Angkor Wat Day.

Today is going to be a wonderful day. Our tuk-tuk driver Mao picked us up at the hotel and took us to the ticket office for Angkor Wat. Following our purchase off we went to the temple. The sight of seeing Angkor Wat, its turrets of slate grey rising above the skyline was truly impressive. Crossing the bridge of large plastic squares that swayed as you walked was a fun experience. You wavered and rocked like a drunk and we had a good laugh as we clung to each other for balance.  These large squares made a pontoon-like structure for everyone to cross on due to the fact that the original brick bridge next to it was under repair. There were hundreds of people visiting the temple in their brightly coloured clothes carrying photographic equipment. Many a phone snapped away capturing the magnificence of it all. Once inside there were many stairs and large stone steps to climb but once up them, the view was amazing.  A huge courtyard graced the middle with the buildings surrounding the main temple. We spent our morning wandering around snapping photos and finally using our selfie stick which was great fun.

We got some fabulous shots. Many things impressed us as well as the incredible architecture around us. A huge white balloon was rising over the entrance Pergoda and hovering there. What a magnificent sight above the temple. We snapped away. 

Another was the beautiful sight of a sea of bright pink lotus flowers growing amongst their huge leaves in a pond at the rear of the complex.

We sat near them in the shade of some trees on blue plastic chairs drinking from a fresh coconut. So refreshing and delicious. 

Deciding we needed a toilet we asked a vendor who pointed the way behind some stalls. This toilet belonged to the monks quarters with a fee of twenty-five cents which went to the upkeep of the temple. We were happy to pay of course. They were the old squat variety with the trough of water and a plastic scoop for afters. Always a challenge. I  found taking my pants off altogether was by far easier and you did not get covered in water or anything else. Then it was time for lunch. There was one restaurant among the stalls so in we went. We sat on plastic chairs under a bamboo frame with a tarpaulin thrown over the top and secured.

 The view of Angkor Wat was incredible. Lunch was delicious and consisted of noodles and bean curd and I tasted my first Cambodian green tea. I loved it. I spat out the coarse bits of fibre in it. Looked like someone had thrown a tree trunk into a glass. 

Time to leave and visit temple number two, Bayon Temple.

The view as we were leaving Angkor Wat.