We stayed at Angkor Holiday Hotel (3 stars). It’s definitely not a budgeted hotel. It costs us USD31 per room per day, but it’s quite a great deal due to the comfort & the excellent service rendered. Most of all – nice & yummy buffet breakfast…
The first temple that we stepped would be Phnom Bakheng. Phnom Bakheng is located at high hill nearby Angkor Wat. It is a fine location to view sunset. But before that, we need to buy ticket for entrance to the temples. Tourists may purchase 3 types of ticket – 1 day pass (USD20), 3 days pass (USD40) or 1 week pass (USD60). Anyway, we bought only 1 day pass due to time constraint & budget.
At Phnom Bakheng, tourists may have the option to walk up the hill or can pay USD15 for an elephant ride up to the hill. I really respect the elders who managed to walk up the hill – that’s the true spirit of traveling I must say. When arrived to the temple, I saw tourists already settling down at the top of the temple while enjoying the nice view of sunset. Anyway, we have to climb the steep steps to reach the top. That’s the challenge. Imagine almost all tourists need to climb the stairs by using both of their hands… Many Spider-men & Spider-women… :-) 
From the top, tourists may view Angkor Wat & feel the cooling wind which creates the tranquility of nature surrounding the temple. It’s worth for the hardship of walking & climbing…
What excites me at the top will the statue shown below… Guess what is that statue??? (Answer will be shown at the bottom…)
28th February 2007 The day whereby we woke up at 5.30am (local time). It was still dark when we left the hotel, even after we reached Angkor Wat at 6am. Amazingly, tourists had been queuing at the main entrance & some even nicely sitting at strategic location to get the best view of the sunrise.
At 6.40am, this would be the moment where everyone has been waiting for… THE SUNRISE AT ANGKOR WAT. It’s beautiful… Angkor Wat is one of the most gorgeous & elegant temples built in the area. Anyway, we just viewed the exterior of Angkor Wat.
After the sunrise, we returned back to hotel for breakfast. Then we moved on to Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom or Great Angkor is another huge walled royal city & was once known as capital of Angkorian empire.
At the entrance, you will see statues at the left which represent Gods & meanwhile statues at the right represent Evil Gods (Ghosts). I mistakenly hugged the Evil Gods side… Bad!!! Lesson: next time wait until your tour guide explains what it represents, then only you hug it!!! Hehe
Next stop, Bayon temple. This temple is well-known with giant stone faces. Interestingly, there are scenes of their daily life (I mean the Angkorian) carved on the wall, such as battle scenes, cockfighting, childbirth etc. Beside Angkor Wat, this place is another great place which worth for a visit.
Before we explored the next remarkable Ta Prohm, we stopped at Ta Keo temple. It’s a huge temple, but the construction has been stopped as there are very few carvings. Anyway, there are stalls selling fresh coconut. You will need refreshment to rejuvenate yourselves for next temples. Anyway, please remember to bargain with them, 2 coconuts for USD1, instead of 1 to USD1.
Ta Prohm is another astonishing temple which it has nailed a deep memory within my heart. Although this temple looks ordinary to everyone (not many carvings), but the temple is swallowed by gigantic trees. The trees are so huge & grow above the temple.
Unlike normal trees we have seen in Malasyia or else where, the trees here are shaded in silver colour & the roots are like elephant trunks. It’s so great to have visited this temple. Many have said the trees are to be blamed for the damage of the temple. But to me, without the trees, this temple might not be known to all & it has proved the great will of mother nature. Please allocate this temple as one of your “MUST VISIT” temple. Moreover, this place has been famed by Angelina Jolie’s movie – Tomb Raider.
After that, we went back to hotel for lunch & rested before we start our journey to explore to interior of Angkor Wat.
In Angkor Wat, you either can enjoy the amazing construction & carvings, or you may climb to the top for the wonderful view, or you may pray. Anyway, you must pray because it will bring you Good Luck for paying homage to all four Buddhas at the top of Angkor Wat.
To wrap up, it was a great trip as I could visit one of the most amazing World Heritage Site. Still wondering how they could construct a massive site of temples and most of all the carvings which are so unique. It means people have been evolving for betterment of artistic & great civilization few centuries back. But people also to be blamed for the destruction of civilization. In the past, war had become a tool to demolish others, whose are from the same species, in order to achieve helm & wealth. War not only kills arts & great constructions, but it kills innocent people too... PLS LET OUR CHILDREN INHERIT WHAT WE HAVE NOW ON THIS TINY PLANET! Another comment is Government of Cambodia should build more schools for their children to have the opportunity to advance & learn...
Answer: The cylinder-shaped, which I was touching, is a penis… as per the tour guide… still guessing why is it in the temple???
