After some raisin toast and jam for breakfast we were up and out the door to get to the ticket office for our three day Ankor pass ($40).
Getting the pass was a simple process and included having our photo printed on the pass - not a good photo at eight in the morning!
We headed straight to THE temple to see - our first glimpse of Angkor Wat. Surrounded by a spectacular square moat (1 mile long on each side), the entrance gate hides the inner 'wow' that you get as you step inside its deep towering outer walls.
The crowds had already started to pick up, but we decided to save climbing up the centre of Angkor Wat for another day, instead just exploring the inner courtyards and walls lined with intricate carvings telling various stories.
Knowing we'd have more opportunities to come back and explore more, we headed on to the even larger complex of Angkor Thom, through the magnificent (if busy) South Gate lined on one side with Devas (Angels) and the other side with Asuras (Demons), headed up by stone faces looking out in all directions.
Having really liked the structure of the gate we asked our driver to take a short diversion off the tourist trail to see the West Gate - much more secluded and yet just as beautiful to see.
We visited Baphoun near the ruins of the old Royal palace. Baphoun welcomes you with its tall long stone entrance, and large base reliefs. It involved a bit of a climb up to the top, but had some great spots for 'framed' photos.
We walked down and looped round to a narrow walkway between two walls covered in carvings from floor to ceiling height, known as the terrace of the Leper King.
Sitting beside this is the majestic Elephant terrace, which runs through the centre of the complex. This terrace is a 350m long wall with beautiful large carvings of elephants one after the other.
We then headed north on the long route trail, through the North Gate to Preah Khan. This smaller temple was one of our favorites, with its falling walls, carvings of dancing nymphs and long corridors of doorways to explore.
Continuing onward we stopped at some of the other sites on the outer ring. Neak Peak (a small stupa found in the middle of a surrounding pond) which given the dry season wasn't its best.
Ta Som; another small yet equally mesmerising site with an iconic image of a tree with its roots entwined with a stone gateway.
East Mebon; a grand square site which is famous for its stone elephants that guard each corner of the terraces.
Pre Rup; known as an alternative sunset spot, with its high open terrace and rich red tone of bricks brought out by the start of the evening sun.
We ended our day back where we started in the grounds of Angkor, sneaking in through a side temple entrance as the gates had officially closed at 5.30pm.
We found a spot on the left hand side at one of the smaller housed structures which overlooked Angkor at one end and sunset on the other. With an Angkor beer in hand, we sat back for 20 minutes sipping our beer with the view, until the guards sweeping people through the site back to the entrance/exit caught up to us and made us move (slowly) towards our exit point.
We lingered back so we could get the picture postcard shots without the crowds in the evening sunlight and were some of the last few left in the grounds before the guards really did kick us out!
After our Tuk Tuk driver Sky dropped us back at the apartment, we finished our day with a well deserved evening in of WINE and PIZZA - heaven!
 |
| Angkor sunrise |
Getting the pass was a simple process and included having our photo printed on the pass - not a good photo at eight in the morning!
 |
| Early morning photo shoot |
We headed straight to THE temple to see - our first glimpse of Angkor Wat. Surrounded by a spectacular square moat (1 mile long on each side), the entrance gate hides the inner 'wow' that you get as you step inside its deep towering outer walls.
 |
| The outer terraced walks of Angkor |
The crowds had already started to pick up, but we decided to save climbing up the centre of Angkor Wat for another day, instead just exploring the inner courtyards and walls lined with intricate carvings telling various stories.
Knowing we'd have more opportunities to come back and explore more, we headed on to the even larger complex of Angkor Thom, through the magnificent (if busy) South Gate lined on one side with Devas (Angels) and the other side with Asuras (Demons), headed up by stone faces looking out in all directions.
 |
| Angels and demons |
Having really liked the structure of the gate we asked our driver to take a short diversion off the tourist trail to see the West Gate - much more secluded and yet just as beautiful to see.
 |
| The quieter west gate |
We visited Baphoun near the ruins of the old Royal palace. Baphoun welcomes you with its tall long stone entrance, and large base reliefs. It involved a bit of a climb up to the top, but had some great spots for 'framed' photos.
 |
| A grand entrance |
 |
| Photo fun |
We walked down and looped round to a narrow walkway between two walls covered in carvings from floor to ceiling height, known as the terrace of the Leper King.
 |
| The terrace of the Leper King |
Sitting beside this is the majestic Elephant terrace, which runs through the centre of the complex. This terrace is a 350m long wall with beautiful large carvings of elephants one after the other.
 |
| ELEPHANTS! |
We then headed north on the long route trail, through the North Gate to Preah Khan. This smaller temple was one of our favorites, with its falling walls, carvings of dancing nymphs and long corridors of doorways to explore.
 |
| Exploring out the back of Preah Khan |
Continuing onward we stopped at some of the other sites on the outer ring. Neak Peak (a small stupa found in the middle of a surrounding pond) which given the dry season wasn't its best.
 |
| Neak Peak |
Ta Som; another small yet equally mesmerising site with an iconic image of a tree with its roots entwined with a stone gateway.
 |
| At the back door |
East Mebon; a grand square site which is famous for its stone elephants that guard each corner of the terraces.
 |
| ELEPHANT! |
Pre Rup; known as an alternative sunset spot, with its high open terrace and rich red tone of bricks brought out by the start of the evening sun.
 |
| The red brick beast |
We ended our day back where we started in the grounds of Angkor, sneaking in through a side temple entrance as the gates had officially closed at 5.30pm.
We found a spot on the left hand side at one of the smaller housed structures which overlooked Angkor at one end and sunset on the other. With an Angkor beer in hand, we sat back for 20 minutes sipping our beer with the view, until the guards sweeping people through the site back to the entrance/exit caught up to us and made us move (slowly) towards our exit point.
 |
| In the evening light |
We lingered back so we could get the picture postcard shots without the crowds in the evening sunlight and were some of the last few left in the grounds before the guards really did kick us out!
 |
| Hooray finally no people! |
After our Tuk Tuk driver Sky dropped us back at the apartment, we finished our day with a well deserved evening in of WINE and PIZZA - heaven!
 |
| Mmm pizza and wine! |
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