2015 - GETTING TO SIEM REAP & THE JUNGLE TEMPLE

OFF THE PANDAW BOAT NOW & THE LONG BUS RIDE TO SIEM REAP. IN THE WET SEASON, THIS MIGHT BE POSSIBLE BY BOAT BUT NO SUCH LUCK IN THE DRY SEASON ..

THIS IS WHAT I SAW ALONG THE WAY ..

A GAS STOP & -- ANYONE FOR CRICKET?

ANOTHER STOP - THOSE PLASTIC BAGS FILLED WITH WATER ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BUG SCARERS. THEY SEE THEIR REFLECTION IN THE WATER & ARE SCARED AWAY. BELIEVE IT OR NOT ..

A POPULAR RESTAURANT OVERLOOKING A STRETCH OF WATER - SOME TABLES HAVE HAMMOCKS STRUNG UP NEARBY ..

THAT IS A TRACTOR, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS A JAPANESE BUFFALO. NOT USUALLY A PEOPLE CARRIER ...

THAT IS A PEOPLE CARRIER THOUGH ..

WHEN I ARRIVED AT SIEM REAP I EXPECTED TO CATCH A RIDE TO THE SAEM SIEM REAP HOTEL WITH ANOTHER PASSENGER BUT EVERYONE DISAPPEARED ON ME. I SPOTTED A YOUNG FELLA WITH A SHIRT THAT MADE HIM APPEAR TO ME A CREW MEMBER OF THE JAHAN BOAT THAT HAD BEEN DOGGING US FOR DAYS ON THE RIVER. I ASKED HIM WHERE I COULD GET A TAXI & SURPRISE, HE IS A TAXI DRIVER & HE WHISKED ME OFF TO THE HOTEL.

AND HERE IS THE POOL, LOOKING VERY WELCOMING.

I HAVE TEN DAYS IN THIS HOTEL & WANTED SOME TIME TO JUST SIT AROUND AND NOT DO TOO MUCH FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE VENTURING OUT TO THE ANGKOR WAT COMPLEX. AND THEN GO BACK THERE EVERY OTHER DAY OR SO.

A VERY GOOD STRATEGY AS IT TURNED OUT.

I ARRANGED WITH THE TAXI DRIVER TO PICK ME UP TO GO TO THE FIRST OF THE TEMPLES ON MY LIST. THE JUNGLE TEMPLE - BUT WE WENT HERE ON THE WAY .. THE LADY TEMPLE, BUT I MIGHT BE WRONG ABOUT THAT ..

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. THE TAXI DRIVER DOES NOT HAVE HIS GUIDE LICENCE YET BUT HE IS A PRETTY GOOD GUIDE .. POINTED OUT THE BEE HIVE ABOVE ...

APSARA DANCERS PERHAPS --

AND NOW WE ARE AT THE TA PROHM OR JUNGLE TEMPLE - MADE VERY POPULAR BY FEATURING IN THE TOMB RAIDER MOVIE ..

ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A PHOTO WITHOUT PEOPLE HERE ..

ONE OF THE BUILDINGS, AND IT MIGHT BE THE ONE BELOW, HAS A CURIOUS ACOUSTIC FEATURE. WHEN I WAS INSIDE THE SMALL ROOM, THE GUIDE HAD ME TAP MY CHEST & THE NOISE REVERBERATED AROUND THE ROOM ..

THE GUIDE MADE A POINT OF SQUEEZING ME THROUGH A HOLE TO SHOW ME THIS OVERGROWN FIGURE ALMOST HIDDEN IN A TREEE ..

A REALLY GREAT COUPLE OF PLACES TO VISIT. I THINK IT COST ME $30 FOR THE HALF DAY - A PRETTY GOOD DEAL FOR AN AIR-CONDITIONED CAR, PRIVATE DRIVER & GUIDE. I MAY HAVE BOUGHT HIM BITE TO EAT TOO BUT THAT WOULD NOT HAVE COST TOO MUCH EITHER.

I ARRANGED FOR HIM TO PICK ME UP AGAIN IN TWO DAYS.

DURING THE DAYS IN BETWEEN THE GIRLS AT THE DESK WERE VERY GOOD AT WHISTLING UP A TUK TUK THAT TOOK ME INTO SIEM REAP FOR A COUPLE OF DOLLARS.