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vinapu

Man hunting among ruins - December 2016 trip to Cambodia and Thailand

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Posted

Happy Christmas Vinapu :)  -  have enjoyed reading your report and looking at the photos - have to say that looking at those cages just gives me shivers -  nice to do things that have been on the bucket list - just have to add a few more now!!!!

 

PS - Sareth - very handsome

Posted

Great photos Vinapu - the places are even magnificent now - imagine what they must have been like when just constructed - was thinking when I looked at them - " where did all the stone come from?"

 

PS -  great to have a local person to accompany you - I have travelled in SE Asia for the last 15 years and always taken local company - so many benefits

Posted

Day 8

 

I kind of realize that for many this trip report , full of old stones and short of young men is boring but for a sake of accuracy of relation I just soldier on.

 

In the morning my boy left with my promise to call him over tomorrow as I had some other  hopes for tonight. There was some problem with breakfast supplies in the hotel so I had one on the street and shortly after my handsome tuk-tuk driver showed up , again in the untattered jeans,  for another tour. Originally Sareth was supposed to guide me for today’s tour but he fell sick and e-mailed me he will not be available so I went alone. Today’s goal –walk around the wall of Angkor Thom , city of the center of which temple of Bayon is  located.

 

So for Sophea, the driver is was easy, he dropped me at South Gate , got few dollars for drinks , was instructed to wait there in 4 hrs and I set off for very pleasant , almost whole way in shade , stroll on the top of the wall. Very few tourists there , some locals clearing bushes, very quiet and peaceful  walk literally minutes from hordes crowding ancient sites. If I ever be back and I’m sure I will this will be my first thing to do , perhaps in reverse order.

 

Recommended for those who are tired of crowds as it easy to do and easy to break at any time by asking driver to wait at the next gate where one can make a decision to continue or abandon.

Today I walked clockwise and it took leisurely 3 hrs. and 35 minutes. Wall for most part is in excellent repair with moat underneath with only few crumbled stretches  .

 

top of the wall

 

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moat

 

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There are 5 gates with South,  North and Victory ones through a lot of traffic passes and West and East  ones very quiet with only dirt road going through. In every corner there are ruins of small temples, almost unheard of and not visited . If they were somewhere far from  Angkor each of them will attract tour buses and local authorities would by trying to get UNESCO interested in them.

 

little visited West Gate

 

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unmarked temple in north-west corner if Angkor Thom walls

 

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After I returned waking Sophea up we went to Banteai Samre, another temple not as popular and in quite of distance from Angkor proper. Well now , not quite, 15 years ago  when there I saw only other couple , my driver then was there for  the first time and I don’t recall  much an infrastructure .

 

Banteai Samre

 

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and it's ceremonial way

 

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Now it was quite full of visitors , way to the temple crowded  with souvenir stands and few , again expensive for Cambodia , restaurants  across the road where we had a lunch after  exploration. From there to Ta Som , my favourite of all Angkor temples ,

 

Ta Som

 

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then to Prasat Krol Ko , rarely visited, even if it’s almost across the road from popular Neak Pean,  and then to one of big 5  of Angkor temples – Preah Khan / the same name as one visited yesterday /. She is famous for library , structure which almost looks like Roman building.

 

post-13775-0-55281400-1482821759_thumb.jpg

 

As you noticed perhaps, I’m trying to see places which are less crowded and perhaps less known but this is what I came here for this time. I did big stuff already 15 years ago and considering 4-5 fold increase in number of visitors , I’m glad I did.

 

Booked Sopeha for tomorrow’s trip to Bang Melea , temple I skipped yesterday for lack of time and as evening set off I went to MEN for a massage with a bit of hope for more hence I gave my Barcode boy night off tonight.

 

MAN,  is man only resort hidden in small alley close to Wat Polanka, kind of hard to find but if one follows maps from their website is not really that difficult to get there. From main street National Highway 6 there small alley with sign “Man” and it’s really short walk from there. Tuk-tuk drivers apparently all know the place and it may be the truth because first one I hailed close to my hotel knew it.

 

I went there with very high expectations as very name ‘Men’   says it all. Very classy place with prices to match, price structure the same like in LINGA 20/26 $  for 1/1.5 hr session. I was assigned boy, very , very good looking , not tall but God-like muscular so I was hoping for plenty. On the way to a massage room glimpsed amenities, pool, gym , few patrons, one with boy beside.

 

 Showered alone , massage on the table with well, boy in singlet and briefs and he stay that way for the whole 1.5 hr. course. Not even once  hint was given that fun other than just a massage may  be available so I had just that- very good professional massage by extreme eye candy but that’s it. Left 30 $ tip which considering circumstances was probably too generous but truth is I liked massage.

 

Can’t even say I was disappointed, not at all. I guess last few very intensive days and few night as well did me in. Wandering  leisurely through  Siem Reap center, I went to the hotel, collapsed on the bed and my day 8 was over.

Posted

Great photos Vinapu - the places are even magnificent now - imagine what they must have been like when just constructed - was thinking when I looked at them - " where did all the stone come from?"

