beautiful temples without technologies, it is really impossible mission except it was really a legend. We climbed over and over in Beng Melea, it was not restructured as the company would like to keep it as origin they found it. One of th roof was broken as people broke into to steal the Buddha head.
Next, we proceed to Preah Ko with 30 minutes drive. It was built earlier than Angkor Wat. People are wondering how did the people in 900 years to build the temples in 2 places which is about 1.5 hours drive apart from each other. The structure of all the temples look exactly the same for me, however there is actually different of pattern of carving in each temple which I could not differentiate.
Here, we met 3 little boys who will say “姐姐漂亮，哥哥帅哥” when they meet Chinese ladies and gentlemen. When they met a Euro woman, they will say “hello Madam”. Then Kam said that Susan does not understand Mandarin, then they said “Hello Lady!”, they are really smart! I think my 7 years old Joanne will not know to differentiate madam and lady!
We went back to Angkor Thom and proceed to Phnom Bakheng for our sunset view, as the weather was good. It will not rain as the sun was shining. When we reached Phnom Bakheng, it was crowded with people, people started to go up to the hill, and after we reached the hill, there was a long staircases to climb up. The step of the staircases were narrow that we had to ‘climb’ with our foot and hands on it. Finally we were on top of it. However, the sun was hiding behind the cloud; therefore we were not able to see the beautiful scene of sunset.
Then we were sent to Pub Street again for our dinner. We ordered Khemer SteamBoat set, BBQ pork rib, fried rice and drinks – (Total USD 11.50). Kam helped us to buy Pan Cake with Banana and Chocolate. It was served as our ‘roti canai’. It cost USD1 each. We took ‘tuk-tuk’ and went back to Mother Home Inn for our free body massage if stayed in Mother Home Inn > 3 Nights.
It ends with our 2nd day trip…..We did have a good sleep after the massage….Zzzzzzz…
Ticket to Beng Mealea, USD 5.00
Lunch USD20/4, USD 5.00
Dinner USD11.4/4, USD 3.00
Tuk-tuk, USD 0.50
Taxi USD65/4, USD 26.25
Massage, USD 5.00
Total USD44.75
Day 3
23rd July 2011, Saturday
We waked up at 4.30am and depart to Angkor Wat again for our sun rise view at 5.00am. We reached there about 5.30am. It was crowded with people, especially besides the lake where we can view the reflection of Angkor Wat on the lake. The sunrise scene was beautiful and the sunshine was too bright. After sunrise, we had our packed breakfast with sandwich and 2 pcs banana.
Then we proceed to Preah Khan temple, it was about 800 meters long, Susan and I walked till we passed through the temple. It was really long way and we walked for more than 1km because we had to walked back to the place where Pete dropped us at the entrance.
Neak Poan Temple is combined by 5 ponds with 5 small temples in middle of the ponds. There is always a ‘buffalo’ facing to the temple to ensure the ‘GOD’ is in the temple.
After Neak Poan, we proceed to Ta Soam. Ta Soam was built by the same King of Bayon Temple, therefore we can see smiling Buddha face in Ta Soam. Next, we went to East Mebon. East Mebon was built by using red bricks. Pre Rup is about 10 minutes drive from East Mebon, and the structure is exactly look the same with East Mebon.
Banteay Kdei is about 20 minutes drive from East Mebon. It was built end of 12th century and end by 13th century. Then we proceed to Sras Srang (swimming pool for the KING), it is really huge. It looks like a lake not a swimming pool. It is about 5 m deep. I was wondering how did the KING swim. He must be accompanied by many soldiers. After visiting all the temples in Angkor Thom, we back to Pub Street again for our lunch.
We went to Lim Kim Cheng restaurant for our lunch. Even though the price here is cheaper than the dinner, it served in small portion. Both me and Susan were not full enough for the food that we ordered. I ordered stupid meal – yellow noodles soup with shrimp, I did not like it.
After lunch, we went to old market again; all the stalls and shop were open during day time. There is really variety of shops found in old market, it combines of dry and wet market. Whatever things that you can name it, you can find it here. I bought 2 jump suit for me and either my sister or mum. I also bought pencils for my daughter.
Since Pete will only come to pick up at 4pm, Kam and Florence were back to Mother Home Inn as they were too tired to walk around till 4pm. Susan and me went to The Blue Pumpkin to have our tea break because we felt hungry. We ordered hot cappuccino for me, Vanilla-red berr shake for Susan, pineapple brioche, brioche chocolate and Danish passion. It cost USD8.45. Then we met Pete at about 3.50pm and back to hotel to have a nap.
7.30pm, we went back to Pub Street again for dinner as Pete said there is no other place for us to have dinner. After dinner, we went to The Red Piano to have a drink. Kam and Susan ordered Tomb Raider Cocktail which was initiated by Angelina Jolin in year 2000. I ordered banana shake and Florence was not feeling well, she ordered hot chocolate. Everyone laughing at me for ordering banana shake in the pub. What to do? I don’t like to drink alcohol. Then we went back to have our nice dream. ;)
Today end with our 3 days ticket for Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat.
Lunch USD 9/4, USD 2.25
Tea Break @ The Blue Pumpkin, USD 4.25
Taxi USD25/4, USD 6.25
Dinner USD 7/2, USD 3.50
Drink @ Red Piano, USD 1.50
Souvenir @ old market, USD 20.95
Total USD38.70
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