Below is a shot of the long causeway that leads from the outer wall to the central complex. The sun hasn't joined us yet, but it is definitely on its way.
"Hey, haven't we seen this photo before? That's cheating!" Actually, it is taken from the same place as that other photo, but you'll notice now that it has a slight pinkish hue. I couldn't help it; it makes such a nice silhouette. You would be sick if you saw just how many pictures I took of this. Just be glad I haven't posted them all!
Finally, the sun has arrived. Can we go back to sleep now? I guess not.
Here is the crew (Marije, Jennifer, me, and Humphrey) in front of Angkor Wat, again with no people in sight. .jpg)
I didn't mind visiting Angkor Wat again, because there is so much to take in all at once that you pick up on more of the details a second time around. Details like all of the intricate carvings...
... and the bas-reliefs carved into the walls.
We even made it out to the back of the complex to see the natural causeway across the moat and the structures at the back of the temple.
After spending about three or four hours inside the complex, which must have baffled our driver, (hey, the sun rises at its own pace), we walked out to the open area between the outer wall and inner complex and once again, there were almost no people. We really lucked out.
We then followed the same route I had taken on day 1, heading to the ancient city of Angkor Thom. While the others explored the ruins of the Bayon, playing around with photographing the faces as I had previously done, I searched for more bas-reliefs. The details of the carvings are wonderful, the scene below depicting activities of daily life.
The site's literature claims that this depicts drunken Chinese men dancing on a boat. I am not sure how they know that they are Chinese or that they are drunk, but they are definitely dancing on a boat.
I did not climb Phimeanakas a second time, but I did take the time to study the front of the building.
Another face, on our way to a very cool place that I had not yet visited.
The next stop was Ta Prohm, which was founded as a Buddhist monastery and university. But what this complex is really known for is the way in which nature has usurped this area for its own. (This temple was also used in the movie Tomb Raider.)
Trees have just grown on top of buildings, seeming to shun the need for soil and ground water. The trees grow tall and fast towards the sky, while their roots stretch for the earth.
This massive silk cotton tree has just taken up residence, perched on the wall and winding it's roots along the corners of the walls, as though it had been trained to do so. (Look how small Jennifer is next to these roots.).jpg)
This is actually the back side of the same tree. You can see where it's roots have reached the ground, but at the cost of the building on which it stands. It's as though the roots are actually consuming the structure like some alien mouth swallowing the world, one building at a time. (For a little Where's Waldo fun, can you spot Marije, whose clothes have blended in with the tree?).jpg)
I think this is a strangler fig, but whatever it is, it provides great atmosphere.
And this silk cotton wood is probably the most famous site at this complex.
I just love how these buildings can support these massive trees and how these massive trees can survive atop piles of stone. It is the weirdest and most destructive symbiosis I have ever seen.
And here is a closer look at the tree from the picture above. I love this shot of our little gang in one of the coolest places we visited.
Afterwards, we headed for Phnom Bakheng, which is a temple built on a mountain overlooking Angkor Wat. We came for the sunset views, which unfortunately don't occur over Angkor Wat from this angle, but it was still nice to get an aerial view of the temple.
Sadly, the sun was setting behind a rainstorm, but it made for a neat effect anyway.
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