 

PS -  great to have a local person to accompany you - I have travelled in SE Asia for the last 15 years and always taken local company - so many benefits

This is particularly valid question at Prasat Bakan which is on the plan , far from any mountains - where the hell stone was coming from?

 

As for visiting with locals - this time it was perfect  but often there's danger that we will be looking at places through their eyes.

 

As for me , I'm always very well prepared before I visit any place or country but locals are always  best in handling  logistics.

 

I know that without Sareth's help it would take extra day or two to organize Prasat Bakan or Preah Vihear tours.

Posted

If you still are there, use half day to visit Rolous group of temples - they are 2 centuries older than Angkor Wat. Also don't forget to visit Tonle Sap for sunset :)

Posted

If you still are there, use half day to visit Rolous group of temples - they are 2 centuries older than Angkor Wat. Also don't forget to visit Tonle Sap for sunset :)

no. I'm back home already, did Rolous  group and floating villages on the lake when there previously.

 

As for sunset and sunrise I had interesting discussion with Sareth on our way to Sambor.

 

When I declared that I consider watching those waste of time and efforts he labelled me cold, LOL.

My excuse - I can see sunset from my balcony  for 4 months in the summer 

Posted

When I declared that I consider watching those waste of time and efforts he labelled me cold, LOL.

My excuse - I can see sunset from my balcony  for 4 months in the summer

 

I agree. Watching sunrise & sunset is highly overrated.

I've never set the alarm early to watch a sunrise on holiday. Have done a few sunsets.

Posted

Man hunting among the ruins of old temples, with the floor covered with stones fallen from the ruins, isn't there a probability that one of those stones falls on your head?

 

It may be safer to man hunt in gay saunas...

Posted

I agree. Watching sunrise & sunset is highly overrated.

I've never set the alarm early to watch a sunrise on holiday. Have done a few sunsets.

 

And, hopefully, there is always another sunset and sunrise.

Posted

I agree. Watching sunrise & sunset is highly overrated.

I've never set the alarm early to watch a sunrise on holiday. Have done a few sunsets.

In my younger years I climbed few hills , mountains and high Himalayan passes , some overnight,  to see sunrises so I consider I did my share of admiring that section of nature's beauty and bother no longer. 

Posted

Man hunting among the ruins of old temples, with the floor covered with stones fallen from the ruins, isn't there a probability that one of those stones falls on your head?

 

It may be safer to man hunt in gay saunas...

Exploring ruins is my other favorite pastime    and really I don't blend those two.

 

I thought tittle will be catchy enough and accurate considering that I returned to Thailand after Cambodia part.

 

Saunas, discos, beaches and Silom soi 4 are not my hunting grounds.

 

Can't imagine stone already on the floor falling on my head, I don't drink before sightseeing.

Posted

Great report vinapu. Your title is akin to a porn title so yeah it is really catchy lol.

 

Regarding sunrise/sunset, i really enjoy taking pictures of sunset, more than sunrise as it requires much less effort and is often as stunning. My best and most expensive sunrise would be the one i took in borobudur temple in yogya with a view of Merapi volcano on the background. Whenver i travel, i usually try to at least get 1 sunset viewing area, usually up in a hill that gives a good panaromic view of the city. Needless to say, some day the sunset are just amazing while other days it is just like a view in my house lol

Posted

In my younger years I climbed few hills , mountains and high Himalayan passes , some overnight,  to see sunrises so I consider I did my share of admiring that section of nature's beauty and bother no longer.

 

I've done a few mountains. Not Himalayan, but to over 3500m. All in the daylight.
Posted

 My best and most expensive sunrise would be the one i took in borobudur temple in yogya with a view of Merapi volcano on the background. 

I'm not against sunsets and sunrises , just I think that pastime is behind me.

 

I wouldn't mind to see  picture of sun rising behind Merapi as I was there  and know exactly what you are talking about.

Would you PM me or if you wish even post it in this thread.

 

I'm surprised you mentioned expensive as I recall Indonesia being very  good value for money.

Posted

U can add me on instagram if u have one. Just started my acc few months ago, and my instagram is more of a latergram, only uploaded select few pics that i consider unique or beautiful.

 

Its not expensive per se, but compared to entry fee to other places in indonesia, borobudur temple @monohara is the highest (around usd30) and u can only enter during sunrise through the hotel. The normal entrance during other times is lower.

 

I can share some pics later on when im home.

Posted

First of all apologies for being late to this marvelous trip report,

 

I always had aspirations to travel and see some of the sights, particularly as my early career was in (UK) archaeology, but I always seemed to get so easily distracted by the bars, agogos and massage shops of Pattaya (although I have seen plenty of 'sights' in those).

 

I love your engaging, descriptive writing style that draws the reader in making it an easy and pleasurable read.

 

Looking forward to the remainder of your holiday encounters.

 

Thanks

Posted

The perfect trip report that should make visitors go outside their comfort zone for certain types and maybe be surprised.  Instead of criticizing certain types , give them a try you may get surprised !

 

Hooray for you Vianpu!!!

